My liver... - ThinnerTimes

Lu Lu · 01-25-2008, 07:18 AM

I have been following Katie's (Tooney) pre-op diet/experience word for word. I was not given a pre-op diet to follow for my surgery. I also watched "Big Medicine" this week and it talked about the girl following all the prep for her surgery and that it will help her liver. Why do some surgeons care about this and some not? I do not meet with my surgeon again until the day before my surgery... wondering if any of you can help me out.

Just wondering if I should be doing more then I am in anticipation for surgery. My surgeon was just concerned about getting a exercsie program in place and taking a multi vitamin pre-op and no weight gain of course...

Toony · 01-25-2008, 07:47 AM

I promised my surgeon he'd find a STELLAR liver... and I expect that'll be the first thing I ask him when I wake up... LOL!

It is odd how different surgeons have different routines... I'm gonna be thankful for this in the long run --- being on this VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) for 2 weeks is helping me figure out this HEAD HUNGER thing too... it's funny how somedays --- Like today, it's going to be hard to get all my shakes in... hard to imagine since this is only 960 calories to begin with... Since I've already said "goodbye" to my favorite foods, it'll be easier to cope with that from now on too... (or is this a case of "Absence makes the heart grow fonder? eeek!)

... Anway LuLu... I don't think I'd be doing this if my doctor hadn't told me I had to... really, given the option -- Who Would???

My best hon...Katie

PS: I'm kicking myself for missing this week's Big Medicine... DH in the hosp. really screwed that up for me!!!

Godsblessedme · 01-25-2008, 09:12 AM

I dont know why all surgeons are different i guess they have thier own success rate and stuff

Lu Lu · 01-25-2008, 05:31 PM

Thanks for your responses. I totally admire you Katie with your pre-op diet. I can see what you mean about it being helpful to address the head hunger b4 the actual time. I already know that will be a huge issue for me.

Thanks for your advice.

I am just a little frustrated because at the clinic I having my surgery, you do not see the dietician or the surgeon until the day b4...

Toony · 01-25-2008, 08:05 PM

Every surgeon does his own thing... if you want to do two weeks of a protein diet, my "stuff" is called Nutrimed. It was 12.00/box with 7 packets per box... Nutritionwise: it's' 80 calories, 0 g fat, 5 g sugar, 14 g protein... plus loads of vitamins etc. It's not bad... The vanilla is on the strong side with the vanilla flavoring, but I'm doing ok with it... the chocolate is actually pretty good.

The bars === 2 per day by "Advanced Health Systems" --- they were also $12/box... 7 bars per box. 160 cal., 5 g fat, 8 g sugar (no wonder I like them) and 15 g protein...

I'm getting 142 g protein a day! Whooo ... that's a lot, huh?

960 calories. I have to admit, if I do feel hungry, a glass of water usually makes it pass... and getting in 8 shakes a day is tricky!
1-breakfast
1-mid morning with a bar
2-lunch
1-mid afternoon with a bar
2-supper
1-evening snack

Good luck sweetie! I'm anxious for your journey too!

Deirdrea · 01-27-2008, 07:05 PM

Part of it is because there is no set "standard" for the prep for this surgery. I think a lot of it is surgeon's preference. My clinic didn't start a 2 week fast until about a month before my surgery, so I was one of the first patients to have it. It's to shrink your liver as much as possible and to prepare your body for surgery in general. I don't think that there is any detriment to not doing it although they say that every pound you can drop preop is just that much better for your body during surgery. I personally would have passed given the oppurtunity.

I'd say just do what your surgeon says to do and you'll be fine. Be thankful you don't have 2 weeks of shakes because it really wasn't fun and by the end of like 5 weeks of not chewing (between preop and postop) I was ready to grab my mom's dog's rawhide just to put something solid in my mouth.

sherry7 · 01-27-2008, 09:03 PM

Hello, I'm new around here, but my surgeon and I were just discussing this on Friday.

I am half way into my 6 month program, and I had my consult with the doctor on Friday. Since I had read on here about so many of you doing the 2 week liquid diet for pre-op, I was curious and asked him about it, and whether or not I would have to do it. (I was hoping the answer would be no, lol.) He said yes, that he requires it of all of his patients. He went on to say that he was recently involved in a study of if this actually is of any benefit. (He works out of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Magee Womens, so he is involved in alot of research.) Some of what he said kind of went over my head, but basically, he said that it does dramatically decrease the fatty tissue around the liver as well as the rest of the organs...allowing the surgeon more access to work, and thereby also reducing some risk to the patient.

BlayPe · 01-27-2008, 09:09 PM

My surgeon didn’t require the 2 week liquid diet and I’m so glad he didn’t, I just had to lose at least 20 pounds before the surgery. I also didn’t have to do the bowel prep which many had to do. The only requirement was for today, I have surgery tomorrow morning and I had to be on clear liquids all day. It wasn’t too bad I got a headache around 1 p.m. but had some apple juice and I was ok the rest of the day.

Blay

Toony · 01-28-2008, 05:27 AM

Since I've made it this far (day 7 of 14)... I'm determined to go the distance without a cheat... I know my fist question for the surgeon will be, "How did you like my liver?"