Do you think my surgeon is just sadistic?

I've been too sad and cranky to post on here this week, but I'm dying to know if anyone else has gone through this. My surgery is in July, but while I wait I'm doing a 3 month pre-op "boot camp" where I meet with a trainer, a nutritionist, a "life coach", and a doctor. So I met with the nutritionist for the first time last Monday and she said that my surgeons have just decided to have their patients do the Liver Shrinking Diet for 2 weeks before beginning the nutrition program and again for 2 weeks pre-op. So, here's what I'm allowed to eat. Every Day. For 14 Days.

Breakfast: Carnation Instant Breakfast No Sugar Added ready made OR Slim Fast High Protein

Lunch: One of those shakes again plus a small piece of fruit (I don't like fruit, so my nut grudgingly agreed to let me drink 6 oz. of orange juice instead)

Snack: Cottage cheese OR yogurt OR cucumber slices OR baby carrots OR cherry tomatoes. This is where we have the most choice - but I don't like one thing on there. My very helpful nut said, "Well, try it" after every single thing. So I have been and all of them have made me gag. She finally told me I could have a 2% milk string cheese instead.

Dinner: A sandwich made of 2 slices of Nature's Own Whole Grain Double Fiber Wheat bread and 4 oz. of Hillshire Farm 97% fat free or Healthy Choice turkey, chicken, ham, or roast beef. One cup of non-starchy vegetables.

They're not specific at all are they?!?! I can have NO variation in this diet at all.

Of course, I also have to get in my 64 oz. of fluids, which I can do with all the usual no-calorie, no-sugar, non-carbonated beverages, but I can also have broth, sugar-free jello (yuck) or sugar-free fat-free fruit popsicles.

I'm on day 5, so I'm at the point where I feel like I've been doing it forever but I'm not even halfway done. And even if I make it through I have to do it AGAIN just six weeks later. I don't feel good, and I'm completely cranky. I just want some real food to eat. The string cheese I ate today was the first thing that I've actually enjoyed eating.

My surgeon's reason for doing this now was to jump start my weight loss and get me motivated to lose weight pre-op. They literally decided this for the first time last Friday before I met with my nut so I feel like a guinea pig and I want to report in that this is NOT a good plan.

Now, I know I have a lot of major changes that I have to be making in my life. I know this is going to be hard work. I know it was my choice. I even know it's my fault for letting myself get so fat in the first place. I'm just soooo tired and sad right now and I just want to be able to eat with other people or have something hot to eat. (I did have some hot broth for that reason the other night)

Wow. I'm sorry. This post came out longer and whinier than I intended. Here's the point - has anyone else had to do FOUR WEEKS of a LSD? Did you survive? Do you think it was worth it?

Sarah - sorry you are having a rough time.  I did two weeks before surgery on "optifast" it was hard, but by the 4th or 5th day i was fine, it reduces the fat in your liver so they will have more room in there when they do the surgery.  I know you can do this, just consider it training your tummy for the future - Lys

Arrggghhh! Don't know that I could have stuck to that for even 2 weeks!  My sister had to do it for lap band for liver shrinking NOT for "training", but the nut recognized she had been on WW for a year and had already lost 60 lbs and told her she could deviate. The "jump start" part gets me...do they think you've never dieted??? Sorry you got caught in that ambush!

Sarah, Hard as it is - the only way we get to have surgery is to do what the surgeon wants and every surgeon is different........... and what was done last month can change from month to month as they decide what is best for ther patients. I think you are in the middle of that transition and if you are successful they may decide to adopt it.  A fatty liver is very dangerous and anything you can do to make it shrink will certainly help you during surgery. If your liver is too large they can nick some of your vital organs during surgery..... trying to avoid a fatty liver is the best thing you can do for yourself pre-surgery. I agree the diet is very specific but I think they are just trying to make it easier for you. If they had not been so specific they would get a million questions asking which bread and which yogurt etc...

I know you feel you are having a rough time but you need to be prepared to change your lifetime eating habits so starting a few weeks early is not such a bad idea. And remember your ultimate goal  and the reason you are having this surgery -  to be a healthier you!! Starting a few weeks before surgery is not such a bad idea..... honestly....... I didn't have to experience this prior to surgery but I would have stood on my head in the corner for a week if they had told me to.......  ;-) Hang in there - you can do this and soon it will all be a distant memory....!! Jackie.

