Pureed Question

Okay, I lied.  The latter post was not my last post, how can it be, since I'm itching like a man on a fuzzy tree!  Maybe not that bad. My question/concern:   Everyone talks about the Pureed stage, I've been expecting it but no one absolutely no one or any page in my handbook talks about a pureed stage.  Stage I is clear liquids.  Stage II is clear liquids plus protein shakes.  Stage III begins 7-10 days after surgery and is soft stage, i.e. eggs, cottage cheese, low carb soups, skinless spuds, protein shakes (just 1 or two bites mind you)  Stage IV is soft vegetables added and fruit cups (no citrus), and Stage V is trial and error additions (6 weeks out).  No mention of pureed foods... What ye say, friends? BobM.

Bob,  My doc's rules were to stick with full liquids for the first two weeks, absolutely no chunks of any kind. For example, if I ate veggie soup, then I would throw into the blender, strain it completely, then eat it. The third and fourth weeks I was to puree everything. For example, if I ate veggie soup, then I would throw it into the blender, no longer did I need to strain it before I ate it. Starting the fifth week I started the soft foods diet. The foods were consistent with what you listed above in your post, cottage cheese, eggs, refried beans, etc.  Your doc seems a little more aggressive than mine, as far as pushing the diet forward anyway. I would follow your doc's rules.

In my case was the first 10 days was clear liquids; Broths, jello, etc. The second 10 days was full liquids: Tomato, pea, and lentle, soups, SF puddings, etc The next week was pureed foods: Egg salad run through a blender, Beef veg soup run though a blender, tuna and salmon run through a blender, refried beans, blended carrots, etc. ... Following that It was off to soft solids like scrabled eggs, ham lunch meat slices, Pinto beans, chilli, meatloaf, string beans, broccolli, etc. ...   The pureed stage can be done without a blender if you use a small baby spoon and chew each bite 20 or more times

I've been excited about eating DX e's human chow.  That recipe has made it into my family's regular weekly recipes!!!  Good stuff.  Although my wife substituted ground turkey for ground lean hamburger.   We haven't eaten real hamburger for a number of years, but you have to watch it because if you don't get lean ground turkey you may be getting stuff that has as much fat content as real hamburger. I'm asking about pureed stuff when I get up there.

Bob, As you can see, every doctor has his own idea of the stages.  Mine only had 3 stages.  The first two weeks, I could only have water and crystal light.  Then Stage 2 was pureed foods for 4 weeks, and after week six I could go to solid food.  Good luck.

Floyd

My worksheets also were split into 5 stages just like yours but pureed foods was listed under stage 2.  So, after the clear liquids only, the stage 2 protein shakes also included pureed food.  Pureed fruits, veggies, cottage cheese, non-red meat (chicken, tuna) and baby food... my dietician said basically anything that doesn't have any lumps and that are the consistency of applesauce.... this was after the 2 weeks post-op liquid diet up to 4 weeks.  On the 4th week, I could move in to the soft stage 3.

Every doctor is different, so it's a good idea ask your doctor directly when you have the opportunity.  In my case, I was allowed pureed foods during the full liquids stage, which was immediately after the clear liquids stage. That said, my surgeon also progressed a lot faster than most.  I was on full liquids before I left the hospital (day 2 or 3), on soft foods about a week later, and cautiously starting regular foods ("chewed within an inch of its life") another week after that. Good luck!

Bob, just to let you know on "Pureed foods".  At almost 5 weeks out I haven't used a blender to pureed any foods.  I've had small pieces of grilled chicken and other foods and all I have done is chew, chew, chew. As a matter of fact no matter what texture I'm eating all I do is chew, chew, chew.  I've even noticed trying to chew protein shakes and even water... Mike

Hey Mike.  Just how many times do you have to chew water before swallowing? 

My doctor said at least 20 times...  Ha Ha Ha!   The first week post op I was so scared all I did was sip, sip, sip.  I think at my 4th week I got up the nerve to swallow 1/3 mouth full (without chewing- hah ha). Actually, the first 4 weeks I would have given $100.00 bill if I could have chug-a-lug a bottle of water.  Especially when I saw my friends drinking, gulp after gulp. Mike