Liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op?

Thanks! That's good to know. I have no problem complying, I just like to understand WHY I need to do something. If I don't know why, I'm less likely to do it. And my last visit to the surgeon was over a month ago and I'm not going to see him again until I go in for surgery on Dec 4th. So I just wanted to be sure I understood the rationale. Thanks! :)

It's very common.

This is a good thing for you. It will make the surgery and life after surgery easier. You'll be on liquids for a while after surgery too. The first few days will likely be horrible, but it gets better. White-knuckle it, get through it, and move on. You'll barely remember this next year.

Thanks. Yeah, that's how I'm looking at it too. I just like to understand WHY i need to do something. Knowing the rationale makes it easier to comply. :)

I have been having abdominal pain for so long from my lap band port, and now I'm in pain from the lap band removal, and in 5 weeks I'll be post-op sleeve and having pain from that. I just keep telling myself to settle in for at least another 6 months of abdominal pain/discomfort. So like you said, this time next year, it'll all be a distant memory!

I'm on the third day of the two week liquid pre-op diet, the first two days were hard, but today hasn't felt so bad. My doctor sent home a giant bag of Optifast products, and boy do I miss Premier Protein. This is extremely common, but not every doctor does a liquid diet. My last surgeon had a two-day liquid diet, but I decided to switch to be closer to home.

The liquid diet does two very important things. 1. Shrinks your liver and makes it less 'slimey', so the doctor can move it safely during surgery and 2. Gets your head in the game for post op. Its not easy. Its not fun, but do it for your safety.

Thanks . .. liver shrinkage seems to be the consensus. That, I can get behind. I just like to know WHY I'm torturing myself, makes it easier to comply! :)

I was on 2 shake meal replacements and 1 small, balanced meal per day. The day before surgery I was moved to clear liquids only, nothing after midnight. Every doctor's plan is different, but you should definitely follow the plan you are given. Grim is right, you get through it and will barely remember it down the road. Best wishes!

I had to do 2 weeks of a liquid diet too. I won't sugar coat it...IT SUCKED!!!! I really struggled but I got through it. Everyone told me that was the hardest part of this whole thing so that helped me. Now that I am on the other side, I totally agree...it was the worst part by far.

My dr. said it was to help shrink my liver making surgery easier and safer. You will probably be given blood thinners before surgery and not only does a smaller liver make accessing the stomach easier, it prevents nicks to your liver which may cause complications due to the blood thinners.

I used sugar free popsicles to keep my mouth busy and to feel like I was CHEWING something. I hear sugar free jello also helps. I didn't have it only because I don't like jello.

You can do it though...only 2 weeks for the rest of your life!!

As you can see, it is not uncommon, though the all-liquid aspect serves no real purpose physiologically (the liver will "shrink" or deslime just fine on a low carb solid diet just as well for those surgeons who need that extra help), and the liquids only phases really isn't all that necessary post-op, either (at least not for the sleeve-based WLS) but that's what a lot of surgeons specify. I can understand being conservative on post-op progressions while gaining experience with a newer procedure, but I haven't heard any reasonable or logical explanation for the liquids only pre-op requirement.

It's best just to do what they specify, as otherwise you will get the blame for any problems that occur, irrespective their cause.

Yeah, I know for a fact they can still do the sleeve without the two-week liquid diet. I went in for an "emergency" lap band removal 8 days ago and at the time they told me they would really try to do the sleeve at the same time. And of course, I had not been following the liquid diet but it wasn't an issue. The only reason they didn't do the sleeve at the same time is bc there was too much inflammation in the abdomen from the lap band and they wanted that to improve before they did the sleeve.

But either way, I'll just follow their plan, whatever makes things simpler and reduces risk! :)

Actually, two weeks is very common. Mine was four weeks. Different surgeons have different requirements.

The main reason is usually to shrink your liver. People who are obese often have enlarged livers which makes WLS more difficult.

You're going to be on a liquid diet after surgery, so it's a good time to get accustomed to the upcoming changes.