post op liquid question

Hello.  2 quick apologies...maybe this should gi to the "nut" board but I wanted to start here AND I did not search to see if this has been asked before...SORRY!!!

Ok, I'm 3 days post-op and at home.  Dr. says I will remain on clear liquid diet until my one week appt (next Thurs).  I have tolerated everything well (knock on wood)...no nausea or anything.  ive been sucking on ice, had ice water, decaf iced tea, and chicken/beef broths (low sodium). 

now i realize that im not moving a ton...im ambulating and still using the spirometer and have showered twice since ive been home...but is entire postop week on clear liquids any kind of normal???  i wanna lose weight just as much as the next person but this kinda seems wacky.  what do you think or what were your experiences?

thanks!
georgia

Hey Georgia, it is in your best interest to do what your doctor tells you.  All doctors have a different protocal.

Clear liquids is totally normal. I echo Carol by saying that you should follow your doc's orders. Each doctor has a reason for why they want the patient to do a certain thing. You will do fine.

Christine

Hi Georgia -  As you know we have the same doc and the liquid diet stage is normal.  It's even normal if you had a lapband installed instead (be glad you didn't have a 10 pre-op clear liquid with a 7 day post-op clear liquid like I did when I had the band in 2004...that was TORTURE!).  The diet will progress as we go along.  Thursday we start on whole liquids (milk, thick soups, yogurt, etc) then onto pureed foods.  The diet goes in steps to allow our newly routed/reconstructed insides a chance to recouperate and heal.  The best way to do that is in stages.  To jump into more normal foods too quickly could and most likely would cause sever damage.  I know it's frustrating (my surgery was the 22nd and my first appointment is also Thursday, so I get the clear liquids longer), but it will be over soon and you'll be onto the next stage.  Have you been drinking the 50/50 juice and water mix twice a day?  I am loving the Naked watermelon juice (Dominicks or Jewel refrigerated section by fruits and veggies) because even watered down it tastes full strength.  As you know our doc is one of the best and an expert in the field, so you know he's not steering us in a wrong direction.  Sure some docs might let their patients go full liquid a little sooner (even pureed), but look at how few, if any complications our doc has...keep the faith...this will all be a distant memory sooner rather than later when we're living our skinnier lives!!!
Joyce
PS.  What time is your appt. on Thurs?  We might bump into each other at his office.

thanks everybody.  i just needed reassurance.  im not hungry which is awesome...and i actually had a blue, flavor ice (sugar free) pop last night.  i checked online and it said it was 1.5 oz so i went for it.  it was a nice treat and i was happy to have something different.

joyce...my appt is at 1100am.  i havent tried the juice yet...ill send the hubby out later for some.  it's weird, but i feel like i missed out on a master list somewhere.  my surgery was at evanston and i still have their clear liquid menu and my "wls for dummies" book but i feel like no one ever said "post-op drink this many oz this frequently".  either that, or they told me while i was still enjoying my morphine, lol!

thanks again everyone!
georgia

Georgia - Dr. F did my surgery at St. Francis in Evanston and I got a full run through as to what to drink.  I was told by the Nut and Dr. Roberts and was given a printed out sheet from Dr. F's office when I was discharged that I must have 8 oz. of fruit-only fruit juice mixed with equal parts of water twice a day to keep blood sugar stable (and I don't have diabetes).  That is in addition to getting in as much other clear liquids as possible...these included water, sugar free drinks, sugar free popsicles, broths and sugar free jello.  So I guess, yes, there is a master list.  Didn't you get it when discharged?  St. Francis gave me a whole folder of info from not only them and their nut, but also some sheets from Dr. F's office whi*****luded the diet and what you can and can't do post-op.  Call his office on Monday if you didn't get it and have them send/fax or read it to you!!!
Joyce

that was exactly my fear...i got no such thing and never saw a nutritionist!  i thought that was odd...meh.  ill have to call tomorrow morning.
thanks!

Hi Georgia, it is normal to be on the liquids for a week or two, you stomach has be cut and stapled and need time to do some healing before you put to much in it, Now with me I did not want to eat anyway so for me the liquids did not bother me at all,
the most important thing is to always listen to your Dr. and follow the plan that he has you on, just make sure you are getting in enough fluids you don't want to dehydrate, Good luck to you, and just take it one day at a time and you will do fine,
keep us posted on how you are doing.

can anybody tell me what the "routine" for keeping an adequate liquid intake might be (remember-i did not get a "nut" consult and my post-op instructions were literally "clear liquids til one week appt").  I do not think i'm dehydrated (and still not hungry thank goodness) but I think maybe i'm not drinking enough.  i am looking for some direction such as "2 oz every half hour" or something like that.  any help would be lovely!!

I was told to drink 80oz of water and 100 grams of protein a day Now when you are first out that is not going to happen I think I was only getting maybe 20oz of water and maybe 80 grams of protein but remember Jello and Popsicles also count as fluid intake as well as your broth that you might be drinking, as long as you are passing urine you should be OK,
I also was just told to sip through out the day,
good luck