Clear Liquid Diet???

[ErinBear]

Hi -

I am having surgery on April 24th (not IC-related). I have to be on a clear liquid diet beforehand. I know I can have chicken broth, and water, but other than that....most of the things look like they don't work for IC. I'm wondering, have other people done a clear liquid diet, and if so, how did you get through it?

Thanks,
ErinBear

[nabroeker]

When I first started the IC diet I cut out all soda. After about six weeks I tried to drink a sprite and had no pain. I have since then drank about five sprites and had no problem. I asked my uro about this and he said clear sodas with no caffeine are okay for ICers. Now, I dont know about his logic because I disagree with him ALOT, but for me clear soda with no caffeine has been fine. I dont know if you can have this on your surgery diet, but if so it may be worth a try.

[ISONormal]

Drinks like Sprite have a lot of citric acid in them. You can probably have some but don't overdo it. Do like nabroeker did, try to ease into it. Alternate with water and other fluids, like the chicken broth. How about beef broth? Vegetable broth? Neither should bother you, I would think, if you can have them per the surgeon.

Good luck on the surgery.

[ErinBear]

Hi Nabroeker and ISONormal,

Thanks so much for your replies. We're each individuals, and i know some people can have foods that other people can't. I know in my case, I just don't do well with sodas. Yes, I am sure I can have the various kinds of clear broth, so I will have those. But I don't know about jello, which is one of the things on the diet. I suspect that is a no-no. And the fruit juices are too. So it's beginning to sound a little awkward! At least I can still drink water. Thank God for that :-)

Anyway, thanks again for your replies. At least this is temporary and I"ll get get through this somehow :-)

Take care,
ErinBear

[ICNDonna]

When I had to do clear liquids, I did do Jello with no problem. I can't do beef broth because it has tomato and I'm very allergic to them. I have also found I can tolerate Aquafina Flavor Splash --- no nutrition there, but tastes soooooo good. How long do you have to be on the clear liquid diet?

Donna

[traceann]

When I had to be on clear liquids for my colonoscopy I too did broths, Jello (no reds or purples or blues, lol) and lots of clear unflavored Pedialyte. I think the Pedialyte helped the most, lol.

[kadi]

Trader Joe's chicken broth in the green can.

[Annie2]

My bladder doesn't tolerate Jello well so for my colonoscopy prep days my gastro allows me to make homemade gelatin from well-filtered pure blueberry juice and pear nectar. I use double-layered coffee filters and run the juice through a couple of times to be sure all solids are removed from the liquid. I know some say no dark colors (like those found in blueberries)......but it might be worth asking your surgeon if that would be ok for you. Good luck to you!

[ErinBear]

Thank you - all of you - for writing back to me! I really, really appreciate this. I will check out the chicken broth at Trader Joe's definitely (thanks Kadi) and it's encouraging to hear some of you seemed to be able to have some of the kinds of Jello.

I know I have to be on this before the surgery, and I'm not sure what the diet will be like after the surgery. It's so embarassing...eeek :toilet: .....i have to have a big polyp removed from the rectum. The surgeon seems to think it could be cancerous. I hope not. I hope it is a benign thing! But I guess they are saying it will be an extended recovery process due to the location of the growth. I hope it won't make my urethral problems worse. (sigh)

If it's not one thing...it's another!

Thanks for your help, everyone!

Take care,
ErinBear

[traceann]

Hey ErinBear, glad we could help, and it's NOTHING to be embarrassed about!! You are being responsible for your health - more people should be on top of things like this!! ;) When I had my colonoscopy, the doctor was laughing with my hubby and my best friend while I was in recovery - I had lost SO much weight, she could see the light from the scope shining through my tummy - I glowed!! LMAO!! I am sure everyone got a kick out of that!! ;)

Hugs!!!

[ErinBear]

Hi Traceann,

Well, we knew you had a radiant personality....

:-)

hugs,
ErinBear

[traceann]

Lmao!!! :biglaugh: :biglaugh: That cracked me up, thanks for the giggle!! :kissing: