More wrong guidance? Calling all Vets!

OK, I am finding out so many things in this forum that was wrong information given to me by my 'medical team' for DSers...only low fat items, only 80g protein/day, the level of vitamins required, etc....  Now I am wondering about other things too, such as:

Can you drink & eat at the same time?

Can you use a straw (must be an oral fixation...but I am dying)?

Soda?  Not that I was a big drinker before, but wouldn't mind a sip of diet.

Caffeine?  I am a tea drinker...hot/cold...either way, but decaf does not taste the same...

Waiting 3 hours or so between meals & snacks?

Any correct guidance you can give would be really helpful!!!!

 

 

I am still pre-op so really, the opposite of a vet, but I'll respond anyway - the guidelines you've been told to follow only apply to RNY. It is common for surgeons and nutritionists to give that advice because they don't live it so they don't know.

Low fat is bad. You malabsorb 80% of fat, so you need fat and lots of it. Otherwise you may find you get constipated. Fat is also necessary for brain function, as well as hair and nails.

You need 100g protein per day minimum.

"Two flintstones and a tums" is absolutely not nearly enough, but a lot of dietitians think so for some reason.

You can eat and drink at the same time. You still have a functioning pylorus so there is no need to worry about food being flushed out of a pouch. However, drinking and eating at the same time may make you fuller faster, and therefore make it harder to get all of your protein in.

You can use a straw if you want to, but it may cause you to swallow more air than you would without one and that may make you gassy and uncomfortable.

Soda is controversial. "A sip" would probably be fine, and you should probably limit it at that to start with because some people experience discomfort after drinking it, especially early out.

Caffeine is also controversial, most "plans" that I've heard of suggest you stay away from caffeine for a while after surgery, but I can't imagine it's a life-long no-no.

Waiting 3 hours between meals and snacks... Also RNY advice. You should try to structure your meals, surely, but especially in the early days it's more important that you get in everything you need to get in. I've heard of a few people who get severe hunger pains if they don't eat for 2 hours.

None of this is personal experience, I am merely conveying information I have learned over the last few years looking into DS for myself. I was approved last week and will have surgery some time in the spring or early summer. Hoping a real vet will chime in!

Are you pre-op, or post op? I've never heard of your surgeon, and he doesn't even list the DS on his OH profile.

Yes, we can eat and drink at the same time. Early out, drinking with meals can make you get full too fast, so lots of folks drink VERY sparingly.

No reason not to use a straw---that's just SILLY!

Soda isn't really good for anyone, and 'regular' soda's got an incredible number of grams of sugar per OUNCE. Also, carbonation can be uncomfortable, and some studies say that artificial sweeteners in diet sodas can set up cravings for more carbs. That said, I occassionally drink soda, and when I do, I drink 'the Real Thing', Coke Classic. BUT---I only drink it when eating in a restuarant where I know I don't like the tea. I NEVER buy it and bring it home.

Caffeine---you're and adult, you get to decide. Caffeine is a VERY MILD diuretic, and those of us who consume it daily lose even that small effect. Caffeine can irritate the stomach, especially while it's healing after surgery, and caffeine does (slightly) interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. As I say---you're and adult. Research caffeine, and decide if the pros outweigh the cons FOR YOU. Personally, I drink about a gallon of caffeinated iced tea, sweetened with Splendad, each and every day.

I usually do wait about 3 hours between feedings---because that's about how often I get hungry. I don't time it or anything. As long as I'm eating primarily protein and fat, I eat whenever I want to.

Seriously, if you're pre-op, you might want to really re-think your choice of surgeon. If you're post-op, you need to get a copy of your surgical notes to make sure exactly what this guy did to your insides.

I'm only 7 weeks post-op but I had the worst constipation when I didn't get in enough fat. Trust me you don't want to go there. Still have a hemorrhoid :(

I second what has been already said. And I don't understand the rational about using a straw, I actually ingest less air when I use a straw.

