Question:
Am I causing more harm than good?

I am a 3 week post-op patient and hope Im not screwing up. I can't take baby food or bland foods any longer. I am eating normal foods (except for fruits and veggies), and am chewing very well. Is this okay? Im not doing damage am I? Sure I am constitipated but it is so worth it! LOL. I ate pasta for dinner with a roll for example tonight. Please tell me if this is alright to be doing. I dont dare ask my doctor! Thanks!    — VIXYVIX (posted on August 10, 2000)

August 10, 2000
I don't understand why you would go through ALL the pain of your WLS and not give more effort in what you are doing. The whole idea of the WLS is to loose weight and stay on the DIETS that the Dr. gives you. They preach to you the importance of a HIGH PROTEIN LOW CALORIE diet but it must be taken in the FORMS that they advise you ie,,,LIQUID<SOFT<BLAND<<..There are reasons to have strict ADHERENCE to this regimen..If you are having problems in adhereing to it you need to talk to your Dr. and get the counselling that MOST of them recommend..You are defeating the purpose of Weight Loss by consuming mostly STARCHES,,your body needs the protein and LESSER calories to loose weight~``Sorry to be so blunt but there are those of us out here who wish we were in your shoes and would choose to stick with the program~~`
   — Violet K.

August 10, 2000
I am over 9 months post-op from a Lap proximal RNY. My clinic is one of the few that believes in solid food after the first week. We are given an extensive list and lecture on which foods to eat and not to eat. Also how to progress the diet from week 2 through 6 months. Their patients do extremely well (they did 400 bypasses last year). The basic beginning guidelines are protein first (keep it soft and moist - no hamburger or steak). No raw fruit or veggies (over cooked veggies are allowed but the majority of the meal is always protein). No snacking and drink your 8 glasses of water. We don't eat potatoes, pasta or bread in the beginning because it leaves no room for the protein which your body so needs. The beginning diets and finding what you can tolerate can be challenging. I have done extremely well and have made my goal weight following the guidelines of my clinic. My suggestion is that you have probably done no harm, but it still would be best to contact your clinic and speak with them about your diet. Best of luck to you.
   — Jilda H.

August 10, 2000
Hi Vickie! Wow, ironic that you would ask this question. I went to my two week check up yesterday and admitted that I had sampled some cheez-its. Boy! Did I get a lecture from the nurse, the doctor and the nutritionist! Here is what I was told: in the first two weeks, your stoma is swollen, so it is kinda protected. After that, it begins to heal, so the swelling comes down and leaves it vulnerable to food lodging in the sutures. This can cause an infection, which can cause a leak, which can cause peritonitis, which can cause death, which they told me it has in patients that have come through the surgery fine. Don't mean to scare you, but as for my salt fix, I'm sticking to V-8 from now on. If you are on purees, you should have a lot more options open to you. And there is no reason for you to have to eat bland foods - spices are allowed and tolerated. I put Thai curry paste in my high protein cream of potato soup...yummy! You're half way through...you can start your regular foods in a few weeks...hang in there!
   — Allie B.

August 10, 2000
It's best that you follow your surgeon's instructions; however, I was eating solid foods before I ever left the hospital, and many surgeons do it that way. Since each surgeon and surgery varies, though, I'd follow the instructions I was given.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 11, 2000
Vicky, Please be careful there girl! I saw your profile and saw that you already were worried about trying to stretch out your pouch. I don't think that you should be taking chances with your life by eating what you aren't supposed to yet. I am still preop and as weird as this sounds I am probably going to use some of the tools from overeaters anonymous after surgery. Sticking to a food plan I'm sure will still be hard for all of us food addicts like me. You are so fortunate to have had a safe surgery. Please don't blow it and let your doctor know you need help. That group has a lot of supportive members to help you.
   — Jean S.