Pre-op hunger

I have been on a liquid diet for 2 days but last night I just couldnt stay on it. I am worried that I might have a hard time after surgery. I know I wont be ABLE to eat as much but last night I just had to have some meat! I didnt go wild and eat everything in sight but 2 ribs aint liquid. I stayed on it all day today but made a salad for dinner and I feel fine. I think these are my "last supper" blues. Any suggestions on how to keep from straying? Thanks,

The new smaller stomach after surgery reduces to eliminates post-op hunger so you only have to deal with the pre-op situation.  i was n a liver shrinking preop diet that wasn't completely liquid. I could do Slimfast for breakfas****er and a protein bar snack, Slimfat and fruit for lunch, water in the afternoon, dinner included 4-6 oz of lean meat (source of protein) and all of the raw vegetable (I ate steamed broccoli), wateer and an occansioanl protein bar snack at night.  I lost 14 lbs in 13 days before surgery.  I have hear of others like Rockn4U who got startted just recentlyt that lost more and ChuckNut that lost 25 pre-op on that Optifast pre-op diet. A fudge or two won't hurt you but disregard for the pre-op diet can cause the doctor to abort the surgery so don't mess up too much too often.  You can survive this.  When I got hungry, I drank water and I came to this website and looked at before and after pictures and read peoples profiles.. Their successes kept me motivated that I could succeed too. You can do this, soon you'll be post-op and advising others.   Hang in there man!!

Thanks Joe! I look at the before and after pics too and it does motivate me. My surgeon told me that if I was more than 314 he would not do the surgery. I am at 306 and dropping and hopefully shrinking the old liver. Your diet sounds way better than mine. I think if I do the liquids all day then salad at night I should be good.

I started my pre-op diet yesterday. Not all liquid, but all protein. Pre-packaged, just add water type stuff. Yesterday I had 5 protein bars, Yummy. Today I had 2 bowls of watery chicken soup. 4 oz. of nasty jello, and 2 protein bars. I also had 4 chicken wings( not on my diet)... because I'm a carnivore, dammit. It's gonna be a rough 2 weeks. Don't feel like the lone ranger. DD  

Hey Erog - the pre-op diet is rough, but if you are on it to shrink your liver to increase your chances for a Lap procedure versus and Open procedure, it is WELL WORTH IT!!!!   And, thanks Joe for the great memory with my pre-op diet, the only error was stating I was on the OptiFast.   I was actually taking 2-3 SlimFast High Protein shakes, and 1-2 Healthy Choice frozen entrees per day.  This was my surgeon's recommendation, and I did lose 25 pounds by doing this for the 3 weeks prior to surgery.  It wasn't easy, but I kept thinking about Shrinking my Liver so I could get the Lap RNY, and thankfully my surgeon was able to do that. The only thing I can say to you Erog, is to think about the reason you're on it - and, try and get away from the "last meal" mentality.  When I was on my pre-op diet and would see all the Pizza commercials, or be craving a big Burger and Onion Rings, I just reminded myself that I had eaten enough pizza and burgers for a lifetime of last meals, and that one "last" pizza wasn't worth the risk of complicating my surgery.  To me it was just a matter of reminding myself that the decision to have surgery was a commitment I was making to myself, and no food on the planet was going to get in my way of making this a success. Stick with it - you will be amazed at how quickly your surgery date gets here, and I think by sticking with the pre-op diet, it has made the cravings less since the surgery.   Hang in there - you're worth it!!! Chuck

Erog, For pre? I’d recommend SF Popsicles. SOMETHING TO CHEW!!!

Is always helpful. Post-op? It is actually easier in a strange way. Early on, most are in enough pain to have something else to focus on… And, knowing that eating too fast or too much = pain or vomiting

Takes a lot of the "shine" off of food. Yes? Hang in there and just keep a SF popsicles going 24/7 if you have to. Best Wishes- Dx

Much easier post-op.  No question.  You will want to crunch something so SF popsicles are a great idea.

I had my Lap-Band done 3/27/07  I started my Opti-Fast Pre-op Diet 3/13 at 341lbs.   Day of Surgery (3/27) I was 322lbs.  It was all Liquid Protein Shakes, 800 Calories a day, but they where very filling.  I thought I'd NEVER EVER be able to do it.  Ask your Doc about Opti-Fast.  They really did fill me up.  Also the s/f Jello and s/f Popsicles really helped.  I'm not saying it was easy, but helped.  You also have to have the Drive to "Change Things".  It's very hard to go for the Old Way, to the New Way.  But you've got to Want it!!!  You can do it!!!  It was like a Battle within myself. 
Stay focused on the Big Prize!

Rocko~

I know how you feel, this is my second day on the diet and could use some real food, but I am on this to shrink my liver so I guess I will hang tough.  I am on it for 3 1/2 weeks before my surgery.  Hang in there they say it gets better and it will be worth it.

If someone told you it was going to be easy, they lied to you. You have your share of efforts to put in and the pre-op diet is the biggest one. BUT, as the others have mentioned, you need to remind yourself as to WHY you are doing it. If you think it's a survival issue, as many of us have thought, then you have the right idea. This sacrifice is for 3-3.5 weeks, then surgery, then a couple weeks liquid , then a couple more of mush, then normal food (with some exceptions) Just be aware that the first 4-5 days are the worst, this is a radical change from your normal eating/binging pattern. What I would suggest is that if you can stick to the diet for a week, you could reward yourself with ONE food item (preferably healthy) that you like. This will make it easier on you, and don't feel guilty about it. The diet is to reduce your liver size in order for the surgeon to be able to lift it to do the required procedure with a laparactomy. Failure to have a liver that can be taken out of the way will result in one of two things depending on your surgeon: he may close you up and send you back for another 3 weeks of dieting, or he can open you up and do it with access to everything, and you having a mother of a scar and much more chances of complications (including bigger risk of hernia, infection, etc...) So think of the reason you are going through this, the reason your surgeon is asking you to do it, and what is your motivation to do it. As I said, cheating the diet once or twice in three weeks is minimalistic in consequences, doing it everyday is cheating yourself and no-one else in the end. Courage, it's a bad phase, that's necessary, but things DO get better for you in a short while. Regards, Marcel