Vandy's New Juice Pre-op Diet...

I'm amazed and disgruntled...

When I first began the nutrition classes, it was carnation instant b-fast 4 times a day or some such.

Now that it's my turn to have surgery they've changed it to nothing but JUICE for 8 days?????

Oh. With protein powder in them but STILL. I've even googled this "juice fast" and at about.com it says it's not recommended right before a surgery... It seems as though it'd be VERY hard to get sated just off regular protein drinks for 8 days but ... JUICE?? That goes straight through you! Not to mention it has tons of sugar, I can't drink much juice like that without feeling sick to my stomach cause it's so sugary!

I guess this is just a rant of sorts... I hear all of these people on other forums saying they only have to eat low-carb before surgery with no crazy fasting for any length of time or even protein drink fasts which makes TONS more sense to me and they're all out of op and doing just fine...
 To me this just seems barbaric. WHO gets full off of juice!???

At least one is slightly sated from milk products.

/rant...

should also mention I've been doing fine eating post-op style for a couple of months and doing fine with that. i just don't get the insanity of ALL juice and can't for the life of me understand the reasoning behind it with so many others successfully shrinking their livers with much less stringent methods...

This is the first I've heard about the juice fasting, I knew that their pre-surgery diet had changed, but last I had heard it was just from the instant carnation sugar-free to I believe the bariatric advantage protein supplement. Maybe they've changed it to juice because of alot of patients are lactose intolerant, I really don't know, did you ask the dietician why? I also have heard little about this since lead the post-op support group there, I have little contact with pre-op patients. But I assure you that they're not trying to kill ya. Really I'd rather been on the juice than the instant carnation, you have alot more variety than I did. The instant carnation 6 times a day for 10 days plus 2 cups of broth is really hard, but they have a method to their madness. You only have to do this for 8 days, and it isn't going to be any worse than the ICB, as you wouldn't get full off it either. They aren't looking to make sure you're full, they are looking to make you ready for surgery, both shrinking your liver and cleaning out your bowels and breaking your addiction to food. Frankly, if you can't make it through this pre-surgery diet to have surgery, then you're probably not ready for the surgery, and I believe that is another reason behind the pre-surgery diet. FYI, they will cancel your surgery if you don't follow it, I have heard them talk about having to do it. I'm glad to hear that they do take it serious, it's a serious surgery, I don't feel good about these places that do the surgery with no pre-surgery diet and just a bowel cleanse the day before, how does that do anything to shrink your liver and get you ready for life after surgery.

I know it's a shock, I *****ed about it when I had to do it for 10 days, and days 2 through 4 were really rough. Make sure you have stuff to keep you busy. I'm sure you can do this, you just have to want it bad enough. It does seem cruel when you are doing it, but it will only help you break up with the foods that helped get you to where you are.

Good luck, you're in good hands. They may not always tell you what you want, but you can trust they are going to take good care of you.

On October 7, 2009 at 4:42 PM Pacific Time, Kenneth C. wrote: This is the first I've heard about the juice fasting, I knew that their pre-surgery diet had changed, but last I had heard it was just from the instant carnation sugar-free to I believe the bariatric advantage protein supplement. Maybe they've changed it to juice because of alot of patients are lactose intolerant, I really don't know, did you ask the dietician why? I also have heard little about this since lead the post-op support group there, I have little contact with pre-op patients. But I assure you that they're not trying to kill ya. Really I'd rather been on the juice than the instant carnation, you have alot more variety than I did. The instant carnation 6 times a day for 10 days plus 2 cups of broth is really hard, but they have a method to their madness. You only have to do this for 8 days, and it isn't going to be any worse than the ICB, as you wouldn't get full off it either. They aren't looking to make sure you're full, they are looking to make you ready for surgery, both shrinking your liver and cleaning out your bowels and breaking your addiction to food. Frankly, if you can't make it through this pre-surgery diet to have surgery, then you're probably not ready for the surgery, and I believe that is another reason behind the pre-surgery diet. FYI, they will cancel your surgery if you don't follow it, I have heard them talk about having to do it. I'm glad to hear that they do take it serious, it's a serious surgery, I don't feel good about these places that do the surgery with no pre-surgery diet and just a bowel cleanse the day before, how does that do anything to shrink your liver and get you ready for life after surgery.

I know it's a shock, I *****ed about it when I had to do it for 10 days, and days 2 through 4 were really rough. Make sure you have stuff to keep you busy. I'm sure you can do this, you just have to want it bad enough. It does seem cruel when you are doing it, but it will only help you break up with the foods that helped get you to where you are.

Good luck, you're in good hands. They may not always tell you what you want, but you can trust they are going to take good care of you. "If I can't do this 8 day thing I won't be ready for surgery" is bull.

Like I said, I've been following the POST-op diet fine for 2 months, and lost plenty of weight on it also...

