Question:
LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC POST OP DIET PLAN SUGGESTIONS

I have been to a nutritionist, and two different surgeons. Every diet plan I have received has been different. The nutritionist told me to drink Ensure-high protein for three weeks post op and to stay away from protein powders. Dr. L my first surgeon told me to use protein powders and eat 6 meals a day 3 meals soft foods and 3 meals of protein powders, starting my 2nd week post op. Now, Dr. L, the surgeon I have a surgery date with of 12/17/2003 has a very different diet plan to follow. This mainly consists of clear liquids and semi-solids for 3 weeks post op. I am terribly confused! Help!    — Amber T. (posted on December 12, 2003)

December 12, 2003
I would take the best 2 out of 3...that is stay on the clear liquids/semi-solids for 3 weeks...which will give your pouch time to heal - and if you can get any protien drinks down during that time...just consider it an added bonus. After the three weeks, I don't see anything wrong with 3 protien drinks and three meals a day...as long as your drinks/meals aren't sending your calorie intake skyrocketing. I think you will be hard pressed to get all 6 'meals' in every day during that first month or two anyway. As far as the ensure...I'd be careful...I think most of them are quite high in carbs and could make you dump. Good luck with your surgery!
   — eaamc

December 12, 2003
Follow the plan of the surgeon who ends up doing your surgery. Every surgeon's plan varies some. Mine was real solid food starting on day 7. I was expected to take tiny bites and chew it to mush. Believe me you do it because you are scared of getting sick. I liked my surgeon's plan as it required no protein drinks and only used food. I eat 3 meals a day, or am supposed to. At over 10 months PO I usually eat a snack at night but try to make it healthy and protein focused. Most surgeon's plans are not this way, but it worked great for me. I was down 204 lbs at 10 month's PO. <p>Don't try and do your own thing. Follow your surgeon's plan at least for 6 months minimum.
   — zoedogcbr

December 12, 2003
NUTRITIONIST VERSES SURGEON: LISTEN TO YOUR SURGEON!! The nutritionist has usually not been trained in weight loss surgery eating plans... Follwo your surgeons eating guide, quit looking so many places to find answers... If you trust your surgeon with your life to have the surgery done, then listen to their advice... God Bless You.
   — barbara L.

December 13, 2003
Amber... I agree with the other posters who've said to stick as close as you possibly can to the plan of the surgeon who is doing your procedure. That said, I'm often/always leery of doc's who say NO protein drinks or supplements. To this day (and I'm six months post-op) I could not even BEGIN to get HALF my needed protein in were it not for my drinks and bars. So I guess my advice would be to balance what your doc says with your common sense and KNOW that getting in that 60-80gm daily of protein is of UTMOST importance!! God bless!!!!
   — Amy G.

December 13, 2003
Amber... I agree with the other posters who've said to stick as close as you possibly can to the plan of the surgeon who is doing your procedure. That said, I'm often/always leery of doc's who say NO protein drinks or supplements. To this day (and I'm six months post-op) I could not even BEGIN to get HALF my needed protein in were it not for my drinks and bars. So I guess my advice would be to balance what your doc says with your common sense and KNOW that getting in that 60-80gm daily of protein is of UTMOST importance!! God bless!!!!
   — Amy G.

December 13, 2003
I can tell you that I was giving my dad Ensure & Boost as a weight gainer and it worked very well. But it was so useless nutritionally that I started giving him real protein powders made the way I would NOT make them for myself, with milk or juice. If I'm going to get calories into him, they may as well pack some protein punch. Our eating plan is probably the most radical I've seen, with 4 weeks clear sugar free liquids, but that includes your protein shakes (not made with moo or juice, of course). Then to soft foods. I am not a fan of puree, think it creates liquid grazing. We are on full vitamin & protein supplementation by Day 7 or so. Most of us obtain and maintain 100% wt loss over the 5 yrs mark.
   — vitalady