Question:
I know this is an overdone question, but.....Help!

I need some help with what to eat for the first 2-3 weeks after surgery. Not for myself, but for my friend, who recently just had her surgery. Her surgeon didn't give her very specific advice as to what to eat, which I find to be a bit disconcerting, so she is in the dark as to what to eat. The only thing he said for her to eat was baby food and to drink water. He also said that she can't drink three hours before or three hours after eating, which I thought was really, really odd. She is afraid to eat much jello, since it made her a little gassy. She called her surgeon today and told him about the gas, and he told her to drink out of a straw. I thought we weren't supposed to do that anymore? I also need help finding out how to get a hold of a nutritionist in the area that will take Tricare Prime. ( Military insurance.) She will probably need that sort of help, as she has yet to speak to a nutritionist, and that sort of worries me as well. Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated. Right now, she is basically living on chicken broth and water, and she is scared and lost as to what to do. Please, help. Thank you very much for your time. <|:0)    — Lisa S. (posted on June 17, 2003)

June 17, 2003
Go to http://www.smallscar.com/Obesity_Surgery/Gastric_Bypass_Book/gastric_bypass_book.html this is a 27 page handbook from 'start - to finish' and will have lots of valuable info
   — star .

June 17, 2003
Lisa- I was fortunate enough to have a surgeon with a nutritionist assistant and sometimes I am still lost lol. I have a few suggestions that may be helpful at 3 weeks out she can have cottage cheese, oatmeal, grits, low fat sugar free yogurt, sugar free popsicles, greenpea soup, lentil soup, apple sauce, refried beans, saltine crackers with cheese or low fat peanut butter. Pastas, meat, sugar, raw veggies should be avoided right now. Most importantly she needs protein supplements. She will need between 65 to 80 grams of protein shakes, or drinks daily. As for vitamins she needs liquid or chewable calcium magnesium citrate(found at vitamin shops and some GNC locations) chewable multi vitamins- I take Active kids Rugrats twice daily, liquid iron, and liquid B-12. Remind her not to take her iron with the calcium or multi vitamin as they do not absorb well when taken together. Also she should try to get in 64 oz's of a caffeine free, sugar free beverage ( water, diet-caffeine free tea, crystal lite, SF popscicles count towards your fluid intake as well.) No carbonated drinks as they cause problems in the pouch with gas. She shouldn't drink through a straw because of the air you swallow will cause discomfort. At this point she should focus on getting in her protein, vitamins and water- the food issues will resolve in time- it gets much easier each day to find a schedule. As for not drinking 3 HOURS before and after a meal- that is impossible! It is only 30 MINUTES before and after meals that you shouldn't drink anything as to not flush out the nutrients from the food. I hope this is helps- Feel free to e-mail me!
   — lyndaleigh

June 17, 2003
You don't use straws because you inadvertently suck down air, and that HURTS! See my profile for food info and recipies from day one to 18 months out! :~) Feel free to email me!
   — Sharon M. B.

June 17, 2003
Well, this won't help you to have disagreement, but I've used a straw since the beginning, and I'm a year post-op now, and have never had any problems using a straw.<P> Anyhoo -- I am concerned to see the doc advise no liquids within three hours of eating, though -- how in the heck is your friend supposed to avoid dehydration with that rule, given how little most of us can drink in the very beginning?? I wait 30 minutes to an hour between eating and drinking. In the beginning, I might've waited a little longer after eating, just to be gentle on the pouch, but I sure didn't wait three hours. Your friend may also want to find a good protein shake to use -- try wlssuccess.com or vitalady.com for samples, or Whole Foods sells individual samples of other brands at its stores. She needs nutrition. I never ate baby food -- I just pureed regular soft foods (with no seeds or shells or coverings) and ate very small portions of those pureed foods to see what went down "okay." Things like cottage cheese, refried beans, pureed soups (with protein in them) were okay for me, in the beginning, but your friend may want more guidance than that. Your friend should seek a local support group to join, or perhaps ask if there are other patients of her doctor's who are further out that she could talk to.
   — Suzy C.