Question:
specifically vbg...what type of food do you eat for the first month?

are you on clear liquids and then cream or solids? how long?    — samantha S. (posted on April 18, 1999)

April 18, 1999
You will get a LOT of different answers to your question. Why? Because doctors don't really KNOW what we can eat or not. Some are on liquids/soft foods for 6 weeks...I thought my doctor was crazy when he told me I could eat whatever I could tolerate..no special diet etc. Often people worry about rupturing their staple line from eating the wrong stuff or vomiting...my surgeon laughed when I approached this topic and said "With SEVEN rows of staples I don't think you have anything to worry about." I had my VBG Oct 1997 and for a long time wondered if I didn't eat the clear stuff would my tummy stretch and I be able to eat more than those who only had liquids and soft foods for a while after surgery. Looking at what others eat that are as post op as me I can see that I actually eat LESS than them.(Tonite I decided to have some graham crackers and milk..could only eat 3 graham crackers and poured the milk out..I was full). Things I ate when I got home was chunky style soup...jello..ice cream..regular soups..only because I didn't want anything else. Each person is different as to how they handle food..some people will never be able to eat hamburger again...etc. You'll also receive advice to chew chew chew! And always sip your water...very important at first. Carole
   — Ben R.

April 18, 1999
My dr. does not believe in a restricted diet post surgery...my 2nd day in the hsopital I was served chicken breast, potatoes and veggie. He told me if something bothered me to wait a few weeks before trying it again. I followed his advice and at 16 months postop can eat absolutely everything.
   — ellen R.

April 18, 1999
Here is what i was given for post operative instructions (my VBG was 3/29/99): This was to be followed from 4-1 / 4-6 1. Do not drive until 4/6, schedule followup appt 4/6 2. Do not take asprin or meds containing asprin 3. TAke only tylenol if needed although i did come home with a prescription strength of pain medicine. 4. 1 Flinstones chewable 2 x a day or a liquid multi vitamin. 5. Liquids: fruit juice, chicken or beef broth, diet jello, skim milk, or 1/2% milk, tea, coffee ( with sugar substitute) sugar free popsicle. LIMIT: 2 ounces or 2 tablespoons per hour. Instructions from 4/6-5/12 is as follows: Breakfast: Cream of Wheat,Cooked oatmeal, soft scrambled or porched egg Vegetables: Potato-baked or mashed (margarine,plain yogurt) Carrots-cooked English(green)peas-cooked Asparagus tips Cauliflower Fruits: Banana AppleSauce Pureed Fruit Chicken/Fish: Skinless, baked broiled, diced (NOT FRIED!) Pasta: Macaroni Noodles- (Margarine, oil w/garlic, plain tomato sauce) Spaghetti Rules You Must Follow: 1. Eat Slowly. 2. Do Not gulp food, slip liquids 3. small bits, small pieces 4. chew food extremely well 5. eat 3 or 4 meals a day. ( when i went into the office 4/6 he said i should be eating 4-5 meals per day) 6. limit each meal to 2 ounces, 2 tablespoons, or 1/4 cup 7. drink fluids ( unlimited amount between meals. Limit fluid intake for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after meals. P.s. I took it upon myself to by spiru-tein (chocolate my favorite) protein drink. It honestly takes like a shake from Macdonalds. I drink it for breakfast in order to take my vitamins. I take 1000 mg protein pill i have to crush, b comples stress pls vitamin c, 400 I.U. of vitamin e plus selenium. The e and b are capsules that I open and mix into the shake along with the crushed protein. I also drink 1-2ozs of liquid minerals a day. I haven't had any experience with brittle nails in fact my nail are growing like crazy and no hair loss or thinning.
   — cindy N.

April 20, 1999
Hi. For the first week I was on a liquids only diet. After that it was soft foods for a week and then I could add food as tolerated. I still took it easy with small amounts and carefully added new things. Things that don't break down well like bread and bannanas were very hard to eat for awhile.
   — Roberta B.