Different Versions for Different Surgeons...

In reading some of the posts, it's really striking how different the protocols can be for the same procedure.

My doctor "advises" losing weight prior to the surgery, but does not require it.  There's no special diet, two week liquid diet, or even bowel prep beforehand.  Day of surgery, nothing to eat or drink; day after is clear liquids, second day is full liquids (protein drink/creamed soup), and day three is blended/pureed diet, which will last for the next four weeks before going on to soft foods.

(Oh, and he doesn't have his patients do a barium swallow before discharge.) 

 

Mine was completely different. 3 weeks of 1000 calorie per day diet prior to surgery to shrink liver. No bowel prep. 2 days of clear liquids and then pureed for 2 weeks. At two weeks soft foods like eggs, lean meat, etc. and then at 6 weeks it's normal food, one food at a time. Never will I be allowed to eat more than one and a half cups of food at a meal again. Oh and for a month after surgery, I have to give myself 2 shots per day of lovenox (blood thinner).

Joanne,

I have thought the same thing about how different surgeons do things differently. I was on a 2 week no carb diet, I could have 2 small meals and 3 protein shakes a day, then 2 days before surgery I was on liquids and then a 2 day bowel prep. It all seems to work so out in the end.

Jeff

Yup, Rich and I (we had the same surgeon) had to lose some weight before hand but no liquid diet or bowel prep. No barium swallow since from what I have heard we had open and that is to check for leaks in the lap RNY's. Day after it was water, the next day it was clear liquids, then full liquids. That was for two weeks then mushies for two weeks. It's funny how each doctor does things but we all get the weight off and that's all that matters!

God I would have loved your doc!!  I was on liquids for two weeks before, 2 weeks after, then to pureed for another two weeks, then to soft food for another two weeks...and I am still in the middle of all this bull****!  I did not have to lose lbs before surgery but I was one of his "smaller" patients.  The had me on the liquid diet two weeks before so my liver would shrink and it would be easier to get to my belly.