Question:
Post Op- Dr. has restricted my liquids
to water, grape juice and protein drinks. I am already cheating! What exactly does a liquid diet consist of after rny? I would like to know because I believe my doctor to be crazy. I had open rny 10/15/02. I went to post op visit today and doctor told me I could start my protein drinks today, but my diet was limited to grape juice, protein drinks, and water. I still have an appetite, and I don't see this working. I have already cheated. Last night my mom made red beans and rice. The smell lit up the entire house for hours. I wound up putting it in the blender with some water and it came out the consistancy of baby food. I tasted it and waited an hour then i had 0.5 oz of it. That was more than 24 hours ago and i didn't have any problem. My doctor checked my drain for food at the appt and there was none, but I didn't tell him I had had food. He then told me if I ate anything but juice, protien drink, or water I would die. He didn't say that literally but that was the gist of what he did say. I am confused. I know someone who had the same surgery and come home eating soft foods. I read many posts, questions, ect here and on a liquid diet post ops are allowed, cream of wheat, sf jello, sf popcicles, yogurt, and similar foods. I see failure in my future from lack of variety. I have been regreting my decision since i opened my eyes in recovery (I know it will change later). I was not even the slightest bit excited when i was told I had lost 11 pounds in the six days. I am not normally a pessimistic person and my family is very supportive (my mother just about killed me when she saw me with the beans!). I just don't want to keep cheating for the next three weeks. Please no high horse lectures, I am aware this is a tool and I should follow my doctors orders. These are my honest feelings. I believe I was not as mentally prepared as I thought, but it's too late now. It's sink or swim time! — ravenprevia (posted on October 21, 2002)
October 21, 2002
Gosh, NO FUN. My doc said I could have Jello, soup, crystal light, any
juice I wanted, popcicles,...... It was tolerable because of the
variety...What you weren't prepared for was a mean doctor!
— Debby M.
October 21, 2002
I can see protein & water, if it's real protein, not Ensure or
somethign like that. But GRAPE JUICE? Look at the sugar g in that! Wow,
that would make me RAVENOUS to get that much sugar in my day. I loved
grape juice, but that is one that is expressly forbidden by my docs. Sigh.
We're on clear liquids for 4 weeks, then graduate to soft (no puree). I
can sympathize with you with so little variety. We had the option of hot
broth, V-8 hot or cold, s/f popsicles, Crystal Light (about 900 flavors!),
and other sugar free juices. I love my protein, so it was not torturous
for me. Gave me a chance to break some of my bad habits, too.
— vitalady
October 21, 2002
I don't want to be the one to tell you not to follow docs orders but I
honestly don't see the harm in adding a couple of things to his list. I
don't think SF jello or SF popsicles or clear broth or maybe even caffeine
free herbal tea with a little Equal is going to destroy your docs plan. It
is ultimately up to you though. I think you could at least try to run
these options by your surgeon and see what his reaction will be. You never
know, maybe he will give you the "go ahead" on them all and leave
you with more variety and no guilt in the process. I will warn you though.
For me the liquid diet was the hardest part about the whole surgery , for
the simple fact that I was hungry for the entire 2 weeks of being on the
liquid diet. I HATED IT! But I was also bound and determined for this
"last chance" tool to work for me so I followed it. It was
really hard but worth it. And once I got through it I knew that there was
no stopping me then! Good luck!
— Laurel C.
October 21, 2002
ORIGNAL POSTER HERE. There is no specific reason to the grape juice to my
knowledge. His staff brought myself and my hospital roomate (also his
patient who had the same procedure) minute maid cranberry grape juice to
drink. After they left my roomate and I commented on the sugar grams, 38
of them to be exact. We were both under the impression that we weren't
allowed any sugar. Neither of us are/were diabetic. My doctor's post op
literature for the post op diet for this time clearly allows for sf jello,
sf popcicles, yogurt, and cottage cheese, but verbally he has told me and
the other patient to only have grape or cran-grape, protein drink and
water, that's it and nothing else. Neither of us has had any
complications. I take that back, I had a sorbet in the hospital and I ate
too muck of it, I had three ounces, but my pouch was not able to hold it
and it sat there like lead until it passed. Now I quit eating the hospital
food and now measure everything I put into my mouth. The container for the
sorbet was not a measured one. So I don't know. I snuck and had some
jello tonight, I felt so guilty after two bites I gave the rest to my three
year old. Then I was scared I had blocked my pouch with it and I was going
to die! So I have decided to follow his instructions exactly. It will be
hard, but I knew this WHOLE lifestyle would be hard, this is just the
begining.
— ravenprevia
October 21, 2002
This may not be very helpful but i read on someone website that a glass of
grape juice a day was good for you for some nutritional value.
— deniece M.
October 22, 2002
I had my open RNY on 8/15/02 and I came home on solid foods. Still kicking
and I feel good so don't worry to much. I think i have lost about 50
pounds too so it's not all bad. I would still try to do what your surgeon
says though as best you can. This liquid diet won't last forever. I didn't
have a drain either. I have read so many posts of people talking about
there drains it makes me wonder why I didn't have one. I'm doing fine so I
guess it doesn't matter. I worry about going against Dr.'s orders because
maybe different ones do something a litle differently inside. You can get
through it. Prayer helps. Carrie
— Carrie D.
October 22, 2002
I think your doctor is very severe. I see no need to such restrictions. I
am 3 weeks post-op and I can just eat about anything I want----though I
avoid sweets, breads and those high-carb foods. I'm like the previous
poster..I'm not one to encourage you to ignore your doctor...but in this
case, I think you should. Best of everything to you.
— Karen K.
October 22, 2002
I am 2 weeks post-op and just started soft foods. My doctor kept me on
liquids for two weeks. He explained that this allowed my new pouch to heal
and all the swelling to go down. It was extremely hard! I am now allowed
soft foods such as cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, etc. I know every
doctor is different but I trusted what mine said.
— Susan H.
October 22, 2002
Tynisha--no worries-you pureed the beans so that is fine. I think most of
us have that inside panic button that we will fail cos most of us always
have but have faith--read a lot of the posts and ask any questions that you
have. My surgeon basically told me that the first two weeks were liquids
and pureed food and then graduate onto soft foods and at 6 weeks
anything--just to make sure I go high protein low carb and watch the
sugars. No carbonated beverages and no fried foods. In my first few weeks
I stuck to sugar free pudding and jello, blue bunny healthy smart ice cream
(chocolate swirl and chocolate), and cheese cos I couldn't tolerate the
protein drinks or mashed potatoes at first. Now I can eat mashed potatoes.
It will get easier as you get used to what you can tolerate. Good luck!
— Bambi C.
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