Post Op, What foods to try? Help!

Hi, I had surgery about a month and a half ago and I am looking for suggestions on what foods to try?

Hi Michelle. I'm sure your doctor must have given you a guide to what foods to start back in as you travel along your "Journey". The Food Log we all contribute to here is a good source for idea's about what to eat. Your doctor's Support Group is also a good source for not only getting idea's about eating choices but for also shareing thoughts and concearns with others traveling the same road. Good Luck and Best Wishes,

Hi Julio, My Dr. told me to try new things. He didnt tell me specifics. What did you try at that point after surgery? Thanks, Michelle B.

Hi You have to ask your doctor about food plans because our doctors are different to give us for up to stage 4. Call your doctor office to ask this Kathy K

Hey Michelle, Like my comembers said, check with Dr. Barba's office, every surgeon is different with their plans for each stage of eating. Keep an eye on our food log and you will see what we all log in for our daily food intake, hope this is helpful to you. Good luck Hugs KimC

What stage has Dr Barba told you that you are at? Did they give you a list of foods to be eaten at each stage? If you are past puree stage, then I'd say to eat small meals with protein being your primary source of nutrition at this point. Start from 1-3 ounces of meat (about the size of a deck of cards) and eat that first...you can slowly add veggies one at a time, about once a week to see if you can handle them. Starchs and carbs should come last. Like everyone else said, you should call Dr Barba's office and speak to the program dietician or his staff and ask about what you should be eating at this stage. It really is a try as you go along type of thing. You have to try small amounts of food that are appropriate for the stage you are at and see if they agree with you. The food log posted on here is fine, but lots of us are very far out from surgery and can eat different types of food. Take it easy, You staple lines internally are still healing and if you over do it, you can pull them apart and need more surgery. Make sure you're getting in enough protein per day and enough liquids per day. These two are the most important for you right at this point. Protein for healing and good health and weight loss, water for hydration and to stay full. Good luck, paula

Thank you Paula, I am doing the things that you suggested. The Dr. told me to try new foods...he did not tell me to follow any stage. He felt that the weight loss of 40 lbs. was good. I can only eat about 1 oz of food at a time. Im not feeling hungry so Im not worried about overeating and I havnt gotten sick on any foods. I drink water and protein liquids all day. At what point after your post op did you feel you could try new things to eat? Thanks, I appreciate your feedback. Michelle

Hi Michelle - I received a hand out at each of the two sessions that were mandatory we attend as Dr. Barba's patients - each time they gave me a yellow folder that contained information about pre-op diet as well as the post op stages and what foods to eat. Call Judy - I'm sure she could give you another copy. Bascially at 6 weeks out you are good to go with anything you can tolerate. You need to focus on protein first because you can only eat a tiny amount so you need to make sure that is what you get in first and if there is room left over then you can try other stuff - (protein, veggies and then carbs was the order they had mentioned in that hand out). If you are tolerating everything pretty well then just take it slow and introduce "normal" food back into your life. Fish is usually an easy to go down food - a lot of people have chicken issues - make sure it's very moist and has some type of sauce to help it go down. As they also mentioned a lot of people have issues with bread, pasta and rice - you might not be one of those people - you can either try and see or just avoid it. You are at the stage where everything is experimental to see how you will react - just take it slow and hopefully you'll be able to tolerate a lot of stuff! You might want to consider going to the support group meeting next week for the rny patients - it's in the gengrass auditorium at St. Francis - you can park in the event parking for free (although Honor did bring a parking validation machine with her to the last support group meeting). Good luck! Tammy