Liquid Diet suggestions? - Advice needed (halp!)

I am on a PRE-OP liquid diet for 3 weeks, then on a strict 4 week liquid diet after my LapBand surgery (dr said liquid, no mushies at this clinic) so would like some helpful tips from anyone who has been there.

Today is day 7 and I've been doing pretty good altho I had a tiny scrambled ****gg on Sat and Sun mornings with one piece of bacon - I was just craving protein (altho I know the fat content of the bacon) and realize I can't do that after surgery but felt much better after eating it, much more energized too.  During the wee****ep doing the smoothies etc.

I have all my drinks, my protein powders and ordered Proti Diet soups for later this week. They were supposed to be here in 3 days but got delayed to 7 days so in the interim I have been having a small bowl of campbells pea and ham or tomato (dr's office said no campbells bc of the weight loss factor but I need to have some soup until the proti soups arrive and I water these down (two - three serves per can and only have one serve per day).  I have allowed these bc I was already getting the gag feeling on teh drinks and smoothies and know (at least for me) if I don't vary things I won't be able to stomach it.  I figure I might not lose quite as much by having the Campbell (fat free) soup but it's really minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Granted after surgery it's bye-bye to pea and ham for a few weeks bc of the little lumps. lol

It's interesting though, when I talk to others (including my sis who had her LapBand done a year ago) that folks don't have the same liquid diet restrictions as me, or as strict (particularly 4 weeks post surgery and strictly liquid, no mushies).  I'll be good but am curious as to why?

How long did you do the pre-op liquid diet for and how long after Lap Band surgery? I'm really curious.

I also can have yogurt (and prior to surgery my dr's office bent the rule to allow me to have a few pieces of frozen fruit blended in my smoothies right now - thank god) but I have to say I'm really struggling. I want to gag at the thought of any more smoothies or protein drinks. lol

How did you keep your sanity, seriously? Is it harder pre-op than post-op to do this? All up, I will be doing 7 weeks liquid.

I didn't have the lap band and, actually, didn't have any sort of pre-op liquid diet, so I can't answer a lot of your questions.  The one I can answer most likely is why you have to do it.  I would imagine, and you can check this with your doctor, that you either have a raised liver enzyme count, or with palpation, your doctor has been able to tell you have an enlarged liver.  This is not uncommon in people of size -- our livers enlarge with processing all the stuff we eat.  If your doctor has put you on such a strict liquid diet, it means he knows you need to reduce the size of your liver so he can do your surgery.  Procedures are sometimes cancelled when the liver is too large (look at today's main board page for an example).  As I said, I didn't have to do it, and I think those of you who have to do it are saints.  You just have to keep your eyes on the prize -- it is a substantial prize too!  All the best.

Linda

Hi
The liquid diet is quite a change. I am almost 1 month post-op (sleeve) and am still on liquid with some soft foods.
Are u on clear or full liquids??? that makes a difference. If its full liquids try creamy pea soup or blend what u have. how about the campbells health request soups??? low salt. no msg, low fat. and very good. I'm guessing also tha****ering down the soups you are not getting enough calories hence little energy. I went thru that.

For me I found I HAD to increase my protein!!!!!!!   That meant buying soy/whey/egg protein and adding it to my soups (blended) or creamed,  making shakes (no fruit) I added extracts)  and doing this a few times daily such that I was getting at least 100g protein a day. I felt tons better just doing that.

Good luck
Nightgazer