OMG TMI!!!

[Littleroo27]

So, um, how did everyone deal with the pre-op liquid diet and the post-op liquid diet in the relm of bodily functions?

I have IBS and am a little scared to go back to the relm of intestinal cramps and... other icky things.

[LoriBecky]

Hi Roo,

I, too, am an IBS sufferer. Let's just say the pre-op and post-op diet (3 weeks) kept me in shape...I did a lot of running LOL

[ClaireinCO]

I found most of my, uh, activity, came to a screaching halt. Although, when I upped the veggies, it was unpredictable. I took the fiber pills to help give my digestion something to work with so I wasn't having the 'liquids in - liquids out" issue. I know the fiber sounds like a bad idea. But actually my doctor told me the fiber pills are a great equalizer -- she even had me take them the last time I had bad diarreah. They can help when things things are moving too fast OR too slow.

[Littleroo27]

Hi Roo,

I, too, am an IBS sufferer. Let's just say the pre-op and post-op diet (3 weeks) kept me in shape...I did a lot of running LOL

UGH, not good!!! Did you take any fiber supplements while you were on all liquids? Can we take things like liquid immodium while on the clear diet? What about small pills? I know they say you can take your meds right after surgery, but it does seem kinda scary.

I don't know about you, but I did Opti-Fast for, I think two months. I lost a lot of weight but found that if I didn't eat at least one solid thing (ie: chicken sandwich) every day or two that I was having bad intestinal cramps, pain and gas, as well as the dreaded D word. I know during the pre-op phase I can get through this with a bowl of oatmeal or some applesauce, but I'm kinda scared of dealing with it post-op. I will already be cranky and in some amount of discomfort.

Hanging out in the potty all day is not my idea of a good time!!!

[CalKev]

UGH, not good!!! Did you take any fiber supplements while you were on all liquids? Can we take things like liquid immodium while on the clear diet? What about small pills? I know they say you can take your meds right after surgery, but it does seem kinda scary.

I don't know about you, but I did Opti-Fast for, I think two months. I lost a lot of weight but found that if I didn't eat at least one solid thing (ie: chicken sandwich) every day or two that I was having bad intestinal cramps, pain and gas, as well as the dreaded D word. I know during the pre-op phase I can get through this with a bowl of oatmeal or some applesauce, but I'm kinda scared of dealing with it post-op. I will already be cranky and in some amount of discomfort.

Hanging out in the potty all day is not my idea of a good time!!!

Roo,

I am Pre-Op (scheduled for 3 weeks from today on Oct. 16, 06) and been on Optifast for 12 days so far. I have lost 13 pounds and want to lose another 13 or so in the next three weeks. What has helped me with losing but not having any bowel issues is that I am drinking 12 to 16 glasses of water a day. That may sound excessive, but if you think about it that is 8 16 oz. bottles in a 24 hour timeframe. I usually drink one bottle with each of my Optifast meals (4) for me a day, 1 when I get up and 2 to 3 when I go to bed. And yes I am getting up a lot but only at night not as much as during daily tasks. I also take a fiber tab in the morning and one at lunch and a Centrum in the evening.

My plan is to take a slightly different route than most which I cleared with Dr. Miranda. This is not to say she would OK this for everyone so I want to make it clear I am not speaking in her stead. My plan is to continue Optifast after the surgery until I reach the weight which is optimal for me. I have a high BMI and want to be medically and nutritionally monitored for several months after surgery. Once I am back on solid food I will then begin the process that will lead to fills as I stabilize my weight. The only side effect I have run into other than the obvious one is once you drink lots of water daily as you probably know; you crave it and get thirsty for it all the time. Just one experience to add to the others.

Oh yes I have been cranky as you say but that is finally starting to go away after almost 2 weeks of physically feeling like a walking water cooler and on the verge of alienating all my friends and family.

Best of luck Kevin

[Littleroo27]

I've done the opti-fast diet before. Actually, that was the start of me losing a good 75 lbs (that I gained back this year after 4 years...). I was forced to quit the program though, because it gave me seriously bad IBS problem. Of course, my IBS is under much better control now then it was then, so it might not cause me any problems this time around... I will most likely continue to add something solid into my diet right up until surgery so that at the most I only have to deal with 3 weeks of liquid diet and distress.