Oh Sarah..... You poor thing.  This stinks.....BUT....there is a method to their madness.  Always remember that what they are trying to do is to get you on board and to keep you there.  If you find this to be extremely difficult to follow and come off of it, it may be an indication that you will have a difficult time after surgery.  SO.....as cr*ppy as you feel, know that this is for the best.  That they have your best interest in mind and that food is NOT the most important thing.  You are stonger than any cheeseburger....I KNOW THAT YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! They feelings you have are pretty normal for us after surgery.  I remember blaming myself for getting fat, and why was I so different that I had to go to such an extreme.  Didn't seem fair.  And the depression is such a bear.  But, it is all of the toxins coming out of your organs that is doing the talking.  Remember that.   YOU did not get yourself fat.  I am quit sure that you did not get up every morning wondering what you could do that day to gain 2 more pounds and lower your self esteem even more. We gain weight because life gets int he way, or we are predisposed to gain weight, or the nutritional guidelines are so danged confusing, or we are emotional and have not come to terms with something in our past, but certain NOT because we wanted it.  So, do not think that this is your fault at all.  You tried tradional methods to get it off, and they did not work - for whatever reason. I never did 4 weeks of LSD (ha...that sounds funny.....), but, if someone else did it's a good indication that they survived and would probably tell you that it was worth it.  I have met very few...and I mean VERY few....people who say that the surgery was not worth it.  Most will tell you that if they had to do it every week, they would.  Just keep your eye on the prize, ok. Now, you said that you do not like fruit.  Is that ALL fruit or only certain ones?? Do you like strawberries?  Blueberries? Pineapple?  I ask, because my hubby does not like "fruit", but will eat blueberries, grapes, fresh cherries and the occasional apple with a piece of cheese on it.  So, I was thinking that maybe there is something out there that you might like. Hoping you feel better and have a better day!!! Also, I do not see why you cannot call your nutritionist if things get really bad.

Jill, you crack me up.  Every time someone hears that I don't like fruit - and I mean every time! - they start to list fruits.  Are you sure? What about this? Or this? Or they try and trick me...What about tomatoes? It's become a running joke in my family. ;)  And yes, I'm quite sure there is not one that I like.  I keep trying them and I keep gagging!  I'm hoping that since so many people's tastes change post-op that I may start liking  new things.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

While this can be a time of test and trials, it is something your surgeon and others out there do preop to WLS.  You wrote :  "My surgeon's reason for doing this now was to jump start my weight loss and get me motivated to lose weight pre-op. They literally decided this for the first time last Friday before I met with my nut so I feel like a guinea pig and I want to report in that this is NOT a good plan."  Are you saying this is the first time your surgeon has asked someone pre-op to do a weightloss diet pre-op ?  And is it not a good plan because it is hard for you to compy with ?  The reason I ask this is I see many pre-op diets and yours seems to be less complicated. Many have to do only liquids and not allowed any meats , bread or veggies.  I just ask that you stop and look at what is truly going on here . You are feeling deprived, feelings that will come after WLS as well . This will give you such an open window to face your feelings and emotions that come with the new lifestyle . Right now you can make the choice to do this or not . After WLS .. you have no choices . You must comply with the lifestyle or face the concequences.. those being dumping and fat intolerance (Gas .. etc )  The key yes is to get you motivated. I can tell you this . For me .. prior to WLS . I would have done anything, eaten anything they asked to get my day. I felt so fortunate to even get a green light to do this.  This is hard, I know first hand. I just ask that you look at all you have to gain from this . All the great physical and health issues that will move out of your way .  Take this time now to prepare for your new lifestyle .  Take the foods you can eat on this diet and see how you can change them to fit your life. If you can have the Healthy Choice meats, why not try making roll ups with lettuce or take the clear broth and add some unflavored protein powder to it to make it creamier.  I know you are really having a hard time , it is clearly written in your words. I just want you to see how worth it will all be . Make sure that this lifestyle is going to be something you can do . Most of the weightloss in the beginning is 60 % no effort, but the rest is mental and you truly need to be ready. After the first 6 months , a WLS patient really needs to start working this new lifestyle. The food choices will not be the same and you will need to be accountable for all that you put into your body.  I would also , keep a written journal of how you are feeling each day you are doing this . Be ready to discuss with your surgeon or your nut how you are feeling and ask for any tips or suggestions. Once your surgery date arrives, trust me , more than not , people will feel hungry .. when it is only head hunger. This is another emotion you need to be prepared for , and writing down how you feel when these moments happen , where and when they happen will give you the tools you need to work through it .  I know you can do this ! And I hope that I have not offended you. I just see a lot of post like yours and I feel compelled to just tell you how to prepare and get ready for a lifestyle change unlike any other .  Best wishes to you !  Natalie

Natalie -  You certainly didn't offend me!  I know all of that and I'm just trying to keep it in mind as I strugge with watching others eat while I just have to sit there.  My surgeon has had this diet in place before for all patients 2 weeks pre-op.  What's new is asking us to do this additional 2 weeks 3 months out to jump start our "boot camp" program.  I think what makes it hard is that my surgery is still really far away, so it's hard for me to see that light at the end of the tunnel.  Thanks! Sarah

Sarah, Each doc is different and I hesitate to say that mine did not require any special diet prior to surgery. However, your doc and your nut are working in your best interest and you will come out of this in great shape. Joe

Sarah, not a sadist, just trying to do the best for their patients.  I had not heard of anyone doing two preop diets so to speak, or the 6 weeks of boot camp but they find so much new stuff out all the time for the surgery and I know that they are doing everything possible to give the patients the best outlook possible.  I am sure that all of the changes are drastically hard, and yes you may be the guinea pig so to speak but in the long run, they may find out some fabulous stuff that will help patients.  Just keep pushing through.  Hopefully by having to go through these changes and all now, maybe the immediate feelings after surgery won't be as bad.  Keep strong Sarah, you can make it through this.