pre op diet

Hey, everyone. I'm Babette from Houston. I usually read the main message board and MS board, but I rarely reply. This is my situation. I am going to a doctor (private pay) that requires clear liquid diet 2 weeks before surgery. These are some points that I am contending with. Dieting shrinks the liver...... Should he not be able to work around that? He is specially trained. I know I should be healthy as possible before surgery...... Does this constitute starving for 2 weeks. I tried. It leaves me weak. Does this not effect the electrolyte balance? Increase stress hormone levels? Possible dehydration? My gyn and nurse would have a fit!!! I am reading medical journals to try to know why he has told me this. So far I have found no journal article to support the clear liquid diet for 2 weeks. Please, let me know what you guys did and what your doc had you to do. I am going to call my doc and talk to his nurse tomorrow. We all know how some people can be when questioned. I do my research!!!! I have heard only glowing reviews about my doc. That is why I chose him. Plus I can't drive 2 to 3 hours for all follow up care. Any people out there from NE MS? Thanks for your input! It is greatly needed and wanted. Babette

Babette Yes, the liquid diet is required if they believe your liver is enlarged. Two weeks will shrink it to make it much easier for your surgeon to get the job done. Look at it this way... two weeks of a liquid diet is a small sacrifice for your health. The fact is that an enlarged liver will make it harder for the surgeon to get to the stomach, this is critical if you consider that he has to get those things attached perfectly or you will suffer a leak. The risk of complications is smaller if he can get to those places easier. Actually I didn't have to get on a liquid diet, I had stopped the fatty and sugary foods and drinks three months ahead of surgery by choice and shrunk my liver that way ( wasn't even aware of it but it showed during the ultrasound that it was not enlarged ). There was no need in my case. Every surgeon is different. If your surgeon has great reviews, personally I would say, just do the liquid diet as he requested. He knows what's best for you. You really should just ask him to explain it to you, as he is the person that should answer any and ALL questions that you have on your mind before you go under the knife. I was driving 2 hours one way to get to my surgeon, and it was well worth it. It's a personal choice. Some surgeons require sleep tests and others don't. Everybody does things differently pre-op and post-op as well. If you don't feel comfortable with the answers you get, look for a different doctor. Good luck and come back to the MS board any time ~Andie~

Babette, Skilled or not, everything is very close in your gut. Take it from me... I lost a spleen during surgery. When docs do a laproscopic surgery, it can be harder to maneuver around in there. Any help you can give should be given. Most of us on here had to go on some kind of pre-op diet at least a week out. Hang in there - you can do it! Another thing to realize is that you will be on liquids for a while after surgery too. They would not ask you to do anything that would be detrimental (sp?) to your health. Ask him about it, I'm sure you'll get a clearer answer. HUGS! Kimberly

I did not have to do the liquid diet before surgery. Several people I knew who had the surgery did have to and some did not. I guess all doctors are different or maybe it depends on the patient. Mine said it wasn't necessary. My liver was not enlarged where it would be a problem during surgery. I guess all the test he did told him that. I don't know. He just told me to cut out the fats and sugars and eat more veggies, fruits, and proteins and just eat lighter. So that is what I did. And I have had no problems since my surgery. Melissa Taylor Lap Rny 1/15/04 277/136 -141 pounds

Each Doc has different guidelines. Tams had her surgery today after a week of liquid diet. I was required to have 2 days liquid diet or they would clean me out!!!! So I did 4 days to make double dog sure. Your Doc prolly feels that the 2 weeks is optimum for his patients and that you will do better in the long run with the 2 week liquid diet. I would follow your Doc's wishes. I believe you can have about 7 Slimfasts a day on a normal liquid diet, plus water, broth, etc. You should NOT become dehydrated if your liquid intake is right. But you will prolly be so ill-tempered at the end of it all, you may kill everyone in the hospital!!!!! Good luck to you! Come back often and post and keep us updated on your progress! Smoochies Arlies

Hey Babette... You need to do whatever your doctor tells you to. Fortunatly with me I was on a low fat/low cholestoral diet for 3 days and 1 day of liquid. The liver is RIGHT there when they go in and 1 knick and thats it. The smaller the better. I've heard all doctors are different but I wouldnt play around with complying with what he says pre-op. It could be a matter of life and death. I am not trying to be rude but if you are questioning his rules now - maybe you should look into a different doctor. They are all so different but they do what works for them and their patients. I imagine each patient is different. My doc puts us all on different things pre-op (depending on the patient). Talk to him and see if this is normal for all of his patients. Good luck to you!

Babette, Just an after thought here, but wanted to let you know that one of our very own surgery people this week was expected to have open surgery because of her fatty liver, but because she followed the rules, lost 20 pounds on the liquid diet, she ended up having the surgery lap. It really does make a world of difference. I hope you can make a peaceful decision about this. I know it is hard. Hang in there! HUGS Kimberly