Clear liquid Pre-Op Diet - W/O Artificial sweetners

Hi All,

So I am trying to plan a list of things to pick up for the next week. I will be starting the clear liquid pre op diet sat (surgery is the 20th). Well I was looking at what they told me to drink for the next week, and other than decaf tea, water, broth and Jayy Robb protien. I think I"m stuck....EVERYTHING else is made with artificial sweetners and food coloring. Both of which cause me to have very bad migraines.

Has anyone else gone through this? I tried to search this topic, and I didnt find much. Suggestions appreciated! I asked my NUT and they both said to just read the packaging.... I'm guessing this must not be much of an issue since I cant find much info on this.

I'm not a big fan of artificial sweeteners either because they give me stomach aches, but I can't find any of the required foods without them. So I just bit the bullet and used the products suggested. I figure when I can transition to food, I will just stop using most of the liquid products with artifical sweetners.

My preop was just protein liquids and not restricted to clear liquids so I used Unjury Chicken Soup to have something salty and then the Unjury unflavored protein powder can be added to any of your own liquids.  I also found I could add those very sweet protein powders to a little NF plain greek yogurt which neutralizes the sweetness.  I don't know about other clear liquids as I used Isopure, crystal lite and decaf tea.  My best to you and can only say (as I'm 4 days out) that it's all worth it in the end!

Are you allowed natural no calorie sweeteners? Try Stevia or Truvia. Also a friend of mine gave me some unflavored protein that is delicious, Whey Factors Unflavored. I think she got it at Whole Foods, but there are probably other outlets.

I also like Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Natural. They sell it at vitamin shoppe.

I made my own jello with Knox gelatin and some stevia. I used unsweetened Kool-aid for the flavor but that's a no-no for you. You could try some herbal teas like the Celestial Seasonings Zinger line for flavor. Brew it strong and barely sweeten it because you will be so sensitive to the sweetness. You could make your own popsicles too.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm gonna see what I can do to make some popsicles. I was thinking about going to the whole foods to see if I could find something like kool aid mix with out food coloring. Red and yellow are what I'm most sensitive too, so hopefully I can find something else. Or just skip it, not like I will be in this phase for ever.

How did you find out about the food coloring?? I have horrible migraines and I find it interesting that you say this about artificial sweeteners and food coloring. I drink crystal light and i love the way it tastes but I kind of think I get migraines from it. I didn't understand why...

I spent ALOT of time researching it! I've been dealing with migraines since I was 2 my parents say. A year or two ago I had horrible migraines for about 10 weeks straight where I always had either a migraine or a headache. Now I'm pretty much down to just "monthly" migraines.

For the food coloring, I noticed that if I had anything like crystal light, or sugar free kool aid I would get horrible migraines. So I cut them out for a few weeks, then tried it again and got a migraine. Thats what I do anytime I feel like a food might be a trigger.

As for the sweeteners, I did alot of research on migraine triggers and found that they are big time triggers for alot of people! So I cut them out and have noticed a HUGE difference!

Hope that helps! Sux being soo limited, but I feel soo much better!

Hey there! 

Oo I like the idea of making your own popsicles!! 

I too have bad GI distress with artificial sweeteners...I have Chron's so I avoid them completely!
I also use Jay Robb protein and in my water I put Crystal Light PURE!  It's made with Truvia!  I love it.  You can get at any grocery store and it comes in 5 or 6 different flavors.  I also drink lots of herbal tea in the evening with Truvia or Stevia!!  I couldn't do jello but I did lots of chicken broth!  I had to do 2 weeks full liquids pre op AND 2 weeks post op!  Just finished my 4th week since surgery and I'm tolerating everything solid I've tried so far.

Hope you have great success!

I've tried a few products with stevia about a year ago and it had an after taste- But the Jay Robb doesnt bother me-odd! Does the truvia have any after taste??  And crystal light pure?? I'm gonna have to try it, I've stayed away from that part of the store for the past few years cause I couldnt eat or drink that stuff. But now I'm going to have to try it! Thanks for the suggestions!

Yes some brands have a bitter taste. Be sure to use only a tiny bit. I recommend KAL brand. And the Truvia is just like sugar crystals so it disperses better in stuff like greek yogurt. Tastes good too!