Question:
foods and beverages that you have to give up for good after surgery
I am hoping to have the RNY surgery but am in the process of getting it approved by OHIP which is the insurance in canada. I haven't found anything anywhere yet that lists out things that you have to be prepared you will never be able to eat again. For example after the surgery chips or chocolate would probably make you sick so you should avoid... I know that its standard for a diet anyway and that doesn't bother me. What about alcohol? IS this something that we will never be able to touch again? I dont' drink often but a glass of wine here and there is nice... If people could write and give me a list of things that I can expect to write off my list of foods/beverages for good it would be very much appreciated. — dreamseeker (posted on May 17, 2007)
May 17, 2007
Hi Marnie - the only things I had to write off 6+ years ago when I had the
surgery and still can't eat/drink are ice cream, vogurt, pudding, some
smoothies, and creamy soups with milk in them. Every thing else I can
eat/drink including alcohol (although I react differently to it), chips and
cookies. I used to be able to eat almost an entire bag of cookies/chips
before I had the surgery and now I can only eat maybe 2-3 cookies before
they become too rich. Same thing with candy bars - I used to get a king
size candy bar and now if I get a candy bar I can only eat 1-2 bites before
it becomes too rich. But 1-2 bites are very satisfying. When it comes to
alcohol, I used to be able to tolerate liquor a lot more, but now I just
have one drink every now and then and am fine with it. I actually found
that I enjoy a beer every now and then more so than wine or mixed drinks.
Drinks such as Margaritas and Daquaris make me sick though, just like
smoothies and other icee like drinks - it has to do with the sugar and
causing me to dump. Good luck, Jennifer D.
— JGDugar
May 17, 2007
Hi there, congrats on making the decision to have the surgery...you will be
glad you did. I am just 2 months post op and I can eat many things. Some
people become lactose intolerate and therefore cant eat things that are
dairy (ice cream, yogert, milk...etc). I have no trouble with these things.
I haven't tried anything too sugary yet and probably wont until i have all
my weight off. At this stage i just want to drop my weight before trying
sweets etc. Many people who are post op ( prob a year and up) have said
they they can eat ANYTHING in moderation. Right now I eat alot of fish,
sushi, chicken, chilli, refried beans and cheese. Anything thats high in
protein and low in fat/sugar. I try new foods all the time and if i get
sick, then i get sick...it's part of the whole process and I never have
regretted having the surgery even though there are times i sure would love
to have a cookie or some chips and dip! I havent touched alcohol, but my
doctor just told me that i can have wine as long as it isnt too sugary. My
doc just said this yesterday and i am 2 months out...so, I hope that helps
a little. Good luck!
— kittyluver77
May 17, 2007
It's not about what foods you can never have again. It's what foods you
are willing to cut back on and which foods you can tolerate when you can
eat regular foods again. There are foods you SHOULDN'T have again, but
that's up to you. Remember, this is a TOOL, NOT a fixall. You have to
make the decision to stay away from foods that you think will put you back
on the road to gaining etc. Most of us however, find that say if we liked
a full bag of chips before, now only need one or two to satisfy that
craving. Same with cookies etc...Glad you made the decision! Good luck!
— crystalsno
May 17, 2007
Everyone's different, keep that in mind. I am 3 months out this week, YAHOO
for me!! I cannot drink alcohol for 1-year per my surgeon's request. I too,
do not drink often at all, an occasional glass of wine with dinner out - so
I have few more months to go...but it's not a huge deal. Any pastry is out
for me (cookies, cakes, etc.) I had a bite of two (small bites) of a
wedding cake a few weeks ago - isn't it bad luck not to take a bite? and I
was sweating and my heart pounded out of my chest - refined sugar is no
good for me. I stay away from it all. But I can tolerate the 100 calorie
cookies and crackers, etc. so I just subsitute for better choices. I went
to a restaurant and ordered fresh fruit, but they laced it with sugar (why?
I don't know) and I was sick for an hour. Things high in fat tend to taste
disgusting to me, so I don't eat em. I do not drink anything carbonated.
They say it's bad for your pouch. I tried a sip of my husband's coke and
burped for an hour and the sugar content was too high and again, heart
pounded out of my chest - off a small sip! I tolerate all fruits and
veggies. I snack on nuts all of the time. Cottage cheese is awesome. I have
friends (now) that have had surgery and they can eat everything I cannot. I
have friends that can eat high fat content things, too. I would just prefer
to make better decisions about my food intake, top tier foods, stay within
my ratios of protien/carb/veggie/fruit and per every 100 calories, no more
than 3g of fat and no more then 6g of sugar. That way...I don't get sick
and my pouch is happy. Happy pouch, happy Jammie. Good luck!
— jammerz
May 17, 2007
Congrats on the decision to have the surgery. For about 6 months to ayera
after the surgery is not recommended that you drink because that one drink
can cause a person to be drunk. You will eventually be able to return to
foods that you ate prior to surgery (maybe because our taste buds change).
I'm only 3 months out and am taking my time about foods I go back to. I
didn't drink sodas or alcohol so those weren't an issue. I love ice cream
and hamburgers -- I've had a cheeseburger without the bun and all the
topings so I'm not missing the breads, rice, pasta and other carb foods.
— the7thdean
May 17, 2007
After two years I've learned anything with white bread is the start of a
bad day. If I start eating it - I go nuts with carbs. I avoid it and
limit my diet soda. After losing almost 90 #, I am enjoying a social life
for the first time ever. You just have to be careful. You feel it a lot
faster and it seems to go through your system faster. If you do mixed
drinks and shots, make sure you know what's going into them. I've never
gotten sick, but I always taste my shots and drinks before. Just know your
limits, be smart about it. I cut myself off 3 hours before leaving and
drink a lot of water between drinks! Dehydration sucks and I've learned
that's what causes hangovers.
