Question:
Has anyone done the 4 week liquid HMR 800 shakes prior to surgery?

ok. i have a surgery date set for 1/05/09. I have to do a 4 week liquid diet prior to that which i started on the 7th. I have cheated twice. With these shakes, I can only have the shakes themselves, and all the water and crystal light I want. I am so scared I have sabatoged myself for surgery. I have a doctors appointment with my surgery the 18th. I am done falling off the wagon. I guess what I am trying to ask is, is there anyway that my doctor can tell I have eaten before I see him on thursday. I cheated my 4th day and 5th day in on the diet. Just really scared. I really want this more than I have ever wanted anything else.    — jackie L. (posted on December 13, 2008)


December 13, 2008
I had to do liquids for 2 weeks before mine in 2005. My doctor told me it was because fatty foods make your liver hard and non pliable and if they couldn't get the liver out of the way of the laproscopic cameras, then they'd have to open me up all the way. That scared me enough. But I think I cheated a little bit. Not a lot, but I worried about it too. The best thing to do is to be honest with your doctor about your mistakes. Don't worry about him finding out, just tell him. He will probably understand. Plus, I bet you lose weight anyway doing as well as you're doing. It's tough. I mean, we didn't get heavy by having willpower!! Don't be so hard on yourself and remember, tell your doctor. It's going to be fine. Good luck!!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 13, 2008
Your doctor probably won't be able to tell. That said, you picked a hard month to do liquids and I wish you the very best of luck. If you are serious about this WLS, you won't cheat again and will start off the new year on a path to health and wellness. Congrats, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

December 13, 2008
I am sure the doctor will not know you cheated at all. If you stick to your diet for the most part you should be just fine. Each doctor asks for different requirements. Any where from 4 weeks to no liquids at all and a regular diet up to surgery. The benefit of the liquid is to reduce the size of the liver making the procedure easier to preform. Best of luck to you, don't be to hard on yourself. You are human and allowed a pass now and then. Just do your best. Happy Holidays.
   — DianeMB

December 13, 2008
The reason for the liquid pre-op diet is to shrink the size of your liver in order to make the procedure easier. The doctor won't be able to tell that you cheated. With that being said, be honest to your doctor. After surgery you need a strong lifetime commitment to your health. If you can't change your old eating habits you might fail. You need to re-examine your priorities and remind yourself that health is your #1 reason to do this. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

December 13, 2008
Jackie, Don't worry about what you have eaten. Relax and do what your supposed to do. As far as the Drinks go, I haven't had any problem with crystal light and other waters. Jackie, I went through the surgery and I am almost 2 years out. I have lost 285lbs. I did have times that I cheated but when we cheat it can't be a big amount. When you find you have cheated think about where you are right now. That always keeps me on the right track. In the future always go back to the basics. Good luck on your journey. It is great feeling and seeing the weight loss. Remember this, Don't look how far you have to go, Look how far you have come! and Don't live to eat! Eat to live!
   — obx100

December 13, 2008
Relax! Stress is the last thing you need right now, and some Dr's don't seem to get that they contribute to the problem. I've heard of a number of Dr's who say if you don't lose X lbs, or if you gain 1 lb they won't operate. But they all do. And when they have, everything went fine. I'm sure it is a question of reducing the size of the liver etc. But if you approach it with the intention of doing the best you can without driving yourself crazy, you've done your job. Stress will only make things worse. I think this applies pre and post op! Relax.
   — mybestself

December 13, 2008
Hello! I am 6 days post op. My doctor did not require a liquid diet but did suggest losing weight. The reason is not to torture you but to better prepare you for surgery. When you loose weight the fisrt thing that happens is that your liver shrinks allowing access to you stomach enabling the docotrs to perform the surgery with less difficulty laproscopically. If dieting came easy to you, you probalby would not be considering this surgery. I don't think you doctor will ask for a confession, but when he asks how your doing tell him you are doing your best and that it is difficult. I am sure he'll understand. My preop weight was 398 is lost 30 lbs before surgery. I had a Lap RNY!! My doctor said that I made is possible with my weght loss. Lap RNY, less scarring, fast recoup time..........it's a win win! I did the 5 & 5 similiar to medi-fast, but I used "Unjury" shakes which I love. I had them 5 times a day, with one low fat meal with all food groups. Then I went on straight liquids 48 hours prior. Every situation is different, it's best to ask the advice of your doctor or NUT. Keep strong and have faith in yourself! Best of luck!
   — Fircrkr64

December 14, 2008
The doctor is NOT the food police, but an advocate for your health. Instead of lying and hiding things from your doctor, be honest and ask them for help.
   — SharonZ

December 14, 2008
I had to do a 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery, but I was allowed one meal per day consisting of a lean protein source and a vegetable. This was to shrink my enlarged liver. I only officially cheated once, 2 days before surgery. I had 1/2 of a toasted bagel. Felt a bit guilty, but I am a bread lover and it had just hit home that after this surgery I most likely won't be able to tolerate breads, so I enjoyed every bite of it! now, I am 6 days post op and doing very well. Don't beat yourself up about it, but be careful for the rest of the days before surgery.
   — Kristi K.

December 14, 2008
The diet is only to lose some weight to shrink your liver...The only way your doc will know you had any real food is 1. If you gained weight rather than losing and I do not think the kind of cheating you did even added an ounce! 2. If you pig out the night before surgery and are full of waste the morning of surgery! So...Don't do that! And relax so come surgery day you can be excited and ready to be on your journey! What a journey it is! Good luck and blessings!
   — .Anita R.

December 14, 2008
Jackie, Congrats on deciding to lose your weight and take control of yourself again. Go to your doctor and be honest with him. And to everyone who told you doctors don't know if you cheat; that is wrong they do know. You are only sabotaging yourself if you don't tell the doctor. You will probably be just fine as surgeries go. It is hard to stay on a liquid diet but its temporary remember. Most of the time its just a matter of adjusting to your unique situation. You will be glad you did this when you start to lose weight and become a "hottie". Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl
   — vinnigirl

December 14, 2008
What kind of foods did you eat when you cheated? You have a whole month to be on that diet, and the main purpose of that diet is to shrink you liver to make surgery safer (which means no carbs!). I only had to do a liquid diet for 5 days before the surgery... and here I thought I had it bad lol. I know some people who don't have to do a liquid diet at all and just have to eat low carb foods (like chicken, salad, ect). But I think you will be just fine, and if you are really concerned about it then ask your doctor when you go to see him (I can guarantee you that you will not be the first person he has had that has cheated).
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 16, 2008
I just had my realize band on 12/10/08. I did cheat while I was on my pre-liquid diet and I still managed to have my sugery and it went well....
   — Nicole Wilson




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