Pre-Op RNY Surgery Diet....what did you do???

I had the 2 wk liquid diet.  After the 3rd day it really wasn't nearly as difficult.  For whatever reason, those first 3 days are the toughest.  

Like someone else said, you definitely don't want to get cut open and sewn right back up because you didn't follow your surgeon's rules!!!!  This has happened to many of people.  If the liver is too slippery to safely move out of the way with the graspers, and secure it, the surgeon may choose not to do the surgery.  Plus, many of us, myself included have a very fatty liver from being overweight and that makes it even more difficult to safely grab a hold of it and keep out of the way during the surgery. 

My surgeon doesn't require a pre op diet and I survived although like Lynn I have seen more then one person closed up after surgery started due to an enlarged liver.

Not following rules can be an issue as there are many rules that are there to keep you healthy, such as getting in enough protein, fluids and vitamins.  Trust me on that one.  I'm not great at following rules, either, but I found that if I could adopt rules that made sense to me and weren't to my detriment then I could follow them.  Like not eating things with sugar and gluten.  No on told  me I had to do that, I just found that my body likes me better when I avoid those things so I made that my rule.

As long as you aren't rebellious with the essentials like protein, fluids and supplements you can find your own way in post op life.  Just make sure you are doing what is best for you and your health.

I had two weeks of MediFast prior to my surgery, consisting of about 700-800 calories a day, lost 17 pounds in those 2 weeks and would have barely qualified for surgery had they not been using my pre-diet weight.

The importance of this diet (as mentioned by just about everyone else) is to shrink your liver. If it's too big, they won't be able to safely do the surgery, if it can't be done safely, they won't do it. They will also know you weren't compliant with their instructions and wonder if you will be able to follow their guidelines for your life after surgery.

I think on some level it also prepares you for life after surgery, many surgeons require you a week on liquids, a week pureed, a week soft, then finally regular food, this isn't to be mean, it's to give your body time to heal. The rules are there for a reason, but if you must, take a page from Captain Jack Sparrow and think of them as guidelines...

Try to not think of it as giving up your "eating freedom", eating freedom is what got you here. The first month (two weeks prior and two weeks post) are going to be rough, but it'll be worth it. Also, please try to not get stuck on "last meal syndrome" you will eat normal food again, you will eat food you love again, just in smaller quantities and some of the food you think you can't live without right now, may leave you cold after surgery.

I'm over two years out and I don't feel deprived of anything, I haven't for a long time, hopefully the same will be true for you.

Best of luck to you on your journey

I know it's hard but follow these rules. Some of us did not have to do the pre-op diet (I was too close to the cutoff and told not to). Typically my surgeon did 2 weeks for anyone under 50 BMI and a MONTH for those over 50 BMI.

Is his diet guidelines JUST a suggestion or more of "you need to do this or I won't operate" type suggestion? If the former, just eat lighter esp as it gets closer.

Afterwards you NEED to be a rule follower...enough protein, vitamins, fluid or it CAN kill you (slowly but it can).

Good luck with this...you can do it.

Liz

I had a nutritionist that recommended I do a one meal a day protein substitution in order to get ready for the pre-op diet. I did that and learned which protein shakes I liked more than others. When I saw my doctor, he was pleased with some moderate weight loss and he allowed me a 10 day pre-op before surgery. That diet was 3 protein shakes and one lean cuisine (or homemade sensible meal under 300 calories). I was gradually phased in so I did not have a difficult couple of days like others when they started the pre-op. My doctor told me that my liver was "tiny" so I felt pretty good about it. I "cheated" only about 100-200 calories a day on some days and that was with strict counting of everything that went into my mouth. That wasn't that bad according to the doctor. So, I'd say, be reasonable and write down everything (use myfitnesspal.com). Good luck!

I was not required to diet. My surgeon does like it if people lose a little weight beforehand but he doesn't require it unilaterally and I had already lost 22 pounds so he was fine with that.

If your surgeon wants you to do a diet to "shrink" the liver then the diet needs to be high protein, low carb. It absolutely does not have to be liquid. There is nothing magic about liquids that they shrink the liver better. Some doctors like the liquid diets because it takes all your choice away and so you can't accidentally cheat but that's a preference not a medical requirement.

As for the whole liver shrinking thing.. that's what we're told but first of all the diet doesn't really shrink the liver. It does make it less slimy which can make it easier to handle. But, if your surgeon can handle the liver of someone who is 350 pounds or more, there really isn't any reason they shouldn't be able to handle yours. Even pre-diet it's going to be easier to handle than someone who is SMO and did the liver shrinking diet.

But that's just my opinion and I'm not a medical doctor.

I totally agree with you...and glad I am not the only one who can look beyond the "yeah, but this is what my doc said".  Like you said, most of it is a preference, and there really has got to be a difference between my liver and someone at 350.  Thanks for the feedback!

My surgeon had me eat very clean for a couple months preop, with lots of lean protein, whole grains and veggies.  There was no preop prep, so to speak. No liquid diet, no very low carb. Just the usual NPO for 8 hours before surgery.   I did add 2 protein shakes at that time and supplements based on blood work that I had 2 months preop.  I wanted to be in the best of shape for the surgery.  I have to admit that the day before the surgery, I did have a couple sips of Belgian  beer.  it was from a vending machine!  I just wanted to be able to say that I drank Belgian beer in Belgium from a vending machine.

OMG, a vending machine? That's so crazy. I bet I would have done it too.

I went to Spain once and stayed in Madrid.  There was a cute little shop with a water cooler...filled with Sangria!!  Europe is very different with respect to alcohol.