***ATTENTION POST-OPS****

Ok, I am a week out. I can't stand the jello broth thing anymore! I read through the hand out from my dietician and it said that I could start trying mashed potatoes, and creamy soups or anything that is purieed (sp?) What are you all eating? I have tried a few protien shakes, but they just make me ill, just can't do them right now. So, any help is appreicated. Eileen

HI Eileen, I had my surgery on 10/30 and still trying to figure out too what I can eat and can't eat. I've been eating things like mashed potatoes, soft fish, creamed corn and soup. Also real soft casserole stuff, like Stouffer's turkey tetrazzini (not much of it though, mind you). I probably shouldn't be eating the casserole stuff. I had a cousin who had the surgery and she said for the first month all she ate was creamed soups. For the protein, I've been trying to drink milk and my cousin suggested the Carnation instant breakfast with a tablespoon of peanut butter. She said it's really good hot. I'm anxious to try that myself. I know that peanut butter is a no no, but I think for the first month, it's acceptable. Hope this help a bit.

I am "allowed" to eat malto meal or cream of wheat, creamed soups-but only mushroom, chicken, or potato, Of course all the clear liquids like juice, jello, broth, etc. It is very very boring and Im having a hard time being able to tell if what I feel is hunger or my brain or WHAT!! Plus I have a hard time knowing what full is. So I jsut portion out my stuff and eat that amount only. (1/4 cup). Just woke up and am working on the protein shake FIRST THING to make sure I get atleast 1/3 of it done for the day. As the day wears on, I tend to 'forgert' to drink it.... A motto I have heard is PROTEIN FIRST.

Eileen, I am three weeks out and just starting to feel good. I hate the protein shakes but try cottage cheese and ricotta cheese. Thats what my doctor told me. I am also eating mashed potatoes and carots. I have tried egg salad and tuna. Good luck Sharon

Well, I had surgery on 11/7 and just got out of the hospital yesterday. So I am still on the clear thing today. YECH! I am sick of it. As of tommorow, or tonight if I get my way, it will be strained cream soups, and "liquid" stuff for the next 3 weeks. I wasn't told any limits on the types of cremed soups just as long as theyr aren't lumpy. That's why they are to be strained. Mashed potatoes are stage 3 according to my docs diet timeline and stage 3 isn't for another 3 weeks. Though I don't think it would be much of a problem right now. But I am going to try very hard not to push things.

Thanks everyone. I tried creamed soup and mashed potatoes today...THANK GOD! I feel tons better. I know I am not really getting protien, but I know that will change as time moves on. I am a protien eating person. I just didn't get a lot of guidence from my surgeon. He pretty much does the surgery and then you are on your own. I eat 1/2 cup portions (unless I start feeling full). I have read info from two different dieticians and they all say 1/2 cup portions for the main meals, which is all I am eating. I know, I know, I am probably doing this wrong. It will be so much easier when I can move on to solids and actual meals. Again ladies thanks for the help!

Hi, Eileen... I am just over a week post-op and have experimented with the pureed foods that are on my OK list. These would include: broth, jello, cottage cheese, creamed soups (pureed with a scoop of protein), mashed potatoes (can add left-over creamed soup to it, too), tunafish (moistened with a sm amt of FF mayo), FF SF pudding, pureed chicken breast, SF popsicles, applesauce, Crystal Light, and soft scrambled eggs. Granted, I can only eat about an oz at a time of them...but, oh, so good! Make sure that you only introduce foods one at a time so if they are a problem, you know which one it was. All docs are different, just be sure to listen to his/her directions and experiment with those. The tuna is my favorite and it is VERY high on protein. I'm still searching for the FF SF Carnation Instant Breakfast (cannot find it anywhere). I also thought I hit the jackpot as I was looking at lables yesterday in the grocery store. I found that Corned Beef Hash in the can has 21 grms of protein!!! Yeah, then I looked again and it has the SAME amt of fat!!! (sigh) Oh, well. (((hugs)) -Karen

Hi Eileen, first I want to congratulate you on the first step to the beginning of the rest of your life. As far as what to eat.... I was eating scrambled eggs within 4 days of surgery. They tasted so good and felt fine going down. Its all going to depend on you and your body. Protein shakes?? What flavor have your tried. I made some delicious shakes w/ Juice (apple), natural flavor protein, bananna and strawberries. I was able to tolerate fruit right after surgery. (again this is on an individual basis). Again, we were able to advance in our diet rather quickly as long as everything agreed for 2 days.