Does a liquid diet 2wks preop really help the dr?

Hello all you wonderful LOSERS!!! I have a ?? The doc said I should try to lose 5-10 pds b4 surgery. but also said he wouldnt not do the surgery if i didnt, I sorta looked at him like WHAT? I thought that is what the surgery is for? Its on the 26th of april, I have been reading alot of posts where they are on a liquid diet 2 wks preop so the doc can see the organs better? also, said it would remove some of the fatty tissues from the liver? anyone know anything about this? My doc didnt say I had to do this, but if it would help I could do it for a few days b4 my surgery. Any suggestions? Thanks....love to you all!!!!! Julie

Hi Julie, The nutritionist at the surgeons office told me they were switching to the liquid diet for two weeks before because of the liver thing. But since I started my appts before that I wouldn't have to do it. I think I'm going to do it a few days before also. I think it would be easirer to do the bowel prep than too. I'm on vacation the next two weeks than I go to work for two days and then surgery. I can't see myself sitting here on my vacation when I know I might never get to eat some of these things ever again (chocolate) and just drinking liquids. YUK I am going to be strict but I'm still going to eat a few things. Goood Luck on Your Journey. I live only about 1/2 hr from you.Lori

Julie, sometimes the doctor needs to have you go on the liquid diet for a short period before to help shrink a fatty liver. You see the liver will sometimes get in the way of the surgeon being able to see the surgical field especially if he is going to do the surgery lap. They sometimes cannot move the liver out of the way properly with the instruments while doing it lap. Now, there would not be a problem if it was open. Sometimes when a doctor is doing it lap the liver is still in the way and he will have to convert the surgery to open because of the liver being too big. Good luck.

HI Julie, and congratulations on getting this far!! My surgeon has everyone do a liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery in order to shrink the liver. Most people lose a few pounds that way too. I am actually going to try to stick to it for at least a week right now because I really want to lose a few pounds so that I don't feel so miserable all the time. I have no idea how long I will have to fight the insurance company, and I really need to feel a bit better NOW. Since I can never lose enough on my own to lower my BMI out of surgery range, it can't hurt to lose something. If you want the actual diet that my surgeon recommends, email me at [email protected] and I can send it to you.

I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks preop (3-17) and for two months prior to that was on a low fat, low calorie diet. I was told it was to make my liver smaller. I guess it worked. I've had zero complications postop and am healing really well. The nicest benefit was that I losts 25 pounds preop and 18 pounds post. It made me feel like I had a head start on everything.