Question:
Liquid diet

I am having one hell of a time on this liquid diet. My surgery date is May 29th and I am on day 2 of this liquid diet. I am so hungry, having horrible headaches too. I can add fruit to my shakes if blended but they don't want me to have any solids. I know people who did this and were allowed to have chicken and veggies, no carbs or starchy foods or fruit. If I allow myself some chicken, nuts, or veggies once in a while will I ruin my surgery chances? I just need honesty. I will be weighed again this friday so I will know what my progress is. Thanks!    — MyOrchids (posted on May 18, 2009)


May 18, 2009
Heather, I don't think eating chicken or veggies will ruin your surgery chances, but not losing weight on the liquid phase will. Have you lost any weight yet? If you haven't, I wouldn't chance it. Some doctors don't require a liquid diet before surgery. You have to do what you can live with. I mean if you feel ill, it's your body's way of telling you to feed it. YOU know your body best. I'm no expert, but from all the research I've done, I would think that the chicken (because it's a low fat protein) would be your best choice. Of course, make sure you don't overdo it. Good luck, you WILL get through this! I haven't met a person yet that said that the liquid diet wasn't complete hell!
   — marcia5000

May 18, 2009
Hi i am going to have surgeru June 11th 2009.I am going to be taking that proteine diet also is it that bad .....All i can tell u is ont May 28th i am starting it ..and tell yourself like i will tell myself it is only 2 weeks then we will be better ..By the way who is the surgeon doing your surgey? Mine is Dr Jetee In Longeuil...give me news i am looking for someone to be in touche with who ig going to have the same thing has me so we can exchange our progress...thanks ..anmd good Luck if i dont get any response from you before your surgery..xxx Carole
   — Vivelaliberter

May 18, 2009
One thing I've learned from talking to others and from research is one of the reasons a surgeon has you do a liquid diet is to shrink the liver so that they can get into that area and do your surgery properly. If the liver is it's normal size, they can't do what they need to. Now, I can't imagine 2 weeks on an all liquid diet. Hopefully it's not just a surgeon's form of a "test" to see if you can make it. I am pre-WLS and will be having lapband around December. He requires a 3 day liquid diet. Good luck!
   — Libby R.

May 18, 2009
I feel your pain. I am on day 7 of a 14 day liquid diet. To be honest this diet sucks. It is the hardest diet I have been on in years. See is you can have some suger free jello or the new Crystal Light frozen pops they are the bomb. I have to say I have cheated a little bit. Had some cheese but tried to make good choices with my cheating. I also have had a headache for three days now. Can't take anything because of the up coming sugery. I wish you all the luck. Stay positive all the hunger pains and headaches will be worth it in the end. We will come out of this as a big loser. Try to staying busy or sleep a lot which ever one works best for you. I am trying to stay busy. Stay strong. Have a great day.
   — dsquire

May 19, 2009
Heather, I understand what you're going through - I've been there two years ago. The writer who mentioned shrinking the liver is right on target. If the surgeon wants you on this liquid diet preop there is a reason why. I had my surgery two years ago in Cleveland. Some people were put on a liquid diet and others were not so there must be some medical reason why they want you on it. I wouldn't cheat for that simple reason. I found that the headaches came about as "withdrawal" symptoms from some food craving. Make sure you're getting protein and not sugar from your liquids. Good luck to you and keep us up to date on your progress. I lost 136 pounds after surgery but have gained 6 pounds back recently. I've decided to go on a liquid diet with you to get rid of those six pounds! Maureen, Akron
   — Muggs

May 19, 2009
I had VSG on March 25 and I was having some challenges with the 2 week liquid diet as well and was told it was to shrink my liver. I asked my surgery team if I could eat lean protien like chicken and veggies and they said yes as long as I chewed them very thouroughly until they are mush in my mouth. I did this and it really helped me to prepare for after surgery when I was able to start eating I always need to chew my food very thouroughly. By chewing it till its mush you make it easier to digest and don't work your stomach or liver as much. I also had sugar free liquids and popsicles and some protien drinks. I did lose 12 lbs in my pre-op diet so it still helped. I didn't eat much kept the portions small too. I hope you have great success and I sugest asking your sugery team if it would be ok for you to do this especially if you chew the food well. God bless Lisa
   — Lisa von Wallmenich

May 19, 2009
I am 2 weeks post op gastric sleeve. This is what I did, boil your chicken till it is cooked then I blended it with some chicken broth if it goes through a straw it is full liquid and I would eat it with a spoon. The chicken does not need to totally disappear but it needs to be very small like to slide up a straw. You can do this with just about anything. Always keep in mind if it goes through a straw with liquid it is a full liquid. Hope this helps oh and it did not affect me losing weight cause I loss 12 pounds before my surgery and my surgery went well. They want this so our liver shrinks to help them get to our stomach. Good luck and bless you, Allways Joy, Liz P/S Any other questions contact me I really do not mind.
   — joy2others2

May 19, 2009
Hi! I am 3 weeks out from rny and still on my clear liquid sugar-free diet. I have been on this since April 18th. It is very hard, but worth it. The purpose is to shrink your liver so the surgeon will have no problems during surgery. It can mean the difference between having a laproscopic procedure or an open one. At this point I am actually afriad to try real food again. I get to start having extra flavoring added to my protein shakes now and then next week move to the baby food phase. I know it's hard, but well worth it! Good luck!!
   — Teresa R.

May 19, 2009
I have not even been approved for my surgery yet, but the surgeon told us during the informational seminar that we would be required to go on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery to make sure our liver had shrunk. He said that if we did NOT do that, he might not be able to do the surgery once he got in there, and would have to back out and close without having done the surgery. That would be enough motivation for ME to not cheat on that liquid diet!!
   — lobo1056




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