Yesterday was the first day of my 2 week pre-op diet. I also had 8 vials of blood taken out of my arm for various blood works needed for the surgeon and the guy putting in my IVC filter. So the process has begun, and in 13 days I will probably be in the last legs of the surgery at this hour and on the road to recovery.
My 2 week pre-op meal plan is as follows:
3 atkins shakes or carnation instant-breakfast shakes a day
1 meal of 7oz of lean meat, 1/2 cup to 1 cup of low-carb veggies, 2 servings of a healthy fat (like 2 tsp butter, 2 servings of olive oil, etc)
The purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink my liver. The liver sits slightly over your stomach area, and if it’s too enlarged or fatty then it will make it difficult to get to your stomach Laparoscopically. If I do not shrink it enough, they have to open me up from breast to belly-button like a fish. If I shrink it, then they can just go into three little holes along my stomach and do everything that way. Less scars, way faster recovery time.
I do not want to be opened up like a fish, so I am sticking to this regime STRICTLY.
The first day wasn’t that bad, lunch was difficult because I’m surrounded by a lot of people that eat very unhealthily at work, plus I work above a famous restaurant so I’m always smelling things being cooked below. Dinner was easy because I had my daily meat consumption and it was fucking delicious. I made baked flounder in foil, drizzled with olive oil and added chopped onions and green peppers. Probably the best fish dish I’ve ever made, and definitely one I’ll be making again.
I get a lot of expressions of support towards this surgery, which is very nice and I thank them all for their encouragement (I also get some anti-support as well, but whatever).
But support honestly doesn’t mean much if it’s just a voice, especially when this is something that’s going to be so very difficult to go through. I can think of only two people that have really attempted to “support” what I am going through, and that is my father and my friend Ashley. And by support, my father is eating his meals when I am not at home, and sharing in my dinner instead of fixing something separate that I have to smell. He -wants- to eat the healthy stuff I am eating for dinner and is willing to try most anything. And my friend Ashley has apparently been testing recipes with splenda so she can get used to cooking sugar-free foods to bring to events and things.
I didn’t ask either of them these things, but they took the initiative to show that they want to help. It’s a huge difference from someone expressing support with a cheeseburger hanging out of their maw. No, people don’t have to do anything if they don’t want to, and I don’t expect anyone to do anything. But a common courtesy would be not chowing down on a donut or drinking a soda when talking to me, like smoking a cigarette in front of someone trying to quit or drinking alcohol in front of an alcoholic.
But I’m also the type of person that has always been and will likely always be a loner that supports themselves and doesn’t worry or expect any help from anyone. It’s how I grew up, and maybe in a way it’s made me a stronger person. That’s why I have high hopes for this surgery.