Question:
DOES FOOD REALLY HAVE TO BE PUREED OR CAN IT JUST BE WELL CHEWED OR SOFT?

I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF PUREED FOOD! I AM TO THE POINT WHERE PUREED FOODS JUST MAKE ME GAG! I AM LACTOSE INTOLERANT AND I'M ALLERGIC TO GRAINS( I TRIED ISOPURE AND I HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION-REDNESS AND SWELLING OF LIPS). I AM NOT GETTING ENOUGH PROTEIN AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH SOFT FOODS AND CHEWING THEM WELL. YESTERDAY I ATE 1/2 OF A SOFT CHICKEN TACO FROM TACO BELL(NO SAUCE-JUST CHICKEN AND CHEESE). I CHEWED IT REALLY WELL AND ATE SLOWLY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ILL EFFECTS FROM IT. I REALLY NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS OK BEFORE I CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH. CAN I DAMAGE MY STOMACH OR STAPLES BY EATING SOFT FOODS? AT THIS POINT I AM PRACTICALLY STARVING OR ONLY HAVING ONE SMALL MEAL( 2 AT MOST ) PER DAY. PLEASE HELP.    — MICHELLE R. (posted on June 9, 2001)

June 9, 2001
Best thing to do, is ask your doctor first for advice. The first 4 weeks are pretty strict, but necessary for a healing stomach. If you are having problems meeting your protein requirements, look into the protein drinks at the health food stores that come in great fruit flavors. They have no calories, fat, artifical sweetners, ect..and run about $2.50 per bottle. You may want to dilute them too..some are very sweet. Also, Boost and other drinks like this are a good quick and nice way to add on to your meals for additional protein too. I have not tried those bars yet, but I hear the drinks are better and refreshing too!
   — [Anonymous]

June 10, 2001
Hi Michelle, I just recently discovered the soft chicken taco from Taco Bell. I only eat the chicken and cheese out of it and throw the tortilla away. I had an Open VBG 6 weeks ago, and my Dr. gave me a diet to follow for the 1st 6 weeks. It had chicken, turkey and fish, as well as some vegetables (cooked) and pastas. I am looking forward to more choices after my check-up tomorrow. Maybe not if it is unmanageable to get to the Medical Center. We have had a disastrous flood here in Houston Area. Some of the hospitals are actually closed. It is very bad. But I also found carrots to be very good to chew and go down easy. Not raw ones though. Write me if you would like a more detailed list of foods on my Dr's list. I think I have lost about 30 lbs so far. I know I could do better, sometimes I have a Frosty from Wendys. Bad Bad. But I am very happy with the results of my surgery. Leah Davis
   — leah D.

June 11, 2001
I was told by my Dr. that the Drs. that prescribe liquid or pureed foods for the first 10-12 weeks are covering their A**. Most of them do this to avoid leakage problems, and have adopted this protocol as a result of having had these types of problems in the past. I was on soft foods 10 days post-op and have had no problems whatsoever. At almost 3 months post-op I have lost approximately 70 lbs. Good luck, and do what feels right.
   — Cheryl H.

June 12, 2001
Michelle, I'm with you. I did the pureeds for one whole day before I was totally sick of it. After reading the boards long enough, I figured every doctor tells their patients different things and most seem fine on soft foods after a month or so, and thats what I did. I'm now four months out and have had no problems. Just follow some common sense guidelines and your body will let you know when you make a mistake. Good luck!
   — Karen Z.

June 13, 2001
I too was worried like you after surgery because I could not stand the pureed garbage. I moved onto real food after about a week, chewing it a normal length (no 35x's here) and have had not ill effects. Your body will let you know if you've eaten something you shouldn't have.
   — Jessica J.