Question:
Eating regular foods in first month post-op.

What is the actual harm in eating soft regular foods within the first month post-op? I am talking about things like peanut butter (melted in your mouth before swallowing), tuna, canned chicken, cheese, scrambled eggs and maybe some things like spaghetti that has been in the processor. I don't mean anything hard or abrasive like chips, nuts, granola, etc...I have read where some patients go home eating regular foods. Just curious on what the scoop is with this.    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 27, 2001)

December 27, 2001
I'm not sure why they all have different plans. Mine won't release you from the hospital UNTIL you eat soft solids. I had eggs, pureed carrots and yogurt before I left. They even gave me the OK to have turkey 2 weeks out, very small amt. and chewed very well. Nobody has problems with this, the pouch does fine. I would ask your surgeon whats the reason behind the liquid diet. I'm sure he would explain it to you. There are those who might say that the pouch needs the healing time, but all of my doc's patients have done fine with his plan, and he was the first surgeon in the state of VA to perform the lap, trains other surgeons, and has done hundreds, so he has a great track record and has no problems with his patients eating solids early on. Hope you figure out this mystery. Good luck.
   — Cheri M.

December 27, 2001
While I was still in the hospital (had surgery Friday, Dec 14 at 8:30 am) and on Sunday at noon I got pureed turkey, mashed potatoes and pureed apricots. Turkey tasted like crap, but the potatoes and apricots were ok. Dr. sent me home on pureed foods. I went back a week later to have staples out on Dec 21 and doctor said to start eating everything, but suggested that I wait till last to eat beef. I have eaten everything I wanted, including small, small portions of barbequed rib, green chili chicken enchilada, hot dog no bread, red chili enchilada, tamale, plus, of course, mashed potatoes, soft scrambled eggs, jello, banana, peanut butter (gonna go have some now) and yogurt. Seems like I have a little cast iron pouch. Haven't been sick a minute and am very thankful for all the good luck I have had. Good luck to you! I guess every Doctor is different.
   — Kathryn K.

December 27, 2001
i am 10 days post op open rny/silastic band. the morning of my discharge i was given cream of wheat & HAD to eat it. for lunch i was brought pureed mac & cheese & HAD to eat that too. 2 hours later, no problems, the dr signed my discharge. i was told to eat ANYTHING i wanted except of course bread, pasta & rice but i MUST puree for 6 weeks. in fact, i just finished my dinner...1 oz of pureed shrimp coctail. mmmmmmmmmmm.
   — sheryl titone

December 27, 2001
I had to eat a meal of soft foods and keep it down to be discharged. After that, it was regular table food. My dr. wants us to eat mainly protein....... no carbs
   — lessofme170

December 27, 2001
Wow, this is interesting, I had my surgery LAP RNY-12/12/01 and was on liquids for 10 days(hated it!) and I am now on pureed food for 4 weeks-I guess every Dr. is different, I would love to try small amounts of regular food,but I will be careful. Thanks for the insight!!!
   — jjpj497

December 28, 2001
I am 2 weeks post op and i eat all that stuff!! My dr. doesn't believe in liquid/mush diets, Go figure... I ate scrambled eggs, fish, and brocholi while i was in the hospital.
   — Cindee A.

December 28, 2001
I am 10 days post op and still on clear liquids. On Wednesday (when I see my surgeon) I will move to full liquids, then pureed (and that does not include soft foods like eggs or cottage cheese...everything has to be able to be sucked through a straw, even though we don't use a straw) and THEN soft foods. I gotta tell you, I'm so hungry....and feel like if I could eat a little bit of soft food, I would feel a heck of a lot better. But, I've gotta follow what my surgeon and his nutritionists say.... I'm gonna ask what the reasoning is behind the liquid diet esp. since many other doctors seem to have other opinions about it. Isn't it amazing how many differences there are in the ways the different doctors handle the same surgery? ~Tracy
   — Tracy M.

January 5, 2002
Here is the rationale from my surgeon for the Full Liquid Diet from 1-4weeks post op: To allow the staple line and anastomosis sufficient time for healing with minimal stress from foods, to prevent obstruction and to promote maximum weight loss. Same rationale for the "blenderized diet" from 4 to 10 weeks with the addition of : This is a learning phase, a time in which patients need to develop the habit of eating slowly and chewing foods to liquid consistency before swallowing. Emphasis on consuming only 1 oz in 10-15 minutes brevents both vomiting and premature stretching of the stomach pouch or stomach stoma. I am assuming those of you that were just realeased to eat regular food were at least given a "weight loss" diet and not told to just eat any old thing. Isn't that what got us into trouble in the first place?LOL One of the things that I am counting on since I am not ready to eat "regular" food until 10 weeks post op....some people have told me that after being deprived for that long, they found they didn't have the same "taste" for certain things. Sugar/fatty foods/etc. I have already noticed that with caffiene. I used to drink a 2liter of Pepsi a day. Well, I haven't had any soda- or sugar since December 10th. Withdrawal was awful! But now that I am through it, I don't crave the soda at all. I used to think I couldn't function in the morning without a Pepsi, but now I am finding that I am much better rested, so my mornings are actually more pleasant now.
   — Amy G.