10 Days post -op and worried like Tiffany!

Oh My God! Tiffany you could have written this post for me! I am 10 days post-op had a one week checkup Dr said start soft food diet....I feel I could eat normal portions. I dont but I think I could I ate a 2 hardboiled eggs made into egg salad, with fat free mayo, on a toasted piece of wheat bread and didn't feel stuffed! I did eat slow and chewed chewed chewed. Even when I was on liquids I could gulp down the 8 oz of Carnation Instant Breakfast Of course I tried to take my time but it went down VERY easily I feel like I could eat like before. I told my Dr I didn't think he did the surgery. He laughed and said he did and just do my best to follow the guidelines. I have to admitt I'm not hungery - just never really full. Not sure what is OK to eat. So far nothing is a problem but I have tried to stay with the guidelines. I have talked to people who could barely sip their protein drinks down and lots of things disagreed with them. Do I want that? I don't think so but I don't want to be able to eat ANYTHING! I do worry that I can eat to much. What's to stop me? Right now I have good self control but I know I NEVER can hold it together to long. I am staying away from sugar and I PRAY that I will NOT be able to tolerate a lot of sweet things. I Want this to work!!! Don't worry I am not going to test the boundries - WHAT ARE DID YOU ALL EAT FOR THE SOFT DIET? Carol R

Hi Carol, For me it took a few weeks for the feeling of satisfaction to set in. I won't say fullness because we should not eat until we feel full. Though I will admit to doing it a couple of times. Ouch. As for what to eat on a soft diet. Cottage cheese, string cheese, shaved turkey breast with cheese melted on top. Tuna with a bit of mayo. Canned white meat chicken with mayo to moisten, refried beans, hummus, ricotta cheese with cinnamon and spleda. Good luck! Kim

I hear ya Carol!! I just hope everyone's advice pans out....that it just takes some for the nerve endings in our stomachs to heal and we'll finally feel "full". Ive actually read that some people are eating a lot and then all of a sudden cant eat as much as they were originally able too (at about 7 weeks). I am sticking to this as best as I can. I only eat until I feel satisfied. And really, Im not hungry after that..I just wish i could have a full feeling....or some sign to know when ive eaten enough. I guess its just trial and error for now. Are you able to take big bites? I can only take very little bites and have to chew it really well or i feel like its stuck. One time I almost vomited from it. That was NOT fun. I was salivating like crazy. I just wanted it to either go down or come out....luckily, it finally went down. lol. Good luck, and let me know of any changes, and I'll do the same. Seems as though we're in the same boat!!

Hey Tiffany- Big Bites? I can drink like I did pre -op -meaning I don't need to sip I could take a normal bite but I try not to. I take a med bite and chew chew chew until the stuff in my mouth feels very small. Today at lunch I had egg salad again - chopped more finely then usual and with fat free mayo on 1 slice of wheat toast. I took 2 normal bites and then it felt stuck. I then spit up a lot of salvia and some of the egg salad. i didn't eat anymore after that! I don't think anything doesn't agree with me yet but I don't have a very big repertoire of food yet either. What are you eating? I eat scrambled eggs loose, mashed potatoes (i know an indulgance i've had twice), Carnation Instant Breakfast, loose oatmeal, shrimp with a little bit of ****tail sauce, soups, and I think that's it. I need to be better about getting fluids in - the 1st week I was great but this waiting before and after I eat has thrown me off. Inbetween I have had non sweetened applesauce, diet jello, sugar free ice pops. Now that I'm eating more 'meals' I have only 1 or 2 of these a day. Are your staples driving you crazy? Mine are - they are right where you bend Does anyone know do they hurt when they take them out? thanks for listiening Carol R

Didn't your doctor give you measurements . . . 1/3 cup, then 1/4 cup etc??? Measure Measure Measure! Especially at 10 days. For me (2 years post op) those little Breakstone cottage cheese cups were a blessing. I believe they're 4 ounces, and I was positively stuffed. Don't let your sense of fullness be your guide, let your measuring cup be your guide. And trust me, you don't want to "push" it and get something stuck. You're insides are still healing, still swollen. Getting something stuck hurts like bloody hell. You don't want to go there! Good luck! Linda

Hi Carol R : ) Suggestions -Try to eat with a friend. Especially early on in the surgery post op.. it helps to relax and eat slower if there is someone to share a meal with. -dont be afraid to drink protein drinks especially early on -eat protein FIRST.. (I know I know.. sounds like you are) but I cant stress that enough... I dont eat ANY bread (well ok an occassional half low carb bagel) but thats it. No pasta (ok ok.. yes maybe twice a month we have low carb protein added barrila pasta)... but literally no bread... no crackers... I love cheese and I have found 24 thousand ways to have cheese.. for *me* that is mostly what I eat...but thats me. Soft Diet? Yogurt, string cheese, Soups, pudding, refried beans (great for protein and soft too) Chili with no beans and later with bean As an aside LATER...if your out and you have to be eating fast food I swear by wendys chili... and its high in protein. Basically.. BE ENCOURAGED.. you sound like I felt... I was terrified (*and double so because as everyone *knows**.. us guys are supposed to be strong and not scaredy cats : PPP) but I learned... best to relax.. and know it will improve. Really. Im not teasing.. it gets SOO much easier. : ) Dont get on the scale *EVERY* day... try not to more than once a week.. (me I get on the scale every two weeks) CONTINUE to post here frequently.. and ask questions. And get involved with a in person support WLS group if you can (have I mentioned how wonderful the Toms River Group is? (grin) ) Godspeed. you sound like your doing really well... dont be nervous we all go through the *OMG I can still eat like a horse !! - phase and feeling. It passes : ) Have a super day Hugs Timmy Ray