x-post: Help with Dr. Barker's (TX) VSG post-op diet

My surgery is coming up pretty fast and I have been looking at the post-op diet that was given to me at my pre-op visit.  It is a little vague and I was wondering if any of you can shed some light on this (and yes, I will double check with the dr before I am discharged from the hospita)

The diet is divided into three phases:
Stage I:  Liquid diet for three weeks
Stage II:  Soft diet for two weeks
Stage III:  Regular diet

So, my question is about the liquid diet.  There doesn't seem to be a difinite clears phase and full liquid phase.  Am I to take this to mean that I can have full liquids when I feel up to it?  Like protein shakes and creamy or blended soups?  This is what the guideline says:

Start with thin liquids before advancing to thicker fluids.

Liquid diet suggestions:
Coffee, Crystal light, broth, popsicles, nectar protien.

Anything that pours without solid matter is ok.  You can mix protien with your choice of liquid. 

Thanks!

Yup, you read it right.  That was the same instrctions i got after my RNY.  For Dr Barker, a liquid is anything you can get through a straw.  But like it says, start with the thin clear liquids and move to the thicker full liquids as you tolerate them.  I actually drank one oz of protein drink every hour that I was awake starting with my first day post-op.  I also has sips of cream soups within a few days of surgery.

Soft diet is mashed potatoes, chicken salad, eggs, cottage cheese, chilli-basically anything thats mushy and doesn't require much in the way of chewing.

I read it as you do, there is no defined perios of "liquid diet".  I'd suggest  you stay on the clear liquids especially the first week and then proceed to "fuller" liquids if you feel ready.  Of course, yes confirm with Dr. B.

We have lots of Dr. Barker patients here I'm sure one of them will also elaborate.  Good luck with your surgery.

Thanks so much...that is what I figured, but I wanted a little confirmation.  I bought a couple of isopure clear drinks and figured I would start on those when I get home.

Mary

Dr. Barker is great. You are in awesome hands. 

As far as liquids go, do whatever you can tolerate.  You'll know quick when you've done too much.   And be warned, after the surgery, I couldn't drink anything I purchased before.  Your tastes just completely change for a good while.  Get down what you can.

Good Luck!

I stayed on clear liquids for the first week.  Like you I drank the Isopure drinks.  I also ate SF popsicles.  After the first week they told me I could move on to mushie foods but I just took it slow.  You will know what you can tolerate.  I bought a little 5 ounce measuring glass and that is what I drank out of.  When I was awake I would make sure I drank one glass before I would go back to bed.  I would sip on it while I walked in my house.  That way the rest of the drink stayed cool in the refridge.  If I would have looked at that bottle and thought I had to get that down I don't know if I could have ever done it.  After week one I went to the Adkins Advantage drinks.  Those tasted the best to me right after surgery.  I couldn't tolerate those powder drinks at first. 

The way the nutritionist explained it to me is anything that can be sipped through a straw with little effort.