After surgery I drank regular strong coffee (I had surgery in Brazil) within 2 days. It tasted great and I had no problems from it, I still drink it, I love coffee.

Soda, I drink a small amount of diet pepsi sometimes, but not very often. It does nothing except make me burp more. I'm just not a big soda drinker, never have been.

Your diet should consist of High protein, low carb and fat as tolerated or needed. Some people have to go easy on the fat right after surgery until your intestine is healed, but YMMV.

Do NOT wait 3 hours between meals. You can make yourself miserable doing that. Eat when you feel like it. All day if you need to, just make it mostly protein.

Stick around, some of the vets can help you a lot.

 

Thanks so much for responding! Just to clarify, I am 5 weeks post-op & am doing great...no nausea, food issues, bowel issues, etc... You guys are right about my surgeon. He is very new to the DS. I was his 2nd ever DS surgery, however, he has been doing WLS for over 10 years & was assisted in my surgery by a surgeon with over 10 years experience with DS. Still kinda scary!! I am hoping as I go through the next few months, I'll be able to transfer info back to his office to make their instructions more 'DS' friendly!

Yes, you can eat and drink at the same time.  It's not wise to drink too much or you won't have room for protein.  You have a stomach, not a pouch.  Fluids can not wash food out of your stomach.

Of course you can use a straw.  I was given drinks with a straw in the hospital even.

Probably wise to wait a while on the soda.  You probably aren't ready for the carbonation.  But I drink diet soda, tea, and coffee every day.  Caffeine is a mild diuretic as long as you are aware of that, fine.  Early out it's hard to get in enough fluids so it's probably better to do without caffeine for a while.  But you don't have to give it up forever.

It would be almost impossible to get in 100 gr of protein waiting 3 hours to eat.  Most of us are grazers, eating throughout the day.  As long as you are eating protein and fat, no carbs, you are good.

You are being given classic RNY instructions.

Check you DSfacts.com for a really good overview of your surgery.

 Can you drink & eat at the same time? YES

Can you use a straw (must be an oral fixation...but I am dying)? Why not, I do

Soda?  Not that I was a big drinker before, but wouldn't mind a sip of diet. While I don't drink soda often, I don't avoid it. I mainly share one with dh cause it's cheaper than both of us getting one and having so much left (both of us are ds'er's)

Caffeine?  I am a tea drinker...hot/cold...either way, but decaf does not taste the same...Caffeine isn't really good for us very early post op but after about 6-8 weeks, I was back to drinking my regular coffee and other drinks with caffeine in them. ONLY reason I drink decaf tea is that the brand I drink only comes in decaf in the bulk size found at Sam's and it's not even carried at Costco. I drink Luzianne tea.

Waiting 3 hours or so between meals & snacks? I eat when I am hungry. I don't count the exact time...it can be every hour or every 3/4 hours...but I typically eat all three meals, and several (3-6) snacks during the day.

Any correct guidance you can give would be really helpful!!!! I saw my nut this week...asked her bout the "low fat" they are giving out as advice since as a ds'er, we absorb about 20% of the fat we eat. And since normies need about 30 grams a day to stay healthy, that meant we needed about 5 times that. Her response was that they had people who had diarrhea eating too much fat. I then told her that if I didn't eat enough, I got constipated instead and that on average, I managed the equivalent of about 1 1/2 sticks of butter a day. But I am also a realist...even with the proof, she wouldn't change her stance as it doesn't fit the box she is in. And they don't like thinking OUTSIDE the box of a RNY.

Yeah, you totally got RNY instructions.  Not to worry though - most of us got the same thing and we're here to help:

Yes, you can eat and drink at the same time, but little sips at first, for you'll fill up fast.

Straws are perfectly okay, and make sucking down those protein drinks SO much easier

Caffeine slows down healing - but once that's done, buzz away.  I can say that Lipton decaf tea bags are delicious

Hell no on that waiting 3 hours.  I eat about every 1.5-2 hours.  Nibble away at bits of protein here and there to get in as much with real food as possible.