Question:
Can anyone explain why we have to wait 4 weeks for chicken/fish, 8 wks for beef?

Is there any scientific explaination for the above dietary restriction imposed by my doc? When I asked him, his response was "Because I said so." Well, that doesn't work for me and I want to be compliant. Please advise. Fondly,    — merri B. (posted on June 8, 2000)

June 8, 2000
You're lucky I had to wait 8 weeks for even soft food then slowly added regular food.. But to answer your question Beef is more course (grainy) and harder to digest..Here is a hint though pineapple is a natural meat tenderizer if you eat a few nibbles with beef or any meat for that matter it acts as a tenderizer in the stomach.
   — Victoria B.

June 8, 2000
Opps "coarse" please excuse the typo...hope this post doesn't show twice.. I just did this but somehow it didn't show up....
   — Victoria B.

June 8, 2000
Merri: I am not trying to get you to go against orders. BUT, my surgeon was not nearly as strict as many others and he's been doing these surgeries since the mid 1970s and has done literally thousands and never lost a single patient!!! (He has reversed two though). Anyway, I had maybe one week on the diet you are on then I was allowed regular food except raw veggies and raw fruits - for which I had to wait 4 weeks. I made a great "stew" of hamburger, beans, and tomatoes about 2 weeks postop and I ate it with ketchup on it. YUMMY! I found that fish (according to my surgeon) qualified for the "soft" diet and it didn't even have to be pureed or ground! I guess cause it melts in your mouth sorta. Chicken made me feel a little icky at first - but the white meat can be so dry. He told me to put a little fat-free gravy on it. Beef is the last for the stomach to accept, I still don't feel too hot when I eat something like stead. But pork chops are pretty much ok, ribs are yummy.
   — Cindy H.

June 8, 2000
Hi Merri! I guess each doctor is different. It sounds like yours is just being cautious.. My instructions for eating were to eat whatever I felt comfortable with. I was eating filet mignon two weeks after surgery. I would take a 6 oz steak & eat 2oz for breakfast, 2 for lunch & 2 for dinner. My nutritionist suggested it. I got some real good protein in & it was sooo good! Good luck to you! <a href="http://www.mywls.com">http://www.myWLS.com</a>
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 8, 2000
8 wks for beef? My dr advises waiting a year before adding beef to your diet. Frankly, I haven't gone through the pain and discomfort of WLS to screw around with trying to eat more than I need...physically and emotionally. It seems that at 2.5 mos post op that I survive on protein shakes, eggs, cheeses, yogurt and chicken. I've never been happier or healthier. Not to say I haven't "pressed my luck" several times...but I find I am happiest when I get my walks in, my protein in...and the pounds fall off. Good luck
   — Lucky B.

June 8, 2000
If you eat chicken or beef too early, it will sit in your stomach forever, not be digested, and make you sick. Plus your pouch is delicate and the opening is smaller at first, so it could get stuck. These foods, plus fresh vegetables, are hard for the stomach to digest, and after surgery you don't want to irritate it in any way. By the way, I'm 3 months postop, and hadn't had a vomiting episode in about three weeks until last night when I ate a little beef. I was vomiting off and on for several hours. If that doesn't make you wary, I don't know what will!
   — Elizabeth M.

June 8, 2000
Hi Merri!! Each DS doctor has his own protocol for immediate post-op eating. Just comply with your doc. As for mine... days 1-3 - liquid, days 4-8 - pureed foods, after that... no restrictions, except soda pop. At 2 weeks, everything I could tolerate, including soda pop.
   — Kris S.

June 12, 2000
Hey Merri. Like Kris wrote, each DS doc is different. Beef is a little harder to digest than other foods, and your stomach has been traumatized, so it may not react well to beef. Your doc is on the cautious side, which isn't a bad thing. Dr. Gagner had me on a puree diet for three weeks, while some DS patients are eating chicken dinners in the hospital. If you want to try it, go for ground beef to begin with and see how you do. For chicken, just chew it a little more than you would most things and it should go down fine. If it doesn't sit well, try it again in a few weeks.
   — Duffy H.