2 Week Liquid Diet Before Surgery

Hello All,  I'm fairly new to OH.com and was looking for the forum that discusses the two week liquid diet before surgery.    My surgeon recommends this for me because I seem to have a fatty liver.  My surgery date is scheduled for 7/8/08 so I tried regular dieting to get a jump start on the weight loss.  I am having such a hard time with it.  If I cant even keep up with a regular diet, how am I expected to go without solid food for two weeks???? Any tips on how you handled this?

Hi boogy! I'm doing a week of liquids right now and using Unjury shakes. I mix a packet with milk and sometimes berries or frozen peaches and with the chocolate some peanut butter! I started yesterday and I'm ok right now. It's actually easier to diet this way rather than trying to diet the normal way. You know exactly what you can have. My surgery is next Tuesday. Most people have to shrink their livers before surgery, so don't feel alone! Good Luck. April in Sacramento

Thanks April, I'll try that. Good luck with your sugery, boy you must be counting the days! 

Your surgeon probably wants you to do this because it makes it easier for him to go in and do the surgery. Not all surgeons make you do this diet and everyone is different. Since your particular surgeon is making you do this I suggest you try and follow his/her protocol as much as possible. I would just focus on this as being "temporary". Keep positive and just remember this isn't forever and that it's totally worth it. I was supposed to have just liquids for 7 days, and I tried to do it as much as I could. I ended up loosing 8 pounds by just trying to stick with it prior to surgery. As far as sticking to a "regular diet" I have found that it's better to think of all of this as a major lifestyle change- not a diet. Try, try to stick with the liquid diet the best you can.  Congrats on your date of 7/8/08. I wish you success. Please keep us posted and welcome to the Cali boards. Hugs, Jaime 

Thanks Jamie!  I really appreciate the words of encouragement.  I was getting really frustrated with my surgeon's requirement to go on a liquid diet two weeks before the surgery date. Although it is only for two weeks, it seems impossible for someone like me.  "It's like making a crackhead to quit crack two weeks before going to rehab."  (I pulled that off someone else's blog) Anyway, thank you and I'll try to remain positive!!!!

LOL like a crackhead. Now that's funny... and so true. I guess that is an accurate description. I kind of feel like a kid in a candy store everytime I go into Victoria Secret now that I can fit in stuff from there. LOL  Don't beat yourself up if you can't stick with it everyday. Just do your best (truely do it). You will be fine and you can always come on here for support. This is a great place for that. You will love yourself for sticking to it.  Keep positive and anything is possible if you keep focused and focus on the outcome. You find in time girl, that nothing is impossible. I used to think that a lot of things were impossible for someone like me and 108 pounds down I feel like anything is possible now.  Hugs to you! Jaime

Hi there, you and I have the same surgeon and I was on the 2 week liquid diet too.  My surgery is Thursday.  I think Dr. Campos is really interested in testing the waters to see how you can handle the post-op diet plan.  I think reducing the size of the liver is also part of it but my take from him was more about being able to follow the diet. Two weeks is really not a long time and that time should fly by.  The first 2 days or so are the hardest and after that, it got a lot easier for me.  I wish you great success.  Maybe I will see you in the office some time. ~~~ Pam

It really is about being as healthy as possible for your surgery! And the difference after surgery is that you will have a tool to help you! You can do this, just keep the end result in your mind and it will be doable!  If it isn't "clear" liquids you should be able to have sf jello, sf pudding, sf popsicles and these things really help too. It's when you are on clear liquids and no protein that it is hardest! If you have any unflavored protein powder, you can add it to puddings and jellos and the extra protein will help with the hunger.  My prayers are with you to be able to handle this! I'm so excited for you getting ready to join us on the LOSER's bench!!! Get ready for a wild ride!!!    biggest hugs, Becky