Question:
I AM FOUR DAYS AWAY FROM SURGERY AND NEED TO KNOW!!!!
My surgeon said that right out of the hospital I can start on soft foods. He wants me to get used to eating food not swallowing liquid. I understand that but I want to know when I can actually start real meals? I purchased them preop and have waited to take them til after surgery. I know he said not to take protein shakes after surgery because he wants me to get used to eating but I know I need protein for nutrition. And I think 1 shake with soft foods throughout the day to get my protein in will be okay. I just need to know if I can start the real meal shakes straight when I get home or do I have to wait 1-2-3 weeks after? Thanks so much everyone!! Audrey — Audrey W. (posted on June 26, 2003)
June 26, 2003
I took Real Meals instead of the Carnation Instant Breakfast as soon as I
came home from the hospital. I never substituted them for food I take it
in addition to my food. At the beginning I would split it into four mini 3
or 4 ounce shakes a day to get in the full 60 grams of protein.
— Lynn S.
June 26, 2003
Hi! SOFT foods?? Eeeck! Be careful, hon. Be REAL careful. I wonder if by
soft foods, he means pudding, etc.?? Check out my profile for the diet I
followed, and see if that is what he means?? As for starting shakes right
out of surgery... I was lucky to get two teaspoons of broth down! LOL!
sugar-free or lite yogurt was easy to go down, too... again, check out my
profile and you might consider printing out the diet and seeing what your
surgeon thinks of that... I didn't start on protein shakes until I was
about three to four weeks out. Although, I was a very sick person prior to
surgery, so that may be why it took me so long before I could tolerate the
protein shakes! :~) My prayers are with you!! 18 months post op and down
220 lbs!
— Sharon M. B.
June 26, 2003
My diet was the same way. My diet is different then standard rny food plan.
I do 2 protein drinks aday. And eat 3 meals a day. If I can mush it with a
fork and it is on my list I can have it.I am 3 weeks out and have lost
35LBs. If you want I can email you my foods list. Just email me. I dont
need any nasty emails on this. All doctors and dietitiens have different
guide lines they follow.And we are here to support each other .
Autumn
— Autumn
June 26, 2003
My surgeon required that we bring our protein to the hospital so we could
start on it before we even left the hospital.
— ladyphy
June 26, 2003
If you decide to use the shakes, don't eat and drink a shake at the same
time. Treat the shake like a liquid -- wait a least thirty minutes between
eating and drinking. In the first couple of months, it's hard to get your
liquids in, so be prepared to mix just small amounts until you can drink
more liquid in one sitting. Good luck.
— Suzy C.
June 26, 2003
My Dr. had me eat some real food before I left the hosptial. It was boiled
chicken. I ate 2 tiny bites and was done. I am 10 mos. post op down 108 lbs
and I have never had a protein shake. Each Dr. is different.
— Lora T.
June 27, 2003
My surgeon has us eating soft REAL foods in the hospital. When I got home,I
had tuna and chicken salad, mashed potato with cheese, oatmeal, grits with
cheese, chili (not spicy), soups, ect. This is what I had the first week
post-op!! I just had to make sure I chewed it to death. He said 3 meals a
day and protein drinks, if we wanted to, in between. Like someone said
before, treat protein drinks like a meal and wait at least 30 mins before
and after you eat again. Not all surgeons believe in liquid diets so just
follow what *YOUR* doctor says. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 100+ and
counting
— Siddy I.
June 27, 2003
Audrey:
I started using Real Meals as soon as I got home from the hospital - half a
packet at a time. I wasn't allowed to start on any soft foods until a week
or so after surgery, then it was just yogurt & pudding, etc. I'm 7
months post-op now and I use Real Meals in the morning to get in 30 grams
of protein that way, then supplement the rest of the day with regular food.
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery and the wonderful changes you'll
experience! Kim
— Kim C.
June 27, 2003
Audrey, As you can see everybody has there own opinion of what to eat. Let
me take you back to what you should do. Go back to your surgeon and ask
him, as a former president of a local wls support group I would not eat any
food at all after surgery, I would stay on clear liquids for at least 10
days to give your new stomach a chance to heal. Think about it for a minute
if you try to start eating foods right after surgery you may stretch your
pouch and do more harm than good. After the first ten days slowly introduce
those running mashed potatoes and sugar free puddings and ice pops along
with broth into your diet. Do this for another two weeks or so and
gradually work your self up, but, let me encourage you again to go back to
your surgeon for the proper way to eat after surgery and after this if you
are not satisfied e-mail me and I will help you along the way. My e-mail
address is [email protected]. Good luck and best regards to you and
relax your journey is just beginning. O by the way I could not continue to
head up the support group in which I was over seeing due to medical
reasons.
— Georgia Girl
June 28, 2003
HI ORIGINAL POSTER HERE!!! I did call my surgeon and asked him what to eat
after surgery and he actually said REGULAR FOODS! Like chicken, cheese,
fish, 95% fat free lunch meats, cottage cheese etc. He told me that he
wants me to start eating normally right away so I can get used to chewing
my food. He did say that anything I eat I will have to chew to an
applesauce consistencey but I should definatly be eating regular food. It
sounds pretty strange to me but I guess if that is what he wants I will do
it. Thank you all for answering my questions and good luck to everyone in
there journey. (2) days til surgery GOD HELP ME I'm pretty nervous right
about now! Audrey
— Audrey W.
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