Healthy Liver

I am sorry if I may appear to not know what I am doing, but does anyone know of any
supplement to take that will help shrink the liver and make it as healthy as possible
prior to surgery?  I briefly saw something on line and just brushed it off.  I thought about
it later and decided, of course, that I should have paid closer attention.  Any suggestions?

I don't know of anything. Usually your surgeon will put you on a 2 or 3 week liquid diet and that will shrink your liver.

Thank you for the reply.  I just want everything to be perfect for the surgery.
Anything additional I can do will help.

The two days prior of clear liquids is crucial.  Clear meaning "no color or density at all".  I lived on diet 7 up, clear Capri Sun, water, etc.  I was told my liver was fantastically shrunk and I had no other liquid diet prior.

My doc put me on a 6 day pre-op clear liquid diet- nothing carbonated, nothing with sugar, and no caffiene!!!  Clear broths, sf jello was ok to have.  My liver shrunk fine. I know my doc didn't want me starting any new kinds of vitamins b4 surgery, so I would check with the doc before you buy something online. There could be ingredients (like vitamin K or Fish Oil), which they DON'T want us to have!! It's always safer to listen to your doc!!!

Hope this helps,

Leah

Your body keeps a pound or two of short term energy in the form of glycogen - it's stored in your liver.  If you completely stop or almost stop eating carbs (sugar), your body will deplete the glycogen in your liver, and it will physically shrink.  Most surgeons will have you fast 1-3 days before surgery, not getting any sugar, to cause this to happen.  No supplement or drug will do this.

They want your liver to shrink, because it's sitting a bit in front of your stomach and can make the surgery more difficult if it's larger.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your help.  They probably filled us in on this in classes but with all the cell phones going off and people chatting some things get missed.  I appreciate all  the help people
on this site provide.