Question:
Are liquids a requirment post-op?
Is an all liquid diet following surgery imperative? Doctors seem to vary on this. I am 4 days post op and so hungry. Jello, broth, popsicles and propel are not enough!Why do some Drs let you have full liqids (cream soups, oatmeal and pudding) while others allow real food thats chewed well? I dont want to overindulge but I am so HUNGRY! — maria R. (posted on August 31, 2003)
August 30, 2003
Four to five days post-op were the worst for me. I think that most Dr.'s
prefer liquids in the first week or two atleast to allow some time for your
stomach to heal. I was very hungry all the time in the beginning weeks;
however, at one week post-op I asked my Dr. if he could increase my diet
earlier than the normal two weeks and he did. Perhaps you could tell your
Dr. that you are feeling very hungry and see if he will allow you to
introduce some new soft foods this early on. If not, hang in there it DOES
get better. Take care and best of luck.
Denise 280/177/150
— denisel
August 30, 2003
You are right, different doctors, different plans for different reasons. I
didn't have a hunger problem in my stomach, it was in my head. Once I got
past "head hunger" I was ok. I did get very bored with my
choices. So I went to the library on this site for creative food ideas and
when I tried the recipes I found, I became for satisfied with my meals.
Best wishes
— M B.
August 30, 2003
Personally I think it comes down to the surgeon trusting their patients.
Most assume a patient will not comply with chewing food to mush so they
impose the liquids only plan on their patients. Many do fine with it but
there are ones that do not and are always hungry - real hunger not head
hunger. It makes total sense to be hungery as NOTHING stays in your pouch
to give you any sort of a full feeling.
<p>Fortunately for me my surgeon believes in trusting his patients
and that they will do what they are told and truthfully he has not had any
problems. We are so compliant because we are scared to do something wrong
that will cause a problem. So we take tiny bites and we chew till it
doesn't even resemble food and wait between bites. You get a full feeling
very quickly. My surgeon feels it helps to totally change your eating
habits from the start. Start the new habits you will need for the rest of
your life very quickly and during the time when you are most scared to do
something wrong. After a while we all get bolder and challenge the rules.
For the first time in our lives we get a full signal and if we do not
listen to it we get sick. My first meal was 1/4 cup of egg beaters with
1/2 a slice of reduced fat american cheese, very soft and totally
tolerable. However, I got the full signal early and only ate at most 1/2
of that.
<p>The other reason that some surgeons require liquids is because
they want a certain amount of protein and calories going in. If you are
using carb free drinks then getting in 60 grams of protein in is not
important at this stage. The same with food. The lack of carbs forces
your body into max ketosis and keeps it there. If in max ketosis your body
automatically protects the protein/muscles in your body and goes after the
fat for energy. Many many surgeons do not go the zero carb route and allow
things like mashed potatoes, oatmeal, pudding, cream soups etc etc., those
plans must get in at least 600 calories because they could cause the body
to go into starvation mode otherwise. I don't even eat the majority of
that stuff now at 7 months. If I have carbs they are much better choices
than that. Only the occassional mashed potatoes are eaten. If carbs are
present then there is no guarantee that a body goes into ketosis at all or
very much. Without being in ketosis one does have to be very careful of
getting enough calories to avoid going into starvation mode.
<p>The bottom line is the plans need to be paired up right. Food -
no carbs - max ketosis or Protein drinks - carbs allowed - avoid starvation
mode. I vote for the real food plan all the way. Some say you heal better
with only liquids, there is nothing to support that. Again this assumes
that we are not all adults and cannot follow orders to chew to mush. I
believe we can be trusted to do that. Like I said you are so scared that
you probably over chew. My surgeon does not have people blowing out their
pouches.
<p>I will not tell you to go aginst your surgeons plan but I do
suggest you call them on Tuesday and tell them you are having a very
difficult time complying with the program and could you eat some really
soft foods. You need to let them know what you are doing. There may be
some reason that your surgeon does something different in the surgery that
the liquids are more critical. My surgeon not only staples everything,
including the stoma, but then oversews all staples for extra assurance. He
has many many many hundreds of patients out there to know this plan works.
