Day 1 of my liquid pre-op diet, and HATING it! - ThinnerTimes

sherry7 · 05-19-2008, 08:03 PM

Sorry peeps, but I've gotta vent to someone. Today was the first day of my liquid pre-op, and I feel like complete crap.

I don't know how in the heck I'm going to make it through 10 complete days of this.

I've already got a headache which feels like a precursor to a bad migraine, and my stomach is growling. I feel weak, cold, and tired. How do people make it through this? I'm sorry I'm whining, but I feel whiny right now.

This is what my surgeon allows: Gatorade, apple, grape, or cranberry juice (diluted 1/2 strength w/ water and limited to 3 cups a day); beef, chicken, or vegetable broth; SF decaff coffee or tea with no cream or cream substitute; SF jello; SF popsicles or SF frozen fruit bars; SF kool aid and Crystal Light; artificial sweeteners; and 3 SF protein drinks mixed with water only.

Grrrrr! Instead of the silly juice and Gatorade, I'd rather have the equivalent calories in REAL food instead of sweet sugary juice. Yes, I know I need to cleanse my bowels, but it doesn't take 10 days to do it.

And I'm ticked off at myself too. When I went to my pre-op appointment this past Friday, the RN and the Physician Assistant both went over the pre-op diet with me, and clearly specified that it was for only 5 days. Even the papers I got say it is for 5 days. So what did I do? When I met with the surgeon, I opened up my big mouth and asked him if I "only" had to do 5 days of the pre-op diet instead of the normal 14. After I asked him that, he said, no do 10 days instead. Me and my big mouth get me into more trouble....

So far today, I've had my protein drinks, and over 3 quarts of water...some of it mixed with either Crystal Light or Special K protein mix. I've sipped on 4 cups of beef and chicken broth throughout the day....I don't know whether to moo like a cow, or cluck like a chicken. Add to this 5 SF jello cups, and a couple of SF popsicles. I have intaken so much fluid that I am getting waterlogged, I think. I may as well just sit on the toilet all day, because I've spent a 1/2 of my day there anyway peeing.

To top it all off, I just found out today that there will be a pot-luck lunch at work on Wednesday. I sit about 20 feet from the kitchen, so I'll get to smell food cooking all day long. Oh fun, fun, fun!

Oh geez, I know I sound like a whiny *itch, but that is what I feel like right at this moment.

Hopefully I'll wake up in a better mood tomorrow. I think I'm going to go have another cup of broth and go to bed early. Thanks for listening.

MiladyB · 05-19-2008, 08:22 PM

awwww Sherry, I feel for you. Thankfully I didn't have to do TOTAL liquids for my 14 day pre-op diet. I was put on a special bariatric product that at least allowed me protein bars, chili, soy nuts and oatmeal.

Hang in there sweet lady. The first 3 days seem to be the roughest but it does get a bit better. In the meantime go ahead and *itch...you have the right.

Toony · 05-19-2008, 08:26 PM

It'll be worth it in the end... and FYI: On my 14 (FOURTEEN) days of protein drinks, protein bars and water only --- I lost a mere 10 pounds. I was 100% compliant and only lost 10 lousy pounds!!!

Talk about furious!!!

The only good thing was at the end of the 14 days, I had my surgery! Very surreal feeling...

Momof3 · 05-19-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherry7

Sorry peeps, but I've gotta vent to someone. Today was the first day of my liquid pre-op, and I feel like complete crap.

I don't know how in the heck I'm going to make it through 10 complete days of this.

I've already got a headache which feels like a precursor to a bad migraine, and my stomach is growling. I feel weak, cold, and tired. How do people make it through this? I'm sorry I'm whining, but I feel whiny right now.

This is what my surgeon allows: Gatorade, apple, grape, or cranberry juice (diluted 1/2 strength w/ water and limited to 3 cups a day); beef, chicken, or vegetable broth; SF decaff coffee or tea with no cream or cream substitute; SF jello; SF popsicles or SF frozen fruit bars; SF kool aid and Crystal Light; artificial sweeteners; and 3 SF protein drinks mixed with water only.

Grrrrr! Instead of the silly juice and Gatorade, I'd rather have the equivalent calories in REAL food instead of sweet sugary juice. Yes, I know I need to cleanse my bowels, but it doesn't take 10 days to do it.

And I'm ticked off at myself too. When I went to my pre-op appointment this past Friday, the RN and the Physician Assistant both went over the pre-op diet with me, and clearly specified that it was for only 5 days. Even the papers I got say it is for 5 days. So what did I do? When I met with the surgeon, I opened up my big mouth and asked him if I "only" had to do 5 days of the pre-op diet instead of the normal 14. After I asked him that, he said, no do 10 days instead. Me and my big mouth get me into more trouble....

