Question:
I am worried that I'm not on the right track
Hi everyone. I am 8 days post op. I could not tolerate the liquid phase, which I'm supposed to be on. I just jumped ahead to the pureed phase. I could not contact my surgeon due to the holidays. So far I have keep everything down and have not become sick. I've eaten pureed turkey in fat free gravy, mashed potates thinned out with skim milk, chicken and rice pureed with chicken broth, and fat-free refried beans with fat-free cheese. I am extremely worried that I'm doing something wrong on the inside. I could not tolerate the protein shakes. I've tried thick and thin. I'm doing ok with water. Please give me some advice. I had a lap rny on 12/19. Thanks! — Monica D. (posted on December 28, 2003)
December 27, 2003
It's very important to follow your surgeon's advice so that you give your
new pouch time to heal. That's what the liquid phase is for. Have you
tried Carnation Instant Breakfast (No Sugar Added) and Skim Milk? That's
what I lived on my first 2 weeks.
— Cathy S.
December 27, 2003
Ahh admit it your cheating:) Your not the first, or the last to do that. Do
call your surgeon and ask. They return calls even christmas day. So how
long were you SUPPOSED to be on liquids? Its never a good idea to cheat,
but at least your cheating responsibly with runny pureed foods. Years ago a
brand new post op 4 days out ate beef jerky:( Got a leak and spent a month
in intensive care. The surgeon had to operate and remove beef pieces from
his belly.:( Please dont do anything like that! All surgeons are different,
some will ot discharge a person from the hospital till they are ablew to
eat soft cooked eggs. Please be careful.
— bob-haller
December 27, 2003
My original point which I somehow forgot. I am 2.5 years out and protein
shakes still make me sick today.
— bob-haller
December 27, 2003
I know some do not agree with me.... but if you are tolerating it, and not
hurting, just be very careful. I lived on Carnation Instant Bfast also... I
only WISH someone had told me how wonderful sugar free popcicles would have
been to me! I could have had those when I was having "head
hunger" which I had A LOT my 1st few weeks.... I was about 1 month out
I think when someone mentioned them to me and they saved me! I never went
through the puree stage... Ijust chewed chewed chewed.... if I could not
chew it till it was liquid, I spit it out.... I still do that to an
extent. Especially with beef jerky. Relax, and just dont do anything to
hurt yourself.... chew chew chew, and get you some SF popcicles.... you
will be FINE!!! I was constantly worried about stretching my pouch and
causing a leak.... I only wish I had relaxed and enjoyed the beginning of
my new life!!!!!! Take care, and I wish you the very best!!
— rebecca J.
December 28, 2003
I found the first few months really rough (from day 1 to about 4 months).
I had to try a lot of things. For protein I ate a lot of Detour bars once
I could tolerate them and tried A LOT of different shakes as my tastes
changed throughout the first six months. I finally settled on a mixture of
berry flavored mixtures mixed with frozen strawberries and I have one every
morning. Some mornings they go down like LEAD and other mornings they are
fine. I try to get a lot of protein in through food but have to watch that
I don't rely on carbs too much because I have no problem tolerating them.)
I have had a lot of trouble with drinking water and have relied on sugar
free popsicles to quench my thirst (I live on them). At almost a year I am
still hit and miss with water. Sometimes it's fine (and on those days I
try to drink a lot), other days it hurts like hell.
You're still very very very new to the process and things will change as
time goes on and you will be figuring it out as time goes on. Relax and
try to get used to your new approach to foods while knowing that what is
true this day and this week might not be true tomorrow or next week. It's
a process and a journey. Hang in there and congrats on being on the other
side.
— susanje
December 28, 2003
Plese forgive me, but WHY?? would you not want to do this right? Do you
realize how lucky you are that you are able to have gotten the surgery?
There are so many of us out here that wish we were in your shoes and
wouldn't even think about not following the post op instructions. 8 days
post op? mashed potoates? milk? are you sure that you are ready for this?
Please think about this decision and remember that you are the only one who
can make it work.