It is actually patterned after the plan the surgeon that did Carnie
Wilson's surgery uses. I hope your surgeon is willing to compromise some
to help you comply with the overall program.
— zoedogcbr
August 31, 2003
My surgeon, believe it or not, had me on an 8-week liquid diet after
surgery. Initially, I thought he was insane and sadistic! But he has been
doing these surgeries for 30 years and believes that the longer wait to eat
real food enables patients to 1) heal completely before starting *real*
foods, 2) maximize weight loss, and 3) prevents problems like strictures,
vomiting, and food intolerances. It was very difficult adhering to such a
lengthy liquid diet but looking back I think my doctor was right - I have
never vomited, never gotten food "stuck" and have been able to
tolerate everything I've eaten since. But all patients are different and
so are all surgeons. It would be in your best interest to do what your
surgeon says but if it is really that difficult, give him a call and see if
he will allow you at least some leeway. You should at least be able to try
some SF yogurt or pudding or some thinned soups. Those kept me going
during those long, boring weeks! Good luck to you!
— MomBear2Cubs
August 31, 2003
One of the hardest things during the first few weeks is "head
hunger". You have to learn the difference between your head telling
you that you are hungry and your body actually needing food. If you
respond to head hunger consistently, the surgery will not work for you as
well. My doctor allowed full liquids the first couple of weeks as well as
cottage cheese. By creatively adding spices to things, I got through it.
But I had a constant fight learning the difference between my head telling
me I needed to eat and my body telling me. Once I got a line on this it
was easier. Instead of responding to it, I would go for a walk, read a
book, watch TV, etc. I tried to maintain a schedule for eating and no
veer from it no matter what my head was telling me. It does get easier.
Hang in there.
— Cathy S.
August 31, 2003
You will read of many many differing opinions on this subject. As a nurse
I tend to agree with the post op liquid routine. It was the pits, but think
about it... you've got raw healing tissue in there, (and I wanted to heal
with NO complications!) I remember reading about some gal eating chips post
op OUCH!!!
— Denise W.
August 31, 2003
Jody M., There is nothing to indicate that people who do liquid diets
maximize their weight loss any more than ones who eat foods. I was down
159 lb in 6-3/4 months on food only. Compliance with the post-op eating of
foods is what maximizes weight loss. Making the right choices, staying
away from carbs and getting exercise etc. maximizes weight loss, nothing
else.
— zoedogcbr
August 31, 2003
Chris, that isn't what I said. I was not implying that lengthy liquid
diets were best for maximum weight loss although I believe that's what you
read into it. I was simply giving my surgeon's justification for putting
HIS patients on an 8 week liquid diet. And the length of the diet is only
partially for weight loss - it is also, in his opinion, necessary for
maximum healing before his patients begin eating normally. I also said
that every surgeon is different and every post-op diet plan is different.
Please re-read my post.
— MomBear2Cubs
August 31, 2003
Hi, Maria: Please contact your surgeon on Tuesday and ask if they will let
you advance to a full-liquid diet. Let them know that you are extremely
hungry. My surgeon had me on the clear liquid diet for one meal in the
hospital, and then advanced me to a full liquid. My surgeon wanted to be
sure I could tolerate full liquids before I was released.
<p>As the other posters have said, every surgeon has different
opinions on this. However, I think it also has to go on a case-by-case
basis. My friend, who had the surgery 4 weeks to the day before I did,
called our surgeon at 5 weeks, saying she was getting hungry only 3 hours
after eating (we are on a full liquid diet for 6 weeks); they told her that
means she must be ready to move on to the next phase and allowed her to
advance to stage 3.</p>
<p>I'm sure if you call them and explain that you're really feeling
hungry, not just head hunger, they will let you advance to full liquids.
Just please be sure to measure out your food into 2 ounces, and do NOT eat
more than that until you are cleared. You don't want to stretch your new
pouch or get sick. Good luck, and God Bless! proximal lap rny, 08/19/03,
-18 lbs.
