Question:
I am one week post op today and I was wondering what

I can really tolerate now! I have been doing all my drinking of clear liquids(supposed to for 2 weeks) and I have eaten my jello and popsicles(sugar free of course) and I drink plenty. But it seems tonight as if I am actually having my stomach growl. is this normal? I have been drinking decaf/diet iced tea, water, a little crystal light and then I had some beef broth this afternoon(which tasted great!) What else goes under the liquids stage? I actually cannot wait until next week when I can try some cottage cheese or something! I guess its the starting to kinda feel hungry that makes me wonder! Does it go away? Is this normal?    — Beverly S. (posted on July 28, 2003)

July 28, 2003
I'm sorry Beverly, but it probably will get better when you progress to the next phase of the WLS diet. I am also one week post-op. from open RNY and haven't felt hungry at all. I have had to force myself to eat the pureed diet I was sent home from hospital on. I am not hungry, but want to go to soft food diet ASAP because I hate the pureed foods and it is a chore to eat. Good luck Beverly... as I keep telling myself when my incision hurts, etc.-- it will only get better from here!!!
   — Wendy T.

July 28, 2003
AFTER ANOTHER WEEK OF CLEAR FLUIDS ;)....You can go to full fluids which are anything you can pour with NO lumps or peices, sugar free or very low sugar. The choices should have good nutritional value. Protein shakes, blenderized canned or homemade soup-no lumps, yoghurt, Carnation instant brkfst(sf), protien shakes made in the blender with fresh or no sugar added fruit. Some full fluid meal plans include cream of wheat and runny oatmeal. Check with your dietician/nutritionist or surgeon. In the interest of good healing, it's not a good idea to jump the gun by starting full fluids before your 2 weeks clear fluids are up. It's not a long time in the big picture that is wls.
   — mary ann T.

July 29, 2003
Here's where a big problem is, my nutritionist gave me one set of papers with things on it that I can have(like the CIB and skim milk, etc) while the DR's say no to it yet. See why I am so confused? And its not growling, it's actually a loud gurgling sound. LOL
   — Beverly S.

July 29, 2003
The gurgling is not like the growling your stomach used to do. I kind of feel like my stomach has gone to "sleep" since I don't use it anymore. It hasn't growled since the surgery even when I am hungry. I did have a lot of gurgling--starting with the very first sip of juice I had after surgery. I took a sip and this mighty GRRRRRWWOOOOORRRRR!!! sound came up from the bottom of my pouch to my throat. I thought they had hooked me up wrong! LOL As time went on, the gurgling got less and less, but it seemed to always happen when I tried some food I hadn't eaten since before surgery. How did it know? Is my pouch smart??? <p>Liquids are hard for everybody. Hang in there because it will give your body a chance to heal and let the swelling go down some. If the "urge to chew" hits, just grab one of your SF popsicles. Oh, and stay away from the TV: Those pizza commercials just about drove me insane! Ironically, I don't even like pizza anymore. LOL
   — ctyst

July 29, 2003
I'm four months out and still sometimes get the gurglies, especailly when I eat something that I don't normally have. Last week, I was at a former boss's home for dinner. She served homemade spinach-stuffed ravioli in a homemade tomato sauce. Since I don't eat pasta anymore (too many carbs), the meal was devoid of protein, and I'm leary about the sugar in tomatoes, the meal is not like anything I have eaten since surgery. It tasted wonderful, but my stomach gurgled and made horribly embarrassing sounds the rest of the evening. The only thing that saved me is that another guest's stomach was doing the same thing! (and he didn't have WLS). It was kind of funny. So, don't worry about the noises. I think it's your pouch's way of saying something is new and interesting, and everything is new and itneresting now. Hang in there a while longer with the liquids, and know that all food will be an experiment for awhile. It's an adventure!
   — Vespa R.

July 30, 2003
I just wish that the dr's list and the nutritionist were the same! it comfused the heck out of me!LOL thanks everyone!
   — Beverly S.