I have been scheduled to have my Gastric Bypass surgery on November 29th, and I am getting rather nervous as I have been unable to start my liquid diet because I need solids in my stomach for the pain medicine I am taking for cysts. I am supposed to be having my gallbladder removed as well during the surgery and I have no idea what I am in for.

My doctor set a weight loss goal of 20-25 pounds before surgery but I have only lost 15, will this keep him from performing surgery?
Did any of you not get in the entire two-four week liquid diet before surgery? What were the repercussions?
What kind of recovery am I looking at? ( I have a 4 month old to care for)
How long were you on liquids post surgery?


Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance for your comments!

I only had to do a week of protein shakes 3 x a day with 5 oz meat and some veggies for dinner. My surgery went well. I had my gall bladder removed three years ago and I can't imagine doing both at the same time. The gall bladder surgery was the most painful thing I ever had--and I have now had 7 surgeries: 3 c sections, a hysterectomy, gall bladder removal, kidney cysts removed, and the gastric bypass.
Good luck with your surgery. Do your best with what they tell you and it will all go well!

My pre-op only called for two meal replacement shakes and solids for dinner. Lean meat, 1 cup green veggie, 1 cup of fruit. No bananas no bread, no pasta, no rice. I worked well. I lost 21 lbs. but I only had to do two weeks pre op.

These really seem like things you should have talked to surgeon about by now. I can mean the difference between a laproscopic procedure and being opened up on the table. It can also be very dangerous to have food within the 24 hours prior to surgery as they need that puppy to be empty before they cut on it. I know that post surgery they gave me liquid pain killers, I can't remember if it was liquid loratab or oxi but it did not need to be taken with food, you may talk to your prescribing doctor or the surgeon about getting this now so you don't have to worry about sabotaging your surgery. Regarding the weight loss, I wouldn't sweat the last 5 pounds because it's pretty common to lose as much as a pound a day on the liquid diet.

Absolutely, what minkaross said. While there is a lot of variation in presurgery diets and weightloss, you absolutely, positively cannot eat anything postop, it will be all liquid for a while. If for any reason you might not be able to do that, you must talk to your doctors now. It's not about the amount of weight you have lost at all, but what is significant is your ability or willingness to follow their guidelines. If you don't you will have a lot of problems. The best time to figure that out is before they open you up. Please, go talk to them.

I know you asked for post op opinions and I am a couple of months out from having my surgery, but I did have a thought on this I wanted to share with you to consider. Does the doc who prescribed you the cyst med know you are having this surgery? Can something else be prescribed for post op. Sounds like best option would be a liquid med. My surgeons office and my PCP advised me that my PCP will be the one to complete post op blood work and make any necessary medication/vitamin alternations. I already have an appt with my PCP for next month to make all the pre-op med adjustments I need. I think you are only a couple of weeks out from surgery so I would get this resolved pretty quickly. Hope all goes well for you.

These really seem like things you should have talked to surgeon about by now. I can mean the difference between a laproscopic procedure and being opened up on the table. It can also be very dangerous to have food within the 24 hours prior to surgery as they need that puppy to be empty before they cut on it. I know that post surgery they gave me liquid pain killers, I can't remember if it was liquid loratab or oxi but it did not need to be taken with food, you may talk to your prescribing doctor or the surgeon about getting this now so you don't have to worry about sabotaging your surgery. Regarding the weight loss, I wouldn't sweat the last 5 pounds because it's pretty common to lose as much as a pound a day on the liquid diet.

I was fortunate to have a pain pump when I left the hospital--it was good for 7 days, then I removed it myself by pulling a thin tube out of my abdominal region. I did have liquid Hydrocodone for pain and liquid Promethazine for nausea. Never needed either. My BMI was only in the low 30's before surgery, which was probably why I only needed to do a week of semi liquid. The clear liquid diet after was very easy, and I had worked with my dietitian, surgeon, and endocrinologist for a year prior to my surgery, so I was well prepared. I lost 13 pounds the week before my surgery.

The reason for the 20 pound weight loss before surgery was for the insurance to pay for the surgery. I know that was my case. I had the RNY bypass and also the gall bladder removal, both laproscopic and was prepared for a horrible time of it. I had made arrangements to stay with a friend so she could take care of me, but I was so good that I only stayed at her house 1 day. I had been planning on staying 2 weeks. Everyone is different so don't worry about it. It will be alright and you will be fine. I ma adding you as a friend so we can keep in touch.

These really seem like things you should have talked to surgeon about by now. I can mean the difference between a laproscopic procedure and being opened up on the table. It can also be very dangerous to have food within the 24 hours prior to surgery as they need that puppy to be empty before they cut on it. I know that post surgery they gave me liquid pain killers, I can't remember if it was liquid loratab or oxi but it did not need to be taken with food, you may talk to your prescribing doctor or the surgeon about getting this now so you don't have to worry about sabotaging your surgery. Regarding the weight loss, I wouldn't sweat the last 5 pounds because it's pretty common to lose as much as a pound a day on the liquid diet.

I was fortunate to have a pain pump when I left the hospital--it was good for 7 days, then I removed it myself by pulling a thin tube out of my abdominal region. I did have liquid Hydrocodone for pain and liquid Promethazine for nausea. Never needed either. My BMI was only in the low 30's before surgery, which was probably why I only needed to do a week of semi liquid. The clear liquid diet after was very easy, and I had worked with my dietitian, surgeon, and endocrinologist for a year prior to my surgery, so I was well prepared. I lost 13 pounds the week before my surgery.

I hadn't heard of doctors allowing you to take a pain pump home with you unless you had a nurse, thank goodness you had that. My BMI before I started was 51.5 and I am now down to a 49.0 as I have lost over 15 pounds. I have been involved with the surgical group for over 5 years now so I always tell the doctors I could almost perform the surgery myself LOL I love meeting with my dietitian she is always such a help to me. I didn't know that surgery was approved for people under 40 BMI were you a self pay?

No, actually I have Texas Medicaid. I have been on Disability for years due to Type I Diabetes, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea, asthma, and other issues. I was approved because w/o the surgery I wouldn't have lived another five years. It has saved my life. (It took a year for the approval and three denials to get there.)