— Moysa B.
August 31, 2003
My surgeon believes that you increase the risk of developing strictures
when you eat solid food too early. He believes that the food beating
against the fresh healing stoma causes scar tissue to develop and this can
lead to strictures. As far as the belief by some that their way is the only
way, I beg to differ. My surgeon wants us to lead normal lives, and eat a
normal diet. So the statement that the ONLY WAY to maximize weight loss
doesn't fly. My weight loss was incredibly rapid (see my profile) and I did
none of those three things mentioned (limiting carbs, exercise, right
choices-I eat what I want!-I don't diet). We all have different beliefs and
opinions of what works. As for me, I would never be so presumptuous as to
state that my way is the only way to do something. Surgeons can not agree
on what diet works post op. Again, what works for me may not work for you.
But I would NEVER tell you or imply that my way was the ONLY way and
nothing else. Shelley
— Shelley.
August 31, 2003
Shelley, You are about the only RNY that has never had to limit carbs,
exercise and make right choices. Consider yourself extremely lucky that
you were blessed with being able to do whatever you want with no
consequences. That is not reality for the rest of the RNY world. I never
said the word diet. I do not diet but I have made the changes necessary to
keep my body healthy which is mostly protein and limited carbs. This is
not MY WAY this is the typical RNY WAY. What post-op plan, besides yours,
says do not worry about what you eat, do whatever you want? Not many I
suspect.
<p>Whether you like it or not what I stated is the accepted truth
about post-op RNY life. We do have to make choices and decide to avoid
lots of sugar and stay cognizant of the quantity we eat and get in some
minimal exercise. This is fact not fiction. Read the profiles on this
website and see how many are doing just what I indicated - limiting carbs,
exercise, and making right choices. YOUR WAY is far from the norm. My
descirption is the norm and not MY WAY.
— zoedogcbr
August 31, 2003
I started not to weigh in on this question, but then decided otherwise. I
had my RNY almost 14 months ago. My surgeon had a very gradual plan to get
you back to solid foods again. It took 8 weeks before Icould eat real food
again. I followed the plan to the tee. Now this may or may not be
scientific, but I have had zero problems with any foods.I have not vomited.
I tolerate everything except the usual fats and sugars. I attribute this
success to following the program and letting everything heal properly
before pushing on to solid food. My surgeon stressed very much that the
plan really needed to be followed to allow proper healing prior to passing
more bulky foods through the system. Like I said, I have no scientific
evidence to back me up, but I really feel that staying the course on my
post-op diet really helped to improve the overall outcome of my surgery.
Besides... it is only 8 weeks. In the big scheme of things, that is a very
short time indeed, so why take chances? Besides, chances are you are
feeling head hunger at this point. I know I sure did. Everytime I turned
on the TV there was a big yummy pizza or something calling to me from an
advertisement, but I wasn't really hungry. Please understand that I am not
judging you, you may well be experiencing real hunger. I am just relating
MY experience to you.
— Greg P.
September 1, 2003
It is head hunger. You see what you are eating but You know that could not
possibly fill you up. So your head tells you that you are hungry. However
you are not. try drinking more water ( don't gulp) My dr let me have sugar
free pudding. because it turned into liquid once it was in your stomach.
That made me think I was eating something heavier. even though i was only
eating like a 1/4 cup. I was told not chocalte because of the caffeine
— spring A.
September 1, 2003
It is asy for those not haveing the tummy rumbles to say head hunger. I
remember it well, I was so desparate I took a big bite of my grandsons
cheeseburger about 2 weeks postop and was chewing away and was stricken
with fear of messing up my pouch and spit it in the garbage. Now, I have to
say taking a 3 year olds cheeseburger and biting it is desparate. how ever
other than that moment of insanity I did follow the program pretty well out
f fear of damaging my pouch and ruining my surgery. If you are so
desaparately hungry , talk to YOUR SURGEON before doing any thing drastic.
Only your Dr. knows your surgery and full medical history. Hang in there ,
those first weeks pass faster than you imagine.
— **willow**
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