Question:
Are there any limits to what you can eat the week before your surgery?

   — Sharon H. (posted on May 2, 2002)

May 1, 2002
My doc recommended eating lite the day before the surgery but also prescribed some kind of funky phosphorous (?) laxative treatment...let me tell you, that would have cleaned out an entire all you can eat buffet! You will receive plenty of instructions from your doc, I am sure, regarding pre and post op diet. Congrats on your date!
   — rebeccamayhew

May 2, 2002
My dr did not place any restrictions on what I could eat before surgery other than to not eat after midnight. It depends on your dr's orders. I did not have to do bowel cleansing (thank goodness!) and had a pleasant "last" meal of sirloin tips and fettuccini alfredo with tiramisu for dessert. But do you know it wasn't all that great? In retrospect, I would have preferred a smoothie! That's what I miss most now. No Smoothie King for me--too much sugar!
   — ctyst

May 2, 2002
You probally could eat whatever you wanted that week before. As for my surgeon's requirement, I had to go clear liquids at least 24 hours before surgery. That was very hard. But thankfully no laxative things that many others have had to do. ;)
   — Danmark

May 2, 2002
My doctor requires 48 hours of nothing but clear liquids before surgery. I'm scheduled to have surgery this Tuesday, so Saturday night will probably be a feeding fest. LOL! He told us he doesn't want us to eat any food for 48 hours because he wants the stomach completely cleaned out before surgery. He said that patients who still have food in their stomachs stand a greater chance of getting an infection after surgery. Also, he said that not eating for 48 hours "shrinks" the liver, which makes it easier for him to perform the surgery.
   — Kristie B.

May 2, 2002
I could not eat or drink anything after I went to bed the Sunday night before surgery or Midnight, whichever came first. My brother and his family took me and my parents (everyone) out to eat at the best steak house about 7pm that evening. I might add that I'd eaten at the Outback Steakhouse the weekend before, and Olive Garden (all the salad and bread sticks you can eat) on Tuesday, Mexican food with margaritas on Thursday with friends after work, and then the tradition, Pizza delivered on Friday! - I can't believe it did it! It seems a million years ago!
   — blank first name B.