— Diane G.
December 28, 2003
Ok, I know I'll probably get yelled at, but my dr didn't believe in the
liquid stage at all. He had me eating mushy foods in the hospital and I
did fine. He did stress the protein first, tho. So from the time I came
home, I was using my food processor to mush up tuna salad, having soft
scrambled eggbeaters with cheese, the ff refried beans w/cheese. Of
course, only your body knows what you can tolerate. The only time I had
dumping was when I didn't chew well enough. So I feel if you aren't having
any trouble, you can't be doing much wrong. But I will agree with all,
check with your dr. Who knows, he might agree with you.
— lharbison
December 28, 2003
When I had my surgery two years ago, I had to be on full liquids for a week
after leaving the hospital. Now, the same surgeon is having his patients
eat mashed potatos before they leave. I am curious though, what was it
about the liquid phase you couldn't tolerate? I lived on sugar free
popsicles and V8 Juice for a week.
— Patty_Butler
December 28, 2003
my doctor never had us do only liquid, we started out in the pureed stage.
all doctors are different, but my question is...if YOUR doctor told you
liquids and you are already cheating at ONLY 8 days post-op....what are you
going to be doing at 6 months or 1 year? you can't twist and turn the diet
to how you want. that's how we got fat in the first place...doing things
our way.if your doctor gave you instructions you should follow them....as
someone who wants to be a nurse you should know that. yes i am being harsh
and i know it. i wish someone would be harsh with me when i'm doing
something wrong instead of making nicey nice. this is too important. it's
really not about what you are eating, it's about being Only 8 days post-op
and already cheating. i wish you the best of luck.
— franbvan
December 28, 2003
You know my wife Jen had WLS after me and didnt follow the rules. I TRIED
to council her but my entire surgeons group including the psych doc said to
leave her be. They said everyone has to find their own way thru this. I am
not advocating cheating. But its interesting they told me to butt out. At
the time she was trying to eat a chicken leg off the bone, and thru up
every time. This about a month out. My concern is that the oposter doesnt
make a poor food choice and cause a leak.
— bob-haller
December 28, 2003
Maybe I should have added more info to my question. The reason I can't
tolerate the liquid phase is because I'm so tired, weak, irritable, dizzy,
light headed, hungry, and always crying. When I do eat pureed food, it is
extremely thin and runny. It has only been with chicken and turkey. I did
try the beans and found them too heavy, so I backed off. My doctor works
in a military hospital, so therefore during the holidays NO ONE is around.
If anything serious came up I was told to go to the ER. I have felt fine
since eating those pureed foods. I do eat yogurt and have SF carnation
instant breakfast along with popsicles and plenty of water. Hope that
clarifies it up a bit. Thank you everyone for your input.
— Monica D.
December 28, 2003
Hi Monica, I had lap rny on aug 9 2001 and I couldn't fathom the idea of
eating anything pureed during the first couple of weeks. The first week I
was home I sipped on watered down cranberry juice and that was it. It
wasn't till about 3-4 weeks out that I started eating really soft and
pureed foods. As I was reading your question, the foods you had listed
seemed too much for only a week post op. I am not trying to be critical in
any way but, it seems to me that your mentality is still in the old mode
and you need to get into a new frame of mind about your food choices and
eating habits. This surgery is only a tool and can only help if, you
control your eating habits. I am now 2 yrs and4 1/2 months out and have
lost over 140 lbs and am next on the list at a military hospital for my
tummy tuck. I feel very blessed to have been a good candidate for this
surgery and am in no way going to misuse my new tool. Take care of
yourself, slow down, eat smaller portions, introduce foods much slower and
rethink why you had this surgery to begin with. Do you really want to stay
your weight or find the new you deep down inside? It takes time and self
control to do this and trying to eat these things now is not going to help
you. Best of luck.
