Should I do a longer Pre-op diet than doctor requires?

Hi everyone. My surgery is scheduled for 2/21.  My doctor only requires me to be on basically a 3 day pre op diet. Two days of full liquids only, followed by one day of clear liquids only.  I have seen so many people on here that have to do 1 or even 2 weeks of a pre op diet and how important it is. So, I was thinking about doing the full liquid portion of the diet for at least a few more days than what's required. What do you guys think?  

Totally up to you, but I don't want you to get discouraged - the pre-op diet sucks big time!  And remember, you'll be on liquids for awhile (seems like forever) post-op too.  Unless there is a clear medical need for it, I wouldn't bother.  

Instead, I would focus on getting my plan in place for post-op.  Make sure you have the right stuff in the house (and get rid of the bad stuff), start logging your food, water, and exercise (I like MyFitnessPal), take "before" pictures, and record your measurements.  

Good luck - the 21st will be here before you know it!

It won't hurt anything, but it will be very hard and potentially discouraging.

What are your post op instructions like?  If you go a couple of weeks before and then have to go 4 weeks after.....that's a very long time:)

The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver because they need to put a retractor under it to get to your stomach.  When you eat a lot of carbs and sugar, your liver gets fatty and when they put that retractor under it can bleed.  The pre-op diet is meant to minimize that.

If you go to a low carb diet with lots of green vegetables, you'll produce the same effect as the full liquid diet for your liver.  Plus you get to "practice" meals for post surgery.

Before my surgery, I did a month with mostly full liquids, I think I had about 5-10 full meals during that time. I did it to get my mind straight because I was eating everything in sight after having my lap band removed and I needed to get myself back under control. I didn't want to gain back anymore weight than I already had. 

Hey! My doctor is Dr. Valentine too!  :)  Thanks for your response and advice! 

My doctor had me on a 10 day pre-op liquid diet. It was hard but I could also eat sugar-free Jello and that made it easier. I think that if you want to be careful, your liquid diet can be longer than the 3 day diet. But I don't know your personal issues there may be a reason that you are only asked to do three days. You should ask your doctor first.

My surgery is scheduled for 2/19 and I only need to do a liquid diet for the two full days prior so I think you'll be fine.  Good luck with your surgery!

Personally, I didn't like the liquid diet so I would do as little as possible of that.  But I did have a 3 month diet plan where I lost 50 pounds.  I was so glad that I had lost that weight pre-op, especially now that the weight loss is slowing down, and I can see how hard it will be to lose the last 20 pounds.  I'd recommend you lose as much weight as you can before surgery to make it easier at the end of the process.

best wishes,

Carol

I think it would be more important to cut out all fast food, chips, snackes, soda, etc. early than worry about a full liquid diet.  Maybe substitute a shake or two a day and eat one good sensible meal.

I would have loved to have a three day pre-op diet vs the two week one I had to do. Mine was not full liquid, but close. Three shakes and one lean cuisine-like meal plus 1.5 cup of non-startchy veggies if I wanted them per/day. Plus water and broth for liquids. 

Even with the food I was allowed it was hard. You won't be able to eat much for quite a while post-op, so again, I personally wouldn't do it. 

My surgeon didn't require any sort of pre-op diet at all-- just "no food after midnight." It really depends on the doctor, and probably how they perform the surgery.

If your doctor says 3 days, then there's probably no huge benefit for you to do any longer than that.