2 wk pre-op

 Hey guys today is day of the pre-op diet. I was doing okay until today, I mean don't get me wrong I don't think that I did too bad. But I had to take my client on an supervised visit with her mom and they cooked out, well it was late and almost time for me to get off. But the cookout went longer than expected with getting the grill started. I didn't bring a shake because I only took two to work. Well, anyways I had an hamburger w/cheese and a beef hotdog (no bread). I hope I didn't mess up the liver shrinking process, I tried to avoid carbs. DO you guys think I will be okay, surgery is Friday and I have lost 18 lbs in 8 days? 

You'll be fine, just try to stick to it the rest of the week.  I "cheated" three times on my three week preop liquid diet and my liver was fine.  I lost twenty-five-ish pounds in the three weeks, it's been a while, I can't remember exactly.

Take care and good luck with your upcoming surgery.
Ellen

What is a pre-op diet? I have my surgery in 17 days, and my surgeon has never mentioned any type of pre-op diet.

Not every surgeon does a preop diet.  Generally speaking, if they do do one, it'll be either a liquid diet or an Atkins type.  I was on 4 slim fasts a day for 3 weeks, others do 3 optisources plus other liquids.  Some do some type of low carb/high protein thing.  It varies.  Just check with your surgeon if you're not sure of his expectations.

The sum total of the reason they do it is to shrink your liver to make laparoscopic surgery easier.  They can't lift an elarged/fatty liver with the instruments so they try to get you to shrink it via diet.

As I said, just check with your surgeon if you have questions concerning his or her particular practices.
Take care.
Ellen

The liver shrinking is actually the body using up the stores of glycogen (and the required water needed to use it).

If you've lost 18lbs, you've shrunk it.  The average liver holds 2lbs of glycogen, and it has a 4:1 water:glycogen ratio, so it means you've gotten rid of about 8lbs of water as well.

Staying away from carbs will def. help keep you from building up those glycogen stores again.  In this case, ketosis is good for you.

So I think you'll be fine.. just behave for the rest of the preop diet.

You're the only other New Bern person I know on the board here!  Are you having your surgery done in Greenville?  Would you mind if I came to visit you in the hospital or at home as you recover?  I'm pre-op too and don't have my surgery date yet.  How long did it take from the time you started the process to now?  Best wishes for your surgery!!  It's nice to see another New Bern person on the board.  I live in Trent Woods and teach music at Bangert Elementary School.  I'd love to year about your "journey" up to now.

Actually we have the same doctor, and yes I'm having my surgery done in Greenville. My surgery date is this coming up Friday Sept.5,2008!!! I'm soooooo excited. The whole process hasn't taken long at all. It seems like yesterday when my mom and I were sitting in that orientation meeting at Vi-Quest. The process started in May and here it is Sept. and I'm having surgery! God is AWESOME! Of course I would love to have visitors. I'm not sure what time my surgery is, I have to call on Thursday and find out. I live in Southern Townes. I work for the Autism Society of NC as a Community Skills Instructor, I love working there. Hopefully we can get together soon. I know the process will go very well for YOU!

Where is Southern Townes in New Bern?

 Main entrance of New Bern High

Oh!  You live about 5 minutes from me!!  We ought to get together for coffee or something before your surgery.  I too work with kids (K-5) and we have a few autistic children at my school.  In fact, my school is doing a special staff development session on autism in November.  Would you like to meet up at Joe Muggs at Books-a-Million in the Wal-Mart shopping center sometime this week before your surgery?