Pre Op diet concern

I am kinda worried cause I keep hearing about all these people that are on these liquid pre op diets for a couple weeks prior to surgery and the only food restriction I have from my surgeon is of course not to make my "last meal" the night before surgery. But no solid food after midnight the night before surgery. Is this normal or should I be concerned?

Each bariatric program has their own food plans. You will find similarity and differences in your journey. Follow your program your team has set up for you. You will be successful. 

Every surgeon is different. My surgeon only had me do a liquid diet the day before surgery then I had to drink 2 bottles of magnesium citrate to clean out my digestive track. It varies with each dr and they all seem to work. 

No food after midnight was it for me, too, surprised to learn a pre-op diet restriction even existed until reading about it here.  I asked about it at a follow-up appointment.  The answer probably varies within staff but here's what one said, "Dr. Smith decided to forego the pre-op diet finding it was too difficult for many to follow."  I took that as a polite way of saying, "the pre-op diet is a good idea but he gave up trying to get compliance from people with a history of non-compliance."  There's a chance you'd be high-fived by your medical team if you choose to do the pre-op liquid diet on your own.

Your doctor knows best.

The only reason I'd consider 'dieting' pre op (if I wasn't instructed to), would be to lose some weight beforehand. It's hard prior to surgery to realize that anything you lose - even before you surgery date - will stay off after your surgery.

So if you do decide to go with a pre op diet, it will add to your total losss quicker :)

I had 3 days on liquids... it stunk, but I did it.

My surgeon explained that the purpose of the pre-op diet is to reduce the size of the liver.  Since your liver processes sugars restricting intake forces it to process stored sugars and reduces the size.  This allows easier access to the places they need to get to with a lower risk of nicking anything. It might be that your body didn't seem to need this based on your anatomy.  It might be your surgeon does the procedure from a different angle. There is really no telling.  Just do what they ask you to do and all will be well! Congratulations on starting your journey.

~Elizabeth

     Different surgeons do things different ways. It's maddening, isn't it? You'd think there'd be an across the board standard regarding pre-op diets. It's normal for your surgeon, so go with it.

    Like I said in another post, I really believe that strict pre-op diet, no matter if it's 30 days, or 3 days, is a test of compliance more than anything. I think surgeons tell us it shrinks our livers so we're more likely to stick to it. A 30 day restricted diet might help shrink it a little, but I've not actually done any research on it because, frankly, I'm just too lazy. I got the "liver shrinking" spiel from my surgeon, but I always just thought of it as a test to see if I'd behave. (  I did. )

   I had a 30 day Optifast diet-whi*****luded the Optifast bar or soup for one meal replacement with 1 food low carb, high protein meal allowed per day. I was also allowed SF jello, cucumbers, and dill pickles, and I had to aim for as much water as I could. Obviously, I had to cut out alcohol, sugary foods, any soda at all ( diet too ) and caffeine. ( That was the only thing I *****ed about, but I did it. ) Two days before surgery, I did full liquids, and the day before I did clear liquids only with nothing after midnight.

  I think a short all liquid diet before surgery can help get us used to being on liquids for an extended amount of time after surgery-if that's how your diet is advanced. ( which I was. )

  Of course, this is just my opinion.