Pre-op liquid diet

RachelWithoutAPaddle
RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello! My name is Rachel and I have having an appendectomy in 2-3 weeks. My surgeon wants me on an 800 calorie liquid diet until surgery to shrink my liver and make my surgery safer. I get 3 protein shakes a day, one high protein yogurt (though I was told I could have 2 on kickboxing days) and one lettuces salad with 1 tbsp light clear dressing. Does anyone have experience with pre-op diets?

Replies

  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    The only preop diet I've been on is before a colonoscopy, but that was a clear-liquid diet and not remotely the same.

    That diet is typically used for bariatric surgery. I haven't been able to find anything resembling it as a protocol for an appendectomy. What liver issue is the surgeon trying to mitigate precisely?
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    My surgeon would like to shrink my liver before surgery, my surgery is laproscopic. The less of the liver is in front of that area the less risk for complication for me, so my surgeon says.
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    It is also worth mentioning that my case is not typical, my appendix has been leaking for an undetermined amount of time. (the size of infection suggests months, maybe a year according to my ID doctor) and we've been treating me for a 4"x6" abscess and osteomyelitis. My case has been very very atypical, rarely do surgeons get so much lead time into an appendectomy.
  • JoanaMHill
    JoanaMHill Posts: 265 Member
    I would suggest actually asking the doctor that told you this in the first place about any concerns or possible side effects. As you said, your case is atypical, and I doubt many people here would know, even if you had more details to give us.
  • _Zardoz_
    _Zardoz_ Posts: 3,987 Member
    It is also worth mentioning that my case is not typical, my appendix has been leaking for an undetermined amount of time. (the size of infection suggests months, maybe a year according to my ID doctor) and we've been treating me for a 4"x6" abscess and osteomyelitis. My case has been very very atypical, rarely do surgeons get so much lead time into an appendectomy.
    Speak to your doctor (why wouldn't you) normally they would not give a pre op diet because most are Emergencies.
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    Again, I've been working with doctors, my surgeon, my dietician that specializes in overweight patients pre-op, for months. I came to the forums for support, not to ask for criticism of my personal medical advice.

    The reason I am on a temporary 800cal diet is to reduce my fatty liver before surgery to make it safer. If they run into complications my appendectomy can quickly turn into an open appendectomy with increased healing time. I am looking for people that have had similar experience with liquid diets pre-op for support.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Hello! My name is Rachel and I have having an appendectomy in 2-3 weeks. My surgeon wants me on an 800 calorie liquid diet until surgery to shrink my liver and make my surgery safer. I get 3 protein shakes a day, one high protein yogurt (though I was told I could have 2 on kickboxing days) and one lettuces salad with 1 tbsp light clear dressing. Does anyone have experience with pre-op diets?

    Hundreds of thousands of patients have this. VLCDs are an accepted medical treatment for weight loss.
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    Thank you for putting my mind at ease!
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Thank you for putting my mind at ease!

    No probs. This might help - http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/Services/A-Z/DiabetesService/PatientsCarers/Documents/SJH NEWCASTLE DIET BOOKLET2012.pdf or http://goo.gl/b27YgZ for short
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    Again, I've been working with doctors, my surgeon, my dietician that specializes in overweight patients pre-op, for months. I came to the forums for support, not to ask for criticism of my personal medical advice.

    No one's criticizing - we're trying really hard to understand.

    Sadly, I have no other advice for you as I've not been in the same situation.
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    Thank you for putting my mind at ease!

    No probs. This might help - http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/Services/A-Z/DiabetesService/PatientsCarers/Documents/SJH NEWCASTLE DIET BOOKLET2012.pdf or http://goo.gl/b27YgZ for short

    This was very informative, thank you for sharing!
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    Again, I've been working with doctors, my surgeon, my dietician that specializes in overweight patients pre-op, for months. I came to the forums for support, not to ask for criticism of my personal medical advice.

    No one's criticizing - we're trying really hard to understand.

    Sadly, I have no other advice for you as I've not been in the same situation.

    No worries! The people in my life are having a hard time understanding, I misunderstood!
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    I haven't been in this situation, but based on the circumstances you are describing, it sounds reasonable to me. I hope your surgery goes well. :flowerforyou:
  • RachelWithoutAPaddle
    RachelWithoutAPaddle Posts: 98 Member
    I haven't been in this situation, but based on the circumstances you are describing, it sounds reasonable to me. I hope your surgery goes well. :flowerforyou:

    Thank you! I'm hoping to find some recipes to make the protein powder a little more interesting, someone suggested I add coffee.

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