Question:
I am eating things I shouldn't, is this harmful? I don't feel ill from it...

I am on my second week post-op and have been eating whatever I feel like. I've had shrimp, a small bite of porkchop, coffee, fruit cups, pudding, spaghetti, chili sauce........ pretty much anything. I thought there was a limit what I can eat, but my stomach allows me to keep eating. And, I have yet to vomit (I've heard this may happen) from the amount I'm eating. Is it harmful to be eating all this stuff?    — T C. (posted on November 5, 2002)

November 5, 2002
What is your diet plan from your surgeon? I would try to follow that at least in the very begining. Your stomach needs time to heal. I had to be on a pureed diet for 4 weeks but I have heard others were not. Good luck
   — Debbie W.

November 5, 2002
You sound exactly like me. I was able to eat anything I wanted right from a couple of weeks. I have done fine I am at goal 5 months later.
   — Linda A.

November 5, 2002
You asked, so I'm going to be brutally honest with you. You don't say what kind of surgery you had and I don't see it listed on your profile page. As a nurse, I know the dreadful things that can happen when you eat too soon after WLS. The main thing is to be following your doctors orders. I think if your surgeon said you could have those things that you are eating, you wouldn't be asking us what we think, right? If you had a cut on your arm that was stitched up, would you take a scrub brush and scrub it? What would happen if you did? That's right, and you could be putting yourself at GREAT risk opening your insides up for leaks and infections, and in fact, taking a risk with your life by eating the things you are eating if your surgeon has told you NOT to eat these things. This may sound harsh, but after ANY kind of surgery, your life is in your own hands and your life is depending on you following instructions to a *T*. Well, some folks may be thinking "well I did the same thing and I'm OK".....they were lucky is all. Please, please please, check with your surgeon about your eating plan and get on track before something dire happens. If he say you can eat those things, then more power to you. The type of things you are eating are not bad for you....in fact, they are good choices....but ONLY after you are allowed to heal and eat them when he/she says you can eat them. I say this to you because I care about everyone who's had WLS and don't want you to hurt yourself....I've seen it happen. Good luck to you.
   — Lynette B.

November 5, 2002
When you refer to the amount you don't give specifics. Are you keeping the quantity to 2-3 oz. measured in a shot glass or medicine cup? If you can eat unlimited quantities, you really should talk with the surgeon. The types of foods your are eating were prohibited for me until almost 8 weeks out, but even when I was allowed them, I was told in no uncertain terms to keep the quantity to 2-3 oz. Best advice is to talk to your surgeon's office right away before something bad happens.
   — Teri D.

November 6, 2002
I gotta ask---why did you have the surgery if you aren't going to follow the rules?
   — DeeDee B.

November 6, 2002
Dee Dee, I do believe the universal answer to that is we ARE human and ARE NOT perfect.
   — Karen R.

November 6, 2002
Did you get some information from your Doctor about what you should eat? If not, you should probably give them a call and get some info. Even though we are human, and sometimes we have to eat what we want.. you ARE just a little away from surgery and part of the need to eat soft food and liquids is to aid in your healing... internally. Two other things come to mind when I read your post and the answers you got... first.. just because you can eat it right now doesn't mean that you should... and second... eating to full is not the goal.. but rather eating to satisfied... that's a better option.. and it took me a long time to learn. Good luck.
   — Lisa C.