Question:
I just saw UCLA's Bariatric Program post op diet & was surprised.

UCLA has the diet on their website. It has Slim Fast--which I thought has a high sugar content--and it also has Tums as the preferred calcium supplement--which I thought wasn't beneficial to post ops. Have I misinterpreted the downside of these 2 products? Are they ok? Please excuse my ignorance. I am pre-op & am tring to disect all the post-op diet/nutrtition info.    — mary V. (posted on June 3, 2002)

June 2, 2002
My surgeon is one of the pioneers in the field of bariatric surgery, and he lists SlimFast as one of the "acceptable" protein supplements and also tells his patients to take one Tums three times a day as the "preferred" calcium supplement. He does caution that the slightly higher sugar content in SlimFast may trigger "dumping" in more sensitive patients, but my daughter and I used it occasionally for variety, and never experienced any problems. He only allows his patients to use protein supplements for the first six weeks post-op, then demands that they obtain their daily protein requirement from a "normal diet". So, in that respect, if you tolerate SlimFast without dumping..... it's less expensive than many supplements, easily found, and comes in a variety of flavors. For what it's worth, we are 27 and 29 months post-op, have perfect lab values for serum protein and calcium, and my bone density exam last month was great (56 years old). Every surgeon and nutritionist seem to have slightly varying opinions on post-op diets and supplements, and you'll make yourself crazy trying to "copy" every other post-op's program represented on this site. It's always important to follow your own surgeon's regimen......you're making a huge personal and financial investment in having him/her perform your surgery and manage your aftercare. Generally, if you are faithful in supplementing your protein as directed, and taking your vitamin/minerals for the rest of your life, and having labs monitored on a regular basis (1-2 times/year), you will be great....regardless of the details of the regimen involved. Good luck!
   — Diana T.

June 3, 2002
Mary ~ I had surgery at UCLA on 4/9 & I was surprised at their protocal. Slim Fast to me is just too high in sugar. I think that UCLA recommends Slim Fast because it does not cost as much as other protein supplements. I personally switched to Pro-Complex that I purchase on-line from Vitalady.com. By the way I did dump from Slim Fast. I must be one of those people who is sensitive. Stay in touch with your surgeon and contact him if you have any questions. Also, I was able to learn so much from a Support Group in my area. I learned from the support group than the protocol I was handed in the hospital and the 15 minute "talk" I got from the nutrionist. I was not able to obtain a referral to see the nutrionist prior to surgery. My medical group wanted me to see an in house dietitian who knew nothing about Gastric Bypass. Use this web site and get to a meeting! Every doctor has different protocals and every patient is different. By hearing and reading different opinions you will find things that are right for you! Good Luck on you journey!
   — Renee C.

June 3, 2002
Julie, search under ucla bariatric program. That should take you to the general surgery page. It falls under Clinical Services. Scroll down to the bottom right hand of the page--"click here for more information". The diet is under the Nutrition heading. Good luck!!! Mary
   — mary V.

June 3, 2002
I've read the poster's question, as well as the answers thusfar, and I'd like to bring to light something that I sometimes see here on this site, as well as with my own patients. There is a tendency to accept without question information that we are given by our physicians and other health care professionals, often because we believe that they know best. They may, or they may not. The field of medicine is continually changing, and it is impossible for those in the field to keep abreast of all of the changes in treatment protocols. This is why we must, and I repeat, MUST, do our own homework, and become COLLABORATORS with our health care professionals. If you have a physician, dietitian, or whomever, that is intimidated by your questioning/discussing his or her treatment protocol, decisions, recommendations, etc, then it it time to find another. Yes, it IS important to follow our physician's advice, but the reason that we follow that advice should never be simply because "he/she says so/knows best." My surgeon has been performing bariatric surgery since the early 1970's, so he's seen and done it all. But I will tell you that I have "taken him to school" on several things. Beware, also, of giving undue weight to a physician's or bariatric program's "reputation." My personal experience (outside of WLS) bears this out. An "excellent reputation" is never an excuse for not doing your own homework. ...OK, I'll step off my soapbox for now... just wanted to empower all of you to be better health care consumers! JK, RN
   — Joya K.

June 3, 2002
Of those who were at least 1 yr post-op who had had dexascans, over 70% already had bone damage. Tums. They give great blood results, but do not feed the bones. Slim Fast has about the same nutritional value as a real coke. Think in terms of what they know. They know what they feed people in a nursing home or other ailing persons who can afford to gain wt. That doesn't make it good for them either, of course, but that's what they KNOW as that is what they teach in school. You don't think I let my 84 y/o father take either one, do you?
   — vitalady