What the heck can I eat!!!!

Two things that stabilized me at your stage were chili from Wendy's and refried beans from taco bell. I wish you all the best. Carmen

Beans are a good source of protein especially early out. I would sometimes add an unflavored protein mix to my chili or beans. I use AnyWhey Protein mix and I would even add it to my Protein drink sometimes. I had trouble getting the protein shakes down but then I found that Slimfast Lo-carb protein drink was the easiest for me to drink. You are so early out that you won't be able to drink a whole can at first. I also add AnyWhey to my instant oatmeal and I can't even taste it. Use ho****er but not boiling water when mixing the oatmeal and AnyWhey. Early out your food choices are limited and you will probably eat the same things over and over for awhile. It does get better and this is when you need to start changing your attitude about food and learn to eat what's good for you. I'm 18 months out and within 2 lbs of goal. But it came at hard work....exercise and eating right and eating healthy. I had to work on my mind alot and I really encourage you to do that from the get go. You will go thru many frustrations during this journey but if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded with a healthy body and a much healthier attitude towards food and exercise. I for one feel every minute of frustration, sweat and tears were worth it and I'd go thru this again in a heartbeat knowing what I know now. There have been many WOW moments as well and that helps you stay the course. I had my little tantrums and then I got down to business and instead of bemoaning what I couldn't have I started to look at what I could have and started experimenting with food I could tolerate. Now start changing that attitude! Linda

the last thing in the world you need to worry about right now is carbs. Refried beans and baked beans are EXCELLENT sources of fiber as well as protein. And believe me, you need your fiber (you don't want to develop fissures, as I did). Focus on protein protein protein (and liquids). I lived on Sugar free popsicles and soups (and cottage cheese with olives ... since yogurt and even most protein drinks seemed way too sweet initially) for the first couple weeks ... and worked my way up to Wendy's chili (with extra cheese) ... I still haven't tired of chili. I also had a hard time with eggs initially, with the "egg"-ception of deviled eggs. Those worked well. Good luck.

Kathleen, please try not to get frustrated. I have walked your shoes and can not express enough on how important it is to get your nutrients in. I had a thiamine deficiency due to lack of vitamin B. Please try to get all your vits and protiens. I also had problems with the protien drinks. I had the best luck with Walgreens Optisource. Also a few things that you might try to eat or drink and hold down: V-8 juice (slowly) Gerber Graduates. I tried the cheese raviolis, chicken stew, chicken and rice and all these are in the baby section. Don't give up because it will get better. The thing that helped me through the bad times was all the positive support. Many of us have been there and know how you feel. Please ask questions when you need help. Paula

Hi Kathleen, I was still on liquids at two weeks. But did your doctor give you a phiased menu? I know there is something phase I, phase II, that sort of thing. Probably mostly pureed things at this point. To be honest I still have trouble finding things that stay down and I am 14 months out!! It's trial and error to see what sets well with you. Another thing is try to remember the difference between head hunger and real hunger. That was and still is tough. And you might want to go to your surgery month board and see what the rest of the folks are eating that had surgery the same month as you. That is a real help. Good luck, and don't get discouraged. I promise you you will see that this is the best thing you have ever done for yourself!! love donna

I had good luck with soup and deil turkey. Thats still about all I eat now and not throw up. And I am 16 months out. good luck to ya Amy

Hi Kathleen, oh what memories your post revived for me. Ugh! I am over 5 years post op, but for the first 6 weeks I thought I was gonna die, and didn't care . Like you I hated the protein shakes, but I found that if I doctored them they were tolerable, I used the powered kind and added a teaspoon of dry sugar free jello (any flavor)and absolutely cold water...made it tasty enough for me to drink my 3 oz's every hour. I then went to toddler meals (yuck) but I ate them, I also lived off dry soda crackers for the nausea. I did not try meats till after 6 weeks, when I ate the refried beans I made sure they were smashed to a puree. It was trial and error for several weeks. Keep trying dear, it will be okay, and soon you will see the results. By the way...I still have to doctor my mayo to tolerate it. Hugs and Love, Marilyn

MEMORIES!! 5 years ago!!! Like Carmen posted: Wendy's chili & Taco Bell's refried beans were the ONLY foods (stage 2) I could tolerate for WEEKS. I'd buy the chili on liquid phase and gently drink the soup ONLY. No kidding. Then on pureed phase I'd buy the chili and chew and chew each tiny bite until it was total MUSH and little by little swallow so as to try to "sneak" food into little new,raw pouchie... 1 small chili would be like 6 meals! The Taco Bell Refried Beans were the most amazing, delicious, soothing things (at that time) on the planet. Sooooo smooth - tiniest of bites smoothing down... I survived those early weeks on those two products. Kathleen, you hang in there, you can do this thing!

I was still on full liquids at this point and cant imagine have been eating solids like meat at that point. for 5 weeks i lived on Dannon lite and fit yogurt, sugar free pudding and jello, wonton soup broth with the solids strained out, warm tea with splenda, pureed potatoe soup with a dollop of plain yogurt on top. yes, carnation instant breakfast. cottage cheese, cream of wheat, what ever would get me through. It was 4-5 months before I could tolerate most everything. It is a rough time you are going thru, and yes, i am sympathetic,. Nothing you learn ahead of time really prepares you for the reality of the early post op period. It is hard, but the time is limited and you WILL feel better and be able to tolerate most foods at some point in the future. great big giant hugs to you email me if you want to talk more

You just made me remember my MAD cravings for won ton soup when I was a new post op! Man oh man.... I remember getting my first little take-out tub of it! I gave all the solids to my hubby with a little dribble of the soup over it and kept the remaining liquid for me. When I had my first few sips of the broth I thought i died and went to heavan! I highly recommend it for the early stages! Remember it's not a low-sodium food - but when you're eating pureed this and that - the full bodied flavor of won ton broth is sooooooo satisfying! And I STILL drink warm tea with splenda.... very soothing on the pouchie! Pam