Pre-Op Diet

So, my surgeon does not have a defined one-to-two week pre-diet, but has some loose guidelines (no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc), one protein shake meal replacement/day.  Nothing else.  Only strict thing is clear liquids 24 hours prior + some sort of laxative.

However, to do as much as I can to ensure success -- I kind of want to go on a stricter 2-weeks pre-op diet (liver shrinkage and all -- I carry a lot of my weight on my chest and stomach).

I have a call into the surgeon's office, but does anyone know of any harm that could be done by switching to a 3-4 shake + lean protein dinner for 2 weeks pre-op?  In addition to the pre-surgical benefits, it also gets me in the right mindset for post-surgical success.

My two week was shake for breakfast, shake for lunch, and a small protein forward dinner under 500 calories.  All the water I could drink and broth along with sugar free pops. 

Considering that's the diet that a lot of us were required to do pre-op, I don't see how it could be harmful?  

Warning, though, by the time I finished my two weeks pre-op liquid diet (and I was 5 shakes a day with nothing else) and the two weeks post-op liquid diet, I was SO SICK OF LIQUIDS.  Total liquid fatigue.  

So be aware :)

That's the diet most of us got, so go for it. The last three days I would do just shakes.

Getting a good running start can only help you.

The info I got back was basically...try and reduce your carbs as much as possible.  A pre-op diet like the one I suggested was not forbidden nor was it required.

I'm going to start working towards that 2-week (have a week+1d) and then go liquids only as GT suggested for the last few days.

I've just broken out of a funk that lasted me a few days and have all my marbles straightened out in my head again.  So this is a good mental exercise beyond the dietary/weightloss/surgical benefits.

p.s. thanks for all the replies.

I think a huge benefit is just your stomach getting used to not being full and mentally preparing for what post-op is going to be like. I found myself ravenous for the first week and then totally fine the second. My Dr recommended 2 week diet but I did 3 to try to lose as much as possible and to train myself to get used to protein-rich foods. I don't regret it one bit! It is challenging to get through the mental hunger of seeing something you want to eat (like everyone around you eating nachos and caramel apples.. that happened to me this week) but my physical hunger is more manageable than I have ever felt. I now sip my breakfast shake well to noon and then lunch shake is sipped on between calls (I work in a call center) from 2-5 and then I get to have my solid food at the end of the day ((hallelujah!)) which has been primarily salmon or baked chicken+veggies. It was weird feeling empty at first but I am so glad I gave myself more time to adjust because it wasn't easy. I am wrapping up my 3rd week and surgery is Monday! 

Ditto to what Gwen said. My 2 week pre-op diet was liquid ONLY - so just shakes, water, sugar-free jello, broth, and tea/caffeine-free coffee. I would have killed for a lean protein dinner in the mix. :)

It definitely helped set my mindset for my post-op diet and wasn't as unbearable as it sounds. 

The diet has two purposes:  cleaning out your system and shrinking the liver.

The liver only needs to be shrunk to work the laparoscopic tools.  If your surgeon is confident in his ability or your shape, then why put yourself through agony?  His recommendation is perfectly reasonable.  My doc only had me eating nothing after midnight the day before.  The strict liquids and laxative he's asking for is in case he nicks anything unexpected, your innards don't fill with excrement.

In a nutshell - dieting harder today will not increase your chances of success as a post op.

Yeah, I might be SOL as many people think I am full of excrement already -- laxatives notwithstanding.