So far today, I've had my protein drinks, and over 3 quarts of water...some of it mixed with either Crystal Light or Special K protein mix. I've sipped on 4 cups of beef and chicken broth throughout the day....I don't know whether to moo like a cow, or cluck like a chicken. Add to this 5 SF jello cups, and a couple of SF popsicles. I have intaken so much fluid that I am getting waterlogged, I think. I may as well just sit on the toilet all day, because I've spent a 1/2 of my day there anyway peeing.

To top it all off, I just found out today that there will be a pot-luck lunch at work on Wednesday. I sit about 20 feet from the kitchen, so I'll get to smell food cooking all day long. Oh fun, fun, fun!

Oh geez, I know I sound like a whiny *itch, but that is what I feel like right at this moment.

Hopefully I'll wake up in a better mood tomorrow. I think I'm going to go have another cup of broth and go to bed early. Thanks for listening.

OH does this sound familiar!! I was in your same shape 2 weeks ago.

My first day wasnt as bad as day 4. I did cheat and have a small, very small, side salad with no cheese or croutons or bacon, basically lettuce a few small tomato pieces and a few small onion pieces...with a small amt of fat free italian dressing

the crunch satisfied my longing to eat, and the food, filled me up.

I did take, of my own deciding.....a liver cleanse from GNC and an herbal laxative, and a chlorophyll tablet, each day..and oh, fatty acid, omega 3 fish oil...

its what they recommend for folks with fatty liver disease and other liver ailments. It contains milk thistle and it supposed to help..

Not sure if it did, but I cheated 4 times on my diet, lost 18 pds and had an almost "normal" liver, per my surgeon.

I went to trader joes and read labels...I found some veggie snacks that are made from potato, tomato and spinach, all three colors in one bag...a serving was not bad at all, not much more than the freakin jello.

And orville reddenbacher has these mini popcorn cakes, sour cream and onion was what I'd have with my broth...a serving of 11 cakes has almost the same specs as jello...

creamy tomato soup was a good addition for my pod mate....

But I tell you, it does make you feel like crap and you are hungry and you have a headache. Thats why I had to find SOMETHING with substance and no calories I could "eat"

One night I did have a salad at a restaurant, I got stuck having to go...I got nothing but FRESH veggies, lettuce, tomato, onion cauliflower and pepper....a taste of fat free italian..

I could have licked my plate. It satisfied me. I CRAVED veggies during my pre op diet

splendifor · 05-19-2008, 08:52 PM

the good news (and yes, it's good news) is that by the time you have surgery you'll be so delirious that the "before" and "after" diet will seem the same.. oh yeah,that's right, they ARE the same

keep up the good work girl! we're all right here cheering you on!

Corrine · 05-19-2008, 09:14 PM

You poor thing.

Hang in there Sherry - focus on the rewards. Your surgeon is going to be totally in love with your liver when he looks inside you.

Thankfully, I didn't have to go through a pre-op liquid diet but I was on a self imposed diet beforehand.

It's just 10 days sweetheart and then it'll be YOUR day.

You can do this. I have every faith in you.

If it's any help, I understand from others that it's a little more satisfying if you drink warm liquids as opposed to cold. You can even do that with some of the protein drinks.

Godsblessedme · 05-20-2008, 08:55 AM

you can do it girl. I'm sorry you have to do a whole 10 days (i only did 5 but i cheated 3 days) your so committed and so close to your date

yep the -itchyness is terrible and even after surgery you'll be a _itch for a while

but its so totally worth it

Hello Katie · 05-20-2008, 09:08 AM

The 2 week liquid pre-op diet was the HARDEST part of the whole entire process for me. You'll be happy you did it in the end and just remember it's only temporary...it gets better!

Crie · 05-20-2008, 09:18 AM

girl.. i feel ya *laughs*

I had to do the 14 days of clear liquids only. I couldn't choke down broth, and the aspartame in the SF pops and jello made me sick. So after contacting the surgeons office i was told ok you can dilute 100% juice with 50% water and have some tomato soup made with water.

So yup.. that's what I stuck with. water, jucie/water to take care of the headaches and the shakes and tomato soup 3 x a day.

I had lost 16 lbs on teh morning of my surgery. Even going through everything I did, i have to wonder if the lady in the surgeon's office telling me about the tomato soup was a bad idea. MY LIVER WAS HUGE! He said he had a super difficult time having to push and pull and prod to be able to get the surgery done.

Yes, the liquids suck. You do have more options though and you're a strong woman. YOU can do this. Be the absolute best that you can be, because everything you keep away from your mouth and follow the exact plan he gave you is to help yourself during surgery and recovery. I honestly feel as though with the enlarged liver I had.. the pain on my organs/innerds still hurts. Do it for yourself. 10 days is worth living for the next 50 years.

Amandazon247 · 05-20-2008, 10:32 AM

The first three days are the worst. But once you get through those.. you wil be much better ... My 10 days included EASTER.. so I know how bad it sucks...... just hang in there.... I lost 12 pounds though ...