— ncgal
December 28, 2003
i have tricare too, but i was lucky and got to use a civilian doctor
because there aren't any military hospitals near by. i was really glad
about this because there really isn't any support if you have it with most
military hospitals. they just do the surgery and send you on your way. most
wls doctors have free support groups that meet once a month or so. i would
look in the phone book and find a wls doctor and join their support
group...and it's free!! you can get more education and support and
sometimes they even have guest speakers. it's really great to see how
people are dealing with their weightloss and different stages and what
problem can be avoided. most of the people who fail at wls weren't people
who just didn't follow the rules, but people who were never told all the
rules. even doing the best they could with only having tiny bits of info
to work with. these groups have a clothing exchange if you are interested.
i gave away alot of clothes this way too. best of luck to you and i hope
you start feeling better soon!!!
— franbvan
December 28, 2003
Hi Monica,
Never you mind these people who are over-run with guilt regarding food.
And especially, never mind those who are rendering advice but have not been
through this process. Three weeks ago I would have told you "I would
NEVER not follow my surgeon's orders...no way no how" Well.....that's
not the case now. I had surgery the same day as you and I certainly
understand the inability to stay on liquids for 2 whole weeks. My stomach
is growling to the point of hurting and I think I will listen to my body -
which is supposed to be what this whole process is about anyway....learning
to be in tune with my body. So, I have "cheated" (if you want to
call it that) and I have had 1/4 cup of very runny cream of wheat and on
another occassion, I had 1/4 cup of cream of potato soup - put in the
blender and made with milk (my surgeon allows the milk). I also have one
protien drink per day - per my surgeons instructions. However, I have also
been walking up a storm. I walked 1 1/2 miles yesterday and 2 miles the
day before. Granted I am not walking quickly, but I am moving and I feel
fantastic!! I think all the walking makes me need more calories....liquid
is just not enough. Well, I am glad to hear another person be honest about
the realities of this surgery. Perfection is certainly NOT required - but
true effort is...along with learning to really listen to our bodies. I
feel as though if you and I were "doing something wrong to our bodies
on the inside" then our insides would let us know. Be careful and be
joyful in your new life!! If you need to chat....feel free to e-mail me!
~~Kimberly~~
— MissKimberly
December 29, 2003
Monica: I did pretty much what you did at first. I couldn't tolerate
"just drinking" anymore. So I started very slow, with sf yogurt,
pudding, and things you mentioned as well. Just go very slow at this
point, and don't push it for a while. Try to stay on the pureed stage for
at least several weeks, until you're healed well. Also, I did not do
protein shakes at first. I'm still not real reliant on them, but I do one
in the morning usually, and that gives me a 25g boost to start the day.
Best wishes, and congratulations on your new life! Lap RNY, 9/11/03,
254/200/???
— Carlita
December 29, 2003
I guess "cheating" depends on which surgeon you have. My surgeon
allows soft food, just like you have been eating when you leave the
hospital. I too had couldn't tolerate the protein drinks. I finally found
one that I like. Good luck!
Darcy
— DarcyM
December 29, 2003
Dear Monica,
Since I started reading the posts on this web site I have seen that
each Dr. has his or her own beliefs on diet post-op.My Dr. specified mashed
fruits and vegtables.Sugar free and fat free popsicles and no meats!!As for
vitamins he told me to take chidrens chewables twice a day.
Some of his other patients that I met at a group meeting said they
couldn't keep anything down when I complained about the diet. But I was
also a cheater.I had a piece of pizza!!We aren't supposed to have bread
untill 8 weeks out so I am cheating because I don't consider whole wheat
pita bread real bread.
So far things have been good,I lost 19 lbs at my 3 week check ans have
131 lbs to go.
— Christina T.
December 29, 2003
I am just 3 weeks post op...and my doctor is very stern on following the
steps in introducing your new pouch to foods very slowly...This, He said
was so the area could heal properly and rest while doing so. I am not a
doctor so I can't tell you that you are going to "hurt" something
on the inside, but as a RNY surgery patient myself, I am following HIS
regiment to avoid any complication that may occur..Best of Luck... God
Bless!
— Kalli R.
Click Here to Return