— HeidiMc
May 17, 2007
I gave up milk & sugar. For 5 yrs, no rice or chicken. They didn't
like me. Milk, not a drop in 13 yrs. Sugar? When I rub up against it, I
gain wt. So simple. I can tolerate small amounts and if I insist on
having it, my clothes get tight. And that's all there is to it. If I want
to hold my weight, no sugar means NO sugar. Not just "a cookie",
because it's like pouring gas on a flame. Then I will eat ALL the cookies!
So, for me, no sugar. I don't drink, but it is sugar, so would fit the
above rule. Absorbed in the muoth, like sugar, so the surgery makes no
difference in those things.
— vitalady
May 17, 2007
As others have pointed out there really isn't a list of foods that you
should never have again. Everyone is different, so there isn't a standard
answer. Take for example, my husband had RNY also like me and a small,
small amount of fat or sugar makes him dump. For me it takes a lot of both
of those foods before I dump. When you are finally cleared to have all
foods again you and you alone will need to try foods to see if they
disagree with you. Just keep in mind that there really aren't any BAD
FOODS, just BAD QUANTITIES. Sorry the caps are just for empasis, not
shouting at you. You will need to touch base with your surgeon regarding
his or her guidelines, go with that program for what they set up for that
practice's patients and you will be successful.
— ChristineB
May 17, 2007
GOOD NEWS....I am 5 years post op and my non-food list is pretty small
after that first awful year. Gradually, you can eat just about anything and
each person is slightly different in what they can tolerate. I started
having a glass of wine at 3 months out. No problems...EXCEPT...you will get
DRUNK on 1 glass of wine...for some reason, alcohol affects you faster than
it ever did. I also have had bourbon and diet coke with no trouble and a
Peachtree Madras (peachtree liquor, orange juice and cranberry juice) once
at a bar. What I DO have trouble with is rice combined with chicken and
gravy. Some rice I can manage with different combinations of food (eat the
protein first!), like thai pineapple chicken and a little white rice or
indian chicken tikka msala and a little rice, but generally rice is a BIG
issue after surgery. Also, some high butterfat ice cream will make you
dump. I used to be able to eat a pint carton of any ice cream as a dessert
pre op...now, I can only have 2 spoonfuls and that is all I can tolerate.
Chocolate is ok after about 2 years it starts to taste like it used to
again. The fun part about the first year post op is everything tastes funny
and you have to try different foods as experiments. It can be frustrating
and madddening for you if you used to frequent buffets...I loved and could
eat quiche, watermelon, soups, mozzarella sticks with spaghetti sauce, and
mac n cheese early on. Portion your food with measuring cups...1/4 cup is
enough, and stay away from chewing gum...too easy to swallow accidentally
and will cause havoc. Not worth the risk. So bottom line...NO foods or
drinks are out, but all foods need to be tried in tiny amounts. That
drinking with food rule is good, but I never follow it. Maybe that is why I
have gas issues and some stomach discomfort when I break or bend the rules.
We are human so dont beat yourself up if you "cheat". Remember,
and I know this will sound odd to you, that this really IS just a tool to
help you get control of things..no guarantees you will stay thin once you
get there, although you might imagine you would never allow yourself to
gain...I gained back 28 lbs in the 5 years post op, and I was pretty gung
ho about staying on top of it...be careful. It can creep back if you let
yourself fall into old habits...after a few years, it doesnt work as
well...you will read countless posts on here of 3 year or more posties
letting it happen...weight gain. Sad truth is, you have to work this right
the first year or it fails. Your relationship with food will forever
change. It IS worth it and you will not regret your decision to have
surgery. I wish you all the best on your journey! Kathy in Massachusetts.
:0)
— Kathy A C.
May 18, 2007
Marnie.. there is no hard and fast rule of what you CAN'T eat after your
surgery. Remember you are having this surgery to get HEALTHY.... As you
can see by reading the other responses, everyone's body is different in
what they can and can't have regarding making them sick. It is true that
highly fattened foods and high sugar foods will tend to cause dumping
syndrome which is characterized by sweating, nausea, vomiting,
palpitations, run down feeling for many hours. You will soon find out as
everyone tries something that they really shouldn't. How often you
experience this is really related to how quick of a learner you are...
LOL... What the nutritionists/doctors will tell you is to stay away from:
1. Soda - too high in sugar, and some people drink diet soda.. reason that
you shouldn't is the carbonation will tend to bloat your pouch and
intestines making you uncomfortable, the caffeine can be dehydrating and
the acids that the companies use to make the drink carbonated can interfere
with your calcium absorption and retention.
2. Alcohol: too high in sugar, empty calories and most important it will
block your metabolism and uptake of your b-vitamins.
3. High fat foods: you should stay away from them anyway as they are no
good for you and will have the tendency to make you crave more. Also, you
will not be able to digest them as you did before as the portion where the
fats were broken with the bile and other digestive juices down from the
stomach and duodenum (1st part of the small intestine) has been bypassed.
4. Highly sugared, refined sugar foods. Once again, not good for you, but
it caused too much of a fluid shift and once again the majority of where
the digestion took place of these foods prior to surgery has now been
bypassed.
There is a whole world full of vitamin and nutrient rich foods out
there that are tasty. There really is no need to eat the high fat, high
refined sugar, alcohol stuff... you are getting this surgery to become
healthier. This is only a tool to use. And like any other tool ever
developed, if it is used the way it was intended to be used, then you will
have success beyond your wildest dreams. If, however, you or any of us for
that matter don't use the tool as it was intended then you, I, us are
doomed to fail. The choice is ours, as always... be smart and use the tool
as it was intended... good luck to you and will hold good thoughts for your
speedy approval...
— Kari_K
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