Tick Tock Doc

One more day!

In preparation for surgery, I have been on a full-liquid diet for the past two weeks. The doctor requires this so that the stomach is as small as possible and your liver can shrink up a bit so it isn't in the way during surgery (yep, kind of important not to mistake that for anything else or cut into it...).  Had I known that my last full meal was going to be on Wednesday, February 9, I would have eaten something more exciting than a four-piece Chicken McNugget mini-meal from McDonald's.

Since being on full-liquids, my diet has consisted of: protein shakes; sugar-free pudding, jello and popsicles; chicken broth; and tons of water. The first four days were the worst. The late afternoon calling of my dear friend chocolate was hard to resist but I did.  It got easier after four days and I am proud to say that I have lost 12 pounds so far.

To prepare for the actual procedure tomorrow, I have to drink nothing but clear liquid all day long today. My instructions are to drink 1 gallon of total fluids and to top it off (if you don't mind a little T.M.I.) I had to drink three tablespoons of Phillips Milk of Magnesia at 7am. Needless to say, I have become very close friends with the restroom.

I met with my nutritionist last week and she gave me this "sample menu" (if you can even call it a menu) to follow for today:

Breakfast

• 1 Cup Chicken Broth
• 1/2 C Sugar-Free Lime Jello
• 1 Cup Crystal Light (no red color)
• 1 Cup Water

Snack 1

• 2 Cups of Water

Lunch

• 1 Cup Vegetable Broth
• 1 Sugar-Free Popsicle (no red color)
• 1 Cup Crystal Light Lemonade
• 1 Cup Herbal Ice Tea

Snack 2

• 2 Cups of Water

Dinner

• 1 Cup Beef Broth
• 1/2 C Sugar-Free Orange Jello
• 1 Cup Crystal Light Peach
• 1 Cup Herbal Ice Tea

Snack 3

• 2 Cups of Flavored Water (isn't the same as Crystal Light?)

OK, admit it! You are all very jealous of my snacks. It's OK, we're friends.

Believe me, I am not really complaining. I know that all of this is done for a reason. The next few weeks are going to be interesting but I am SOOOO looking forward to a new beginning (...and silencing those five little words...).