[CalKev]

I've done the opti-fast diet before. Actually, that was the start of me losing a good 75 lbs (that I gained back this year after 4 years...). I was forced to quit the program though, because it gave me seriously bad IBS problem. Of course, my IBS is under much better control now then it was then, so it might not cause me any problems this time around... I will most likely continue to add something solid into my diet right up until surgery so that at the most I only have to deal with 3 weeks of liquid diet and distress.

Roo,

I also went through the program and had a good loss. Been lucky and not had IBS but my problem was coming off of it and eating solid food again. Like many others I did not return after I started to regain weight for the nutrition counseling and support group. This was a major mistake on my part as I felt home free after losing the weight but was unrealistic about reentry into the world of food. So this is why I am getting banded as I realize that after liquid I need an internal coach to keep me on track.

Sounds like you have a good plan and that is what I like about the band is that you can tailor your own lifestyle so it works best for you. I am a vegetarian and it will be interesting to see how my nutrition is affected when I start chewing food. I am lucky as my health insurance will cover the medical monitoring.

You know the very reason you state is why I wanted to be on liquid before the surgery for an extended time for fear of the 3 weeks of distress post-op. I am hoping to take the edge off the solid food withdrawal. Just crossing my fingers it helps. Good luck

[Littleroo27]

Unfortunately, my distress is more physical then mental. After the first 5 days on liquids I was good to go. It was nice to not have to think about food. The only thing I missed as the social aspect, as I was a senior in college at the time (4 years ago) and stopped going to meals with everyone.

My problem was that my intestines started to severely cramp up with nothing in there to "cushion" the normal dilations. It causes wonderful things like severe abdominal and intestinal cramping, diarea, etc. Much the same thing would happen if I ate a big green salad with lots of fresh veggies, but in that case it would be the equivalent of trying to digest rocks - just not gonna happen.

I really need to try and sneak fiber slowly into my pre-op diet until I'm able to ingest a larger amount so that my post-op diet can be supplemented. If you just start using a lot of fiber at once without working up to it, you end up with about the same problem you're trying to prevent!

I hate digestion.

Roo,

I also went through the program and had a good loss. Been lucky and not had IBS but my problem was coming off of it and eating solid food again. Like many others I did not return after I started to regain weight for the nutrition counseling and support group. This was a major mistake on my part as I felt home free after losing the weight but was unrealistic about reentry into the world of food. So this is why I am getting banded as I realize that after liquid I need an internal coach to keep me on track.

Sounds like you have a good plan and that is what I like about the band is that you can tailor your own lifestyle so it works best for you. I am a vegetarian and it will be interesting to see how my nutrition is affected when I start chewing food. I am lucky as my health insurance will cover the medical monitoring.

You know the very reason you state is why I wanted to be on liquid before the surgery for an extended time for fear of the 3 weeks of distress post-op. I am hoping to take the edge off the solid food withdrawal. Just crossing my fingers it helps. Good luck

[LoriBecky]

Roo,

email me if you want a recommendation for an IBS safe fiber. I had a terrible IBS problem and this fiber has made such a HUGE difference for me!

[CalKev]

Unfortunately, my distress is more physical then mental. After the first 5 days on liquids I was good to go. It was nice to not have to think about food. The only thing I missed as the social aspect, as I was a senior in college at the time (4 years ago) and stopped going to meals with everyone.

My problem was that my intestines started to severely cramp up with nothing in there to "cushion" the normal dilations. It causes wonderful things like severe abdominal and intestinal cramping, diarea, etc. Much the same thing would happen if I ate a big green salad with lots of fresh veggies, but in that case it would be the equivalent of trying to digest rocks - just not gonna happen.

I really need to try and sneak fiber slowly into my pre-op diet until I'm able to ingest a larger amount so that my post-op diet can be supplemented. If you just start using a lot of fiber at once without working up to it, you end up with about the same problem you're trying to prevent!

I hate digestion.

Roo,

I surely do not envy you on the IBC. That does not sound fun. As I mentioned before I am taking 2 Kirkland (Costco brand) natural fiber tabs a day pre-op (19 days to go) but it is hard to know how much they actually help as I don