When Is a Fast Not a Fast?

When it's a slow?

I don't know the answer to that riddle, but I now know that my pre-surgery diet is not a big deal at all. I have read that different surgeons have their own variations on what they prefer to see pre-op, and that an Optifast fast is not always required. But I didn't want to start hoping one way or the other.

This pre-op eating plan is a light, healthy diet, supplemented by protein drinks, electrolyte drinks, and a lot of water. There are fruits and vegetables, a small amount of whole-grain carbs, and a small amount of soft protein such as turkey or fish. No high-fat food regardless of the kind of fat -- no cheese, nuts, cream -- and no processed sugars. No alcohol, which is not a problem these days.

It's a mostly liquid diet, but not a completely liquid diet. So... I'm good!

It was a bit of an ordeal trying to get this information from the clinic. If I needed Optifast, I would have to order it, and things take a bit longer to arrive here. I was trying to explain to the patient coordinator that I needed to plan, and Monday (presumably the day I start the fast) is a holiday in Canada -- there's no mail and stores are closed. She seemed to think I was just being nervous. 

Today, finally, the clinic dietitian emailed the information. We may have to drive to Campbell River this weekend to have a choice of protein drinks, but we always have things to do there.

So one of the things I was most apprehensive about has been resolved. As usual, anticipation is worse than the thing being anticipated. I find this is almost always true.