I think you can request a diabetic diet, or whatever. Or gluten free. Most hospitals have a meal type check box when you check in for surgery. If they have a dietician, you might just explain it. And yeah, you might have to knock yourself out to not react to the drip, but surely diabetics and folks who can't handle sugar have surgery, right??

While not for right now, it would be interesting to do some research on it... Surely there is a variant to the drip that could be requested. Hmm...back burnering this thought for when I have some time to research it...

Good luck to all of y'all facing some tough steps ahead. Surgery is terrifying to me.... I wish y'all an easy time and quick recoveries.

I'm more concerned about after surgery. They have to crack my chest to get my thyroid it's so large, so it's gonna be a loooong recovery and if it's anything like my shoulder surgery a few years ago I was out of it for the first few weeks, and I expect this to be much worse. I mean I have a huge almost month long gap there due to pain meds. So I'm also kinda worried as to what my dear husband (who will be able to take time off work to care for me) will make, even tho he *knows* what low carb is he's kinda clueless as to real carb counts and recipes. But... I've just decided not to stress about it. Hopefully I won't gain but I don't expect to lose during the 6-8 weeks.

I wouldn't even care about my diet if I were having a major surgery. My focus would be on recovery. I've had to put aside a lot to have surgeries in the last few years and food would honestly be the least of my worries. If I had to go high carb for a day (or few) so be it. You've got the rest of your life to worry about it.

I had a surgery when my daughter was 3 months old and she couldn't stay with me the entire time, I felt devastated as she had to have some formula and that I had totally ruined breastfeeding. But we got back to it just fine and carried on for many many more months. Keto can be carried on too :-). A break doesn't mean a ruined effort.

toadqueen wrote: »

I know when I had surgery last year, I was given a high protein diet and they supplemented it with a clear liquid protein. Sometimes, they gave me Ensure. They kept thinking I was diabetic and shot me with insulin I think until I made them stop.

My recovery was very high protein for the most part in the beginning to promote cell repair and healing. Then I started eating whatever I felt like.

I'm with @minties82 on this. Focus on healing and feeling good and get on track when you feel ready. It took about 6 months for me but I had major surgery and broken bones following a car accident.

Whoa! Why were they shooting you with insulin??? @toadqueen

toadqueen wrote: »

I was diabetic from 2000-2009 and used insulin from about 2004-2009. I am not sure that they were shooting me with insulin, the nurses were shooting my belly before every meal and kept saying I was diabetic when I complained. I fought them and within a few days they stopped. I was on a lot of pain killers and just came out of a coma, so it took a bit for me to take some control back.

Ugh. I'd be soooo mad!!!

They saved my life and I think they meant well. I think someone gave them my old medical history from when I was diabetic or maybe my BG was elevated from the trauma. It is scary how the medical profession "practices" and "operates" in many cases. I'm hoping this WOE and becoming more physically active will kick my thyroid and blood pressure in gear and I can get off all meds.

@OP - you are going to be fine. Mine was very extraordinary circumstances. You know your surgeon and the attending physicians and they will give you the care and recovery you need.