Question:
What else it there?

All I hear about is Jello, and s/f jello. I can't stand either! What if my tastes don't change after surgery? Do they really serve that crap at the hospital? What is it in the liquid phase. What else is there?    — HeidiMc (posted on February 10, 2005)

February 10, 2005
Yes, they really did serve SF Jello at the hospital I was in. I never liked the stuff either. The liquid diet I was on consisted of broths, creamy soups (like cream of chicken), water, Crystal Lite, decaf coffee or decaf hot tea and SF popsicles. You surgeon will hopefully have a phased eating protocol where you are on liquids for a few days/weeks, then you transition into pureed foods, then into soft foods and then in to solid foods. Each surgeon has a different protocol, and each stage of eating is for a set number of days or weeks. If you haven't had your consult yet, be sure and ask about his post-op diet and the phases. Good luck!
   — Shayna T.

February 10, 2005
I DON'T CARE FOR JELLO MYSELF BUT I LOVE POPSICLES AND I ATE MY WEIGHT IN THEM FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS. YOU WILL ALSO GET CHICKEN BROTH AND BEEF BROTH WHILE YOU ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND YOU WILL DRINK LOTS OF WATER. AND JUICES. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SUGAR HOWEVER SO I HAVE NEVER HAD A DUMPING PROBLEM MY WIFE ON THE OTHER HAD WHO IS 10 MONTHS OUT CAN'T HAVE ANY SUGAR AND SHE GETS MAD AT ME FOR THAT i AM 4.5 MONTHS POST OP AND HAVE LOST 107 I AM WHERE I WANT TO BE AND MY BODY KNOWS IT. SO CHIN UP THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAN JELLO MIKE
   — rivercity4000

February 11, 2005
DOn't worry about it . . . I was in hospital for 2 nights, and never drank a thing. The water at that hospital was hirridble. I turned up the rate on IV fluids, and rinsed mouth out. Not only did the watered juice taste nasty from the water, but it made me dump. And that was all they offered . . . water, ice, and watered juice. SF popsicles, broth, herbal teas, SF Jello (which may taste better when your choices are severely limited! :o), V8 (usually included in clear liquid diets), are all good. AFter 1 week, we start protein shakes, in addition to clears. We stay on that diet for a total of one month, then doc clears us to soft foods. FOr the most part, you won't have much appetite, and 1/2 a cup of tea would fill me up . . . also, I made unflavored gelatin (Knox) with Minute Maid juices, or Talking Rain fruit-flavored seltzer.
   — RWH G.

February 11, 2005
Please note - that should have said Minute Maid LIGHT juices! Almost no sugar, almost no calories . . . DOn't worry about it . . . I was in hospital for 2 nights, and never drank a thing. The water at that hospital was hirridble. I turned up the rate on IV fluids, and rinsed mouth out. Not only did the watered juice taste nasty from the water, but it made me dump. And that was all they offered . . . water, ice, and watered juice. SF popsicles, broth, herbal teas, SF Jello (which may taste better when your choices are severely limited! :o), V8 (usually included in clear liquid diets), are all good. AFter 1 week, we start protein shakes, in addition to clears. We stay on that diet for a total of one month, then doc clears us to soft foods. FOr the most part, you won't have much appetite, and 1/2 a cup of tea would fill me up . . . also, I made unflavored gelatin (Knox) with Minute Maid LIGHT juices, or Talking Rain fruit-flavored seltzer.
   — RWH G.

February 11, 2005
Your doctor should be provide this information to you. There are three phases before you should eat regular food. Clear liquids, full liquids, and soft foods. Clear liquid diet: clear broth, sf gelatin, sf popsicle, 100% juices (apple, grape or white grape) diluted with equal amount of water, sf crystal light, sf kool-aid, decaf coffee or tea, need to consume 64 oz of fluid a day, sip liuids very slowley, no straws, no carbonated drinks. Full Liquids are: milk skim or 1%, sf puddings, yogard smoth no bits or sugar, sf fudgesicle, strained soup, carnation instant breakfast sf, hot coccoa sf, orange juice diluted, egg beaters (liquid) can mix in a protein drink, Need to add fat free dry milk to all full liquids to increase your protein. Add chewable miltivitamins SF (Bugs bunny) Pureed diet: cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, cooked cereals, scrambled egg beaters, applesauce, baby foods (check sugar and protein) again add powder milk for added protein. There are some great protein drinks. You need to consume 64 oz of protein. Remember the no drinking 1/2 hour before you eat or drink, no drinking during and must wait 45 min. before drinking after eating. No chewing gum or hard candy for at least the first 4 months. Soft Diet: Still must consume 64 oz of lfuid a day, avoid hard crunchy foods, read all food labels. Introduce only one new food per day. This gives your stomach a chance to adjust to new foods. Do not take more than 1/2 hour to eat. If you can't finsh in this time you should stop. You don't want to graze. Think sugar free (refine sugars) and very low fat. Good Luck to you. I've lost 180+ lbs in 19 months, just had a lower body lift and I'm feeling great. I really recommand you join a support group before your surgery.
   — Linda R.

February 12, 2005
Jello is not the only thing. Sugar free pop sicles were the thing that I lived by. Also some of the ready made protein drinks are not bad. Try the EAS precision protein in the fruit punch flavor. I love it, it tastes like cherry drink or juice. Debbie
   — imdebbie

February 18, 2005

   — Jenny B.