How long on the liquid diet before surgery?
I didn't have to be on one at all. Not all surgeons make all their patients do a pre-op diet and, of the ones, that do, not all make them do a liquid diet.
I had already lost 22 pounds when I had my surgical consult so my surgeon said I'd done my bit and didn't have to lose any more. I continued to lose anyway but it wasn't required. He also will work with the SMO to lose a bit to help make their liver easier to handle. Some of them do it via a liquid diet and some do not. It's individual based on what they think will work the best.
Other programs put everyone on a 2 week liquid diet even lightweights and act like it's for their own safety. I completely disagree with this practice as does the ASMBS.
HW - 225 SW - 191 GW - 132 CW - 122
Visit my blog at Fatty Fights Back Become a Fan on Facebook!
Starting BMI 40-ish or less? Join the LightWeights
2 days before surgery, no imposed liquid diet for weeks on end...see MacMadame's post.
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
Everyone is different. We had 4 weeks of 5 shakes a day, optifast, one small food meal. We were to lose 8% of our excess weight. It was boring but otherwise, not a problem. More important is to decarb, decaf and start not drinking with your meals before surgery.
One way or the other, liquid diet or no, all the phase changes in the beginning after surgery are such a short time in your life. WLS is forever. Your new "diet", a word I don't like to use, but your new way of life isn't something that you will reach goal and forget. Maintainance is hard, and this is forever. Last meals are fine but really, I can eat anything now I did before. I don't always choose to, but I can.
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Typically my surgeon required 2 weeks for LW's and a month for those with a 50+ BMI...however, he only asked me to do the "nothing 12 hours before surgery" as I was SSSOOOO close to the bottom cutoff for having surgery at all.
And my surgeon's isn't a true liquid, just mostly liquid.
Duodenal Switch (Lap) 01-24-11 | Surgeon: Stephen Boyce | High weight: 250 in 2002 | Surgery weight: 203 | Lowest weight: 121 | Current weight: 135 | Goal weight: 135
I did almost 2 weeks. We did protein shakes and one sensible meal a day for the two weeks and the day before surgery was just clear liquids. Third & fourth days were the worse. I finally started mixing my protein drinks w/ milk and that helped alot and added a little fruit that the NUT approved.
Good luck.
Linda
Mine is 7 days with clear liquids and up to 6 protein shakes/day. It really hasn't been too bad. The first three days were the hardest, but on day 4, I woke up with nearly no appetite, and didn't even finish one of my shakes because I was feeling kind of full. And even though I am permitted up to 6/day, I've only had 3 or 4 per day, and my shakes are pretty yummy. I'm happy enough with broth and Diet V8 Splash. Also discovered grape isopure mixed with grape propel = flavored protein water.