Please Help!

I have a question about what I can eat.   I'm 5 weeks out of surgery (gastric bypass) and according to my Doctor's diet, I progressed to my last stage adding beef and pork on 3/29/08.  I have been able to eat rice and have had no problems but a friend who has had surgery by a different surgeon is saying that she is not supposed to have rice.  So I don't want to be doing anything to hurt myself.  I don't know if my doctor is just bad at giving out all the information I need or if he allows more.  Can you drink from a straw or eat rice?  I am not drinking from a staw anymore but rice has been one of the main foods I could eat well so I'm still eating rice.   Thanks in advance for the help!   Also, when can you start eating vegetables like broccoli, salad, etc.  My diet only dealt with protein rich foods.   Hugs, Bobbie

Im sure some of Dr Chapmans patients will chime in here and give you more specific answers. As for rice and straws - it really truly is surgeon preference... each surgeon has what they think works best based on *their* experience and how *they* do surgery. I was never told not to drink thru a straw... however I was told no rice until further out, you arnt allowed to add beef and por****il March, I was allowed soft meats after 2 weeks out... I was also allowed soft veggies/fruits at 2 weeks out - wasnt allowed anything with skins/seeds/nuts and no citrus until after 4/5 months out. I could move from soft veggies/fruits at 3 months out.  The only thing I can say about rice is make sure you are doing brown/whole grain rice. At this point you do not want to 'waste' pouch space with rice in lieu of protein. If you are fine on protein then IMO the rice is ok since your surgeon didnt limit. When you start adding in veggies you may find you cut back some on the rice because your eating should be protein first, then veggie/fruit lastly starch/carb... so its hard to get those carbs until further out when you can eat more.

Thank you. It's just so confusing because it does seem that each doctor does a little different.

Hey Bobbie!!  I could eat cooked veggies as soon as I went to soft foods (if they were cooked very soft) which was about 5 weeks out.  Dr. K does not want us to have raw veggies (salad and such****il like 8 weeks out.  I still have a hard time with beef (unless it is ground).   I know each surgeon has their own recommendations, but Dr. K really does not want us doing many carbs at all.  Rice can also "swell up" and cause some issues with foamies.  Be careful! Good luck!

Thank you Jennifer. I think I'll just hold off on the rice for now. I just get so tired of just protein that I was adding a few spoonfuls of rice to change the taste. I think I'll try some cooked veggies though.

I was told straws NEVER again. I was told no rice for 6 mos. post op, but I don't like rice so that's no biggie for me.  And rice for us is basically a food void of any nutritive value... and just a pouch filler.  It's a carb as well, so my advice would be to steer clear of rice.  Eat your proteins and any extra "space" throw in some veggies that will give you nutritive value. I was told no raw fruits and veggies until 6 mos. post op.  I can ea****ermelon w/out bother and sometimes when I'm not feeling so great and having a hard time getting in my fluids watermelon has been my friend, but cantaloupe 'bout killed me. As for veggies, as long as they are cooked well, you should be able to do those now.  But be careful with things like the stemmy areas of broccoli.  That's fibrous, so makes sure it's VERY cooked.

One of the first soft meats I ate was ground beef.  For some of us it works fine, for others it's pure hell.  I really enjoyed meat loaf early on and still do.  I don't do a lot of pork.  Early on, that and chicken were "foamie" triggers for me, and I'm a dark meat chicken gal.  I gag just thinking about white meat chicken.  I'm eating more pork now, but I mostly eat shellfish.  Shrimp, oysters, scallops and crab are THE most pouch friendly foods for me (and terrific protein too).  I can't wait to dig into the box of lobster claws I got frozen at Walmart yesterday! You say you're getting this info. from your doctor.  Do you see a Nutritionist/Dietitian?  If not, I highly recommend it.  They are SO much more well versed in our needs than docs... particularly those who work with WLS patients.  I love the NUT I go to in G'ville.

Thank you so much for the information. I'll start adding cooked veggies and leave off the rice. I had an appointment with a nutritionist before surgery but our class focused on what we would be eating 8-months to a year out from surgery. She said that you were going to lose weight regardless of what you did for the first 6-8 months but felt that educating us about portion control and how to get enough protein and limit carbs at 8-12 months out for maintainace was her focus. I sipped from a straw at the hospital. But you better believe that I'm not going to use any straws now. Actually all future visits to my nutritionist are free but she really impressed upon our class that we didn't need to come to future classes or support group until we were about 8-12 months out when we were having to really look at balancing carbs and protein. I definitely will follow your advice. Thanks again, Bobbie

With all due respect, with a Dietitian with such an attitude, I'd be finding myself a NEW ONE PRONTO.  And your doctor should be stressing the importance of nutritional counseling NOW as well! We have had MAJOR changes performed to our bodies that involve the fuel we put in it and how that is now dramatically changed... and I'm just speechless to think your doc and NUT do not see critical value in nutritional counseling at every step of the way!! Our nutritional needs and developing correct patterns in the first few days/weeks/months are critical to the process and long term success, and the questions and issues you've raised in your post today are evidence that you do need nutritional counseling now, not months from now!  We're all always glad to help with posts like yours, but we are just passing along personal experiences and what our docs/nuts have told us... which is always different from one of us to the next. I can't believe what I'm reading.  I have a strong food and nutrition background and can't imagine not having a NUT on my team n.o.w. and from day one.  I don't go to her frequently, but my NUT and I discuss everything... from the best/healthiest oils to use to how I am progressing personally, not on some "norm" schedule for everybody in general who has had WLS.  We discuss problems and things specific to only me and how to handle them, or what I did to get over an eating issue... or if current, what I can/should be doing.  I have been able to call her on several occasions for quick questions too.   You need to be balancing carbs, proteins and all OTHER nutritive things now, not a year post op! (Just like the rice issue today.) If you would like the name and number of the NUT I see in Greenville at Physician East, PM me and I'll send it to you.  Like you said, it's FREE.  You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.  You might (both) decide after one visit that you do not need to revisit for some time, but at least you'll know for sure...

Hi Bug!      Of course I have no experience yet, therefore no advice. I just wanted to say "hey." Nice to see your gorgeous face on the board again. xoxo

So good to hear from you again Bobbie!  Take it easy!  One day at a time!.. Focus on the protein and the fluids, and try gradually adding veggies and soft fruits for your carb sources and for their nutritive value.  Rice is just pure carbs!  And it takes up precious space in your new tummy!