Is liquid diet pre-surgery necessary?

I saw my doc today to discuss my 3/24 banding and he said the 2-week liquid fast was not necessary.  I spoke with my friend who was banded a year ago (who has lost 115 lbs) and she said she had to do the liquids for two weeks prior to surgery.  I am much aware of the benefits and reasoning of the liquid fast.  I would love to hear from those who has had a similar recommendation please.  Thanks!

I'm currently on my 2 week liquid diet and am counting the days until surgery! Its been kinda tough but I'm working through it and it will be very worth it in the end plus, I've lost 3 or 4 lbs in the last 5 days! Can't wait for March 20th to be here!

I had to only do 4 days.  It is to shrink your liver so when he is doing your surgery, he has more room to work.  As long as you have protein, you should be alright.  Like I said, mine was only 4 days so it went fast for me.
Best of luck to you in your weight loss journey!!!

Doreen

Each Doctor is different. I heard some who say 2 weeks, others say a week, some only a few days. Go by what your Doctor told YOU. He knows you, and what will be needed to make the surgery successful. But if you want to “be on the safe side" do it 2 - 3 days before (which is what I did) - that is unless your Doctor tell you differently.

I am two days from surgery...have been on liquids for 12 days.  I've lost 16.3 pounds on the liquid diet.  It's challenging.  There are days that you breeze through and then, the dreaded weekend for me!  Something about a Sunday hits hard and causes me to have to 'work through it'.  Once it's gone and Monday rolls round, I'm fine.  Try hard to find a protein powder that you like.  I disovered a vanilla flavor and I make banana creme shakes using 1% milk and sugar free pudding mix (1 tblspn).  I add about 7 ice cubes in the blender and bam...tastes so good.  Experimenting with the different tastes is a good thing.  I'm so ready for surgery Thursday and one more week of liquids...then, baby....pureed foods!!!!  YYYYeeeeehhhhaaaawwww!!!  Yes, I'm excited!!  Hang in there...and each time you drop one pound, you have incentive enough to keep on keepin' on!  And, when you really need a boost...take time to look at before and after pics of the successful folks!  Dynamite!  Gotta love it!!

Thanks and good luck with our surgery!!

I too was told to go on the "two week fast", but what I ate was not a choice...my surgeon has the two weeks and the one week post op meals already packaged for me so its easier to keep on track.  I was also told that not only is the diet necessary to shrink the liver to make seeing the stomach easier during surgery, but that you will have a better post op experience having done this first.  I am counting on that....I started the fast on Tuesday, March 3rd and here it is 9 days later (and 5 days before my surgery) and I am 11+ lbs down! ....It has been easier than I thought...I just hate the taste of shakes, in fact I was more worried about the fast than the surgery,  but you get use to it....I am a little different than many, because I have no sweet tooth at all and the shakes and protein bars all too sweet for me.  I am allowed broth, and water based vegetables like celery, cukes, lettuce, vinegar and fat free salad dressings in moderation...so I will have a shake for each meal and then for lunch and dinner I will make the simplest of salads to satisfy my need for "savory" and it seems to have worked for me.  And drink, drink, drink!! At least 64 oz a day.  More importantly though, this two week experience has taught me that if I want something enough, I will be able to do it.  Also, it has taught me that when faced with dietary limitations, I can improvise enough to satisfy me.  I hope that maybe some of the things I have learned, may be of some help to you.

My surgery is next Tuesday the 17th and my surgeon insists on a liquid diet for a week so I started the 10th. I can have sugar free jello, broth, sugar free Popsicles and my protein shakes (2-3 a day) and plenty of water. I can have crystal lite so that helps. It has not been too difficult so far. Today was tough as I had to go to a meeting for work with about 100 people with a lunch provided by Kraft. I planned ahead and brought my jello and a protein shake and just took a break in my car to avoid the food and having to explain. My understanding is this shrinks the liver and helps to insure a successful surgery. So far I have lost 4 pounds in 3 days so that's a great side effect! Over all I have lost 12 pounds since I first saw my surgeon and have already started with a trainer at the fitness center that is part of the Delmarva Bariatric Center. I am so excited and pleased I found this program! Good luck with your surgery! Cynthia

Hi
I lost 16.5 pounds on my two week pre-op liquid diet.  And, I discovered if you take Jello Sugar Free Banana Creme Pudding and add about a tablespoon to your shake, yummmy!!!

I was required to do it and it not only dropped pounds off me, it got my mind and body into sync.  By the time I had surgery last Thursday, I had lost weight and had successfully navigated those two weeks.  Now, post-op, it's interesting.  I have no appetite thus far.  We'll see what we see in the coming days.  But, I'm ready to have a week behind me and the little aches (from gas) and the slight temp gone.  Good luck with your decision.