I know they aren't looking for full, but when drinking milk it at least sates SOME as opposed to juice.

I was simply ranting, and most I've talked to on another forum say it sounds equally insane.

So please don't tell me how I must not be ready for this surgery...

 Sorry you feel that way, I'm not here to judge, I'm here to help.

Good Luck!

You could do the "diet juices", in other words, Diet Ocean Spray, reduced sugar orange juice (which I've only seen at Kroger, at 9 sugars per 8 oz), etc.  if you are concerned about sugar.

I would just contact them, let them know you are not lactose intolerance, and at least ask if you can do the CIB.  OR, there are many fruity protein shakes such as Nectar Twisted Cherry, Inspire's Pomegranate Rasberry, etc. which are very good....

Sorry you're ticked. Hope you get it worked out.  But, the prize at the end, its well worth it.

THANK you for being supportive and helping me problem solve as opposed to judging my readiness for a surgery I've been after for 10 years.

 I know they totally pulled carnation instant breakfast (sugar free), I think I remember it being due to alot of people not being able to find it. Which some may be due to the areas where alot of their patients are, which seem to be rural parts of TN & KY, and others where stores are no longer carrying it.  But I remember it no longer being an option and hearing that patients were not happy about it.

But Mel is right, I'd check with the nutritionist Jessica or call the nurses at Vandy, if you are really concerned about the pre-surgery diet. But whatever they give you to do I'd follow it to a T. There are alot of not pleasant things about the surgery and alot of us had to go through it as well, I wish you luck with it.

I'm not trying to be mean about it, maybe a little tough, but it's because I care. I see alot of people several years out who are where they were before they start or not where they should be with the weight loss and it's because they didn't take the surgery serious enough. I see alot of people that shouldn't have been able to have the surgery YET. They weren't ready for it and now they're back for revisions or still struggling to get that last 30 to 60 lbs off, but you hear what they are eating and such. So when I hear alot of the pre-op patients on the forums here I wonder, will they make it, that is what keeps me in check, I don't want to end up where I was ever again. I understand not being happy about the pre-op diet, and I'm sure they will discuss it with you, whether they will bend on it, I don't know. But I assure you many before you have gone through similar diets there. But do call and speak to someone there if you're unhappy about it so if nothing else you can understand the why of what their pre-op diet is. If you need, I believe I have an email address for Jessica, if you need it or even a phone number for the program coordinator, who may be more accessible than the nutritionist, who I believe is short handed right now. If you need it just message me on here and I'll get it for you.

Good luck, it gets better. I hope to see ya afterwards at the Post-Op support group.

On October 7, 2009 at 6:13 PM Pacific Time, Kenneth C. wrote:  I know they totally pulled carnation instant breakfast (sugar free), I think I remember it being due to alot of people not being able to find it. Which some may be due to the areas where alot of their patients are, which seem to be rural parts of TN & KY, and others where stores are no longer carrying it.  But I remember it no longer being an option and hearing that patients were not happy about it.

But Mel is right, I'd check with the nutritionist Jessica or call the nurses at Vandy, if you are really concerned about the pre-surgery diet. But whatever they give you to do I'd follow it to a T. There are alot of not pleasant things about the surgery and alot of us had to go through it as well, I wish you luck with it.

I'm not trying to be mean about it, maybe a little tough, but it's because I care. I see alot of people several years out who are where they were before they start or not where they should be with the weight loss and it's because they didn't take the surgery serious enough. I see alot of people that shouldn't have been able to have the surgery YET. They weren't ready for it and now they're back for revisions or still struggling to get that last 30 to 60 lbs off, but you hear what they are eating and such. So when I hear alot of the pre-op patients on the forums here I wonder, will they make it, that is what keeps me in check, I don't want to end up where I was ever again, I understand not being happy about the pre-op diet, and I'm sure they will discuss it with you, whether they will bend on it, I don't know. But I assure you many before you have gone through similar diets there. But do call and speak to someone there if you're unhappy about it so if nothing else you can understand the why of what their pre-op diet is. If you need, I believe I have an email address for Jessica, if you need it or even a phone number for the program coordinator, who may be more accessible than the nutritionist, who I believe is short handed right now. If you need it just message me on here and I'll get it for you.

Good luck, it gets better. I hope to see ya afterwards at the Post-Op support group. I'm glad you're concerned about those who have not done as well as you post-op.

But because I'm ranting about a pre-op diet, don't paint me with the same brush, please.

It was a simple rant--and a lot of people agree (on another board) that they've never heard of such a thing.

My two cents...  every surgeron is different...  even within the same practice.  So while some might have gone through one set standards of pre-op diet, others might go through something else,  there is a method to their madness.  It is what they have found and believe to be the best possible thing in order to get through the surgery. 

So...  while the juice might seem "different" atleast you get to add protein to it..  you will be amazed at how full that will make you feel!

Good luck with the pre-op diet, your surgery and post-op recovery!