Question:
When can I try a little rice in my diet?

Just curious...I've heard it's real hard on the old tummy but has anyone eaten it successfully? I'd like to try a little red beans & rice for dinner but not without knowing if anyone else has done it and it worked out. :) Please advise.    — Lisa J. (posted on July 16, 2002)

July 16, 2002
I had my surgery on 3/13/02 and I have not had problems eating ANYTHING... I mean suger, fat, etc. I have lost 62lbs so far. I try to watch what I eat, but rice was EASY for me personally. I guess I am one of the lucky ones... no dumping, etc. Once in a while, I will have to throw up something that just didn't go down well... probably didn't chew it well enough, but all in all, I have not had any nausea, dumping or anything. Granted, I don't push it... I may have a small cookie (not sugar free), but I don't eat a whole meal of cookies! Good luck!
   — Kay W.

July 16, 2002
When was your surgery? Personally, I waited about 3 1/2 months before I tried rice. I tried about a tablespoon and that was just fine. Even now at 4 1/2 months, I can't anymore than that. It's not that's it's upsetting to my stomach, it just fills me up pretty quickly!
   — Rosario T.

July 16, 2002
The only thing I ever had trouble with was bread. Why not try "half" a spoonful of rice? That way IF you have a problem you don't have much in your pouch. The next time you could try a whole spoonful. Then increase it. You sure don't want to try much of anything like that until you've tried only a tiny portion.
   — Danmark

July 16, 2002
Well by all means go ahead and try some rice! I HAVE BEEN EATING RICE FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS NOW. I EAT DISHES WITH RICE IN THEM SUCH AS: UNCLE BENS BROCCOLI-CHEESE AND RICE SOUP, ZATARAS-RED BEANS AND RICE, SALMON PATTIES WITH RICE, THE LEAN CUIZINE DINNER/ENTREES WITH RICE INCLUDED. I ALSO EAT THE HEALTHY CHOICE DINNERS WITH RICE BUT I MAKE SURE THAT THE CARBS ARE NOT THAT HIGH. I HAVE LOST 71 POUNDS AND MY SURGERY DATE WAS 03/04/02 AND MY SURGERY WAS AT RUSH-ST. LUKES PRESBYTARIAN. MY SURGEON IS DR. FRANTZIDES. BACK TO THE RICE ISSUE. I KNOW OF A LOT OF WLS PATIENTS WHO ARE DOWNRIGHT SCARED TO EAT ANYTHING WITH RICE, HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER WITH ANY RICE OR RICE DISHES. I EVEN ORDERED EGG-FOO YOUNG WITH WHITE RICE AND IT WENT DOWN SMOOTH. I GUESS THAT I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES WHO DON'T GET SICK OFF OF ANY FOOD AS OF YET. JUST GIVE RICE A TRY WITH YOUR FAVORITE RICE COMBINATION DISH AND TAKE IT FROM THERE. I AM GLAD THAT I CAN EAT RICE BECAUSE SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEALS INCLUDE RICE AND MOST CHINESE CUIZINE DISHES INCLUDE RICE. WHEN I COOK RICE FOR MYSELF AT HOME, I MAKE IT A HABIT TO ONLY COOK BROWN RICE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE NUTRITION. GOOD LUCK! HOPE THIS HELPS, PEACE----------SHIRLEY*****
   — Shirley M.

July 16, 2002
I haven't ever had a problem with rice, pasta, etc. Your best bet is to try it at home tho cuz who wants to make a run for the restroom in a restaurant? ;) Once you know you can tolerate it, THEN eat it in the restaurant.
   — ctyst

July 16, 2002
My husband is Spanish so we always have a lot of rice and beans. I have been eating it since two weeks post op with no problems. The beans are high in protein and I usually mix a little meat in with it.
   — Linda A.

July 17, 2002
The only time I tried it was not a success. It felt like it got stuck in my stoma slightly, then went on down. I've never touched it again.
   — Regina S.

July 17, 2002
Rice sounds so yummy to me! that is one thing I completely miss. I don't know if this is fact or fiction, but I heard that rice can stretch the pouch if we eat it. Ofcourse we aren't to eat alot of anything, just a small amount, but is there any truth to this? Rice and beans or rice and chili sounds good to me! :)
   — Lezlie Y.

July 18, 2002
I am the original poster here - I wanted to thank all of you - I had my first small bowl of Zatarains Red Beans & Rice - it was absolutely fantastic and it stayed down well. I'm 3 1/2 months out of surgery and I did just fine with it...in fact, when a ton of other things ARE NOT saying down, this has been great to find something that would stay down. Thanks for the feedback - I'm thrilled to have another thing to add into my daily meals.
   — Lisa J.

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