Question:
11 days out and I feel like I need something other than liquids.
I had lap RNY 11 days ago. My doc said that I need to stay on full liquids for 14 day. Then I can add baby food type stuff. But I'm tired and I crave food. Did any of you feel this way? Did you eat anything? Where you okay if you did? Any help would be great. Thanks. — Sarah K. (posted on May 18, 2002)
May 18, 2002
We start protein supps (with water) and vites on Day 7 or so. That seems
to help actually get some "fuel" on board so we don't feel that
wobbly weak thing.
— vitalady
May 18, 2002
Hi! I too am only 11 days out and my DR started me out on soft foods a few
days ago.I eat soup with crackers( soggy) oatmeal and cream of wheat, and
one egg with half a piece of dry toast which gives my tummy a nice full
feeling and It does great! I also have mashed potatoes with a little "
I cant believe its not butter" and now I feel almost human
again..LOL.I craved real FOOD for a while and was soo happy when he only
had me only lquids for 6 days.Just eat slow and enjoy!
— Tina S B.
May 18, 2002
Be careful following what someone else did. They didn't have your surgeon
and maybe not even your surgery. If you are on full liquids you should be
able to have sf puddings, yogurt, sf fudge bars (try Diary Queen's,they are
YUMMY). And take Michelle Curran's advice and start the protein drinks.
— livnliter
May 18, 2002
You know, the one thing that drives me nuts is the unscientific approach
bariatric docs seems to have when it comes to post-op eating. What the
intestines can handle is pretty stable, although some seem to think long
periods of clear fluids somehow helps in the healing! HOW NUTTY~! I would
love to see these guys get together with a couple of wise nutritionist,
base the data on anecdotal and observational research and then come up with
a standard, with slight variations depending on complications encountered.
I personally went to ice chips day one post op, clear fluids, day two, soft
foods day three and four and home to anything except meat/fowl/fish and
breads (potatoes and mushy stuff ok) and raw vegies "as
tolerated"
for the first 4 weeks. I would have gone GONZO trying to maintain a
liquid diet as hungry as I was. In fact, I have lately found a breakfast
that fills, satisfies, gives great nutrition and I wish I had known about
it back then: quick grits, with a couple of eggs scrambled in with cheddar
cheese cubes, then nuked for 5 minutes. UMMUM-GOOD! Girlfried, I say,
other than avoiding flesh products for two reasons: hard to digest and
potential for introduction of unfriendly bacteria to a compromised
intestinal track, I see no reason you can eat what ever your little heart
desires. I was real big into cottage cheese with salsa mixed in, still
love it. A pancake made with egg with yogurt, pineapple and finely crushed
pecan pieces on top.
There is a faction of people here who believe that continued fear of food,
dieting mentality and a borderline obsession with protein shakes is what
keeps them slim. It reminds me of the time I went on a ropes course across
a canyon in California. I weighed 317 pounds at the time and was about to
do a tyrolean transverse across a canyon. My body was suspended by a
harness and my job was to keep my hands on the handle bar until I slid to
the midpoint of the rope. I then was to pull myself, hanging suspended
upsidedown, hand-over-hand to the other side of the canyon. As they
dropped me off the cliff in preparation for the slid, my arms automatically
clenched up, holding on for dear life to the suspension rope. The trainor
asked me what I was doing and I looked at him like the idiot I presumed he
was and said, hanging on for the ride! He spoke very softly and kindly and
pointed out to me that my safty harness would support the weight of my body
and that my arms didn't need to do that. The minute he said it, I knew he
was right and the rest of my body came into existence for me. My point
here is I used my arms to guide my speed down to rope, but I trusted the
rest of what was in place to support me safely in achieving my goal. Use
you head to what feels right, listen for whether your doctor can give you
rational, well though out reasons for his post op orders, trust that the
rerouting portion of the surgery is really what is going to help take the
weight off you, and that carbohydrate control is importantly moderated by
eating our proteins first. I don't know of anyone here who can do what I
use to do: eat 5-6 thick cheese and tomato sandwiches, slathered with
mayonnaise, 5 sourcream glazed doughnuts, a hallf gallon of ice cream and
some corn chips with more cheese melted and salsa, in the course of one
eventing (from 5-11pm) I look back then and what I can eat today and no
way in hell am I EVER going to criticise what I eat today. It is called
moderation, in all things.
— merri B.
May 18, 2002
Hi Sarah--I am also 11 days post-op open RNY, and I was feeling the same
way you are a couple of days ago. My doctor gave me instructions to eat
nothing but CLEAR liquids for 2 weeks. No way! I was about to go crazy,
watching all the food commercials and feeling like I was starving. I even
fainted once because of low blood sugar. So I went to the store and bought
some eggs for soft-boiling and soft-scrambling, applesauce sweetened with
Splenda, cottage cheese, refried beans, cream soups, Cream of Wheat, baby
food (yuck--I don't recommend it), yogurt, hummus, and potatoes for
mashing. This is the stuff I've been eating the last 2 days, and boy, what
a difference in the way I feel! I know I'm not going to hurt myself
because there are doctors on this site who allow their patients to eat real
food before they leave the hospital. I just think my doctor wants us to
get a big jumpstart on the weight loss. And while I want to lose a good
amount of weight the first 2 weeks, I don't want to do it feeling the way I
felt 2 days ago. So I've been eating slowly, chewing like crazy, and
stopping when I start feeling satisfied. I haven't over-stuffed myself,
and the food cravings have gone away. I can now watch a Pizza Hut
commercial without drooling! It's up to you, but you could start trying to
add some really soft foods like the ones I mentioned. I know it will make
you feel better. Good luck!
— Kristie B.
May 18, 2002
Thank you for this post. I am 8 days post op and everything liquid made me
sick including the protein shakes (I tried 3 different brands), the smell
of broth made me sick and the jello thing was not working anymore. I needed
to listen to my body, I was so lightheaded and sick because I was only
consuming water, apple juice and skim milk daily. Today on my 8th day I had
2 oz of mashed potatoes for dinner and I feel soo much better. I respect
and trust my surgeon but I have to listen to my body and just don't over do
it. Good luck Stephanie
— Stephanie B.
May 20, 2002
I am still pre-op but a couple of friends of mine had the surgery and they
missed chewing so much that while on the liquid stage just once they went
to McDonalds and ordered one small hamburger. They shared it, chewed it up
and spit it out. They said it helped their craving for food and chewing.
— Heather ..
May 20, 2002
sarah, i started eating "normal" foods within my first week home.
i was told to be on a liquid diet for weeks also, but my friend who had it
done 3 days before me got the go ahead from the dr to eat whatever she
wanted, so i did too. i have had no problems at all. i have had chicken,
chili, salad, etc. best of luck to you...
— candymom64
May 20, 2002
Be careful what you eat because you are still healing inside! My dr said it
was ok to eat anything that could fit through a strainer. You wouldn't
BELIEVE what I got thru that thing! LOL Lots of soups--I made homemade
chicken soup and blended it then pressed it through the strainer. Potato
cheese soup was good, too. I had cream of wheat made according to the baby
recipe on the box with a little butter and some splenda. I also had ff/sf
frozen yogurt bars (blue bunny makes some really good ones) that satisfied
my urge to chew. Those I didn't put thru the strainer, tho. LOL The
chocolate ones even have 4 grams of protein. I hated the liquid diet but it
is only a little while and you can really take advantage of that initial
weight loss with a liquid diet. I would say buy a strainer and try to grin
and bear it--once you start eating real food you will feel much better!
Happy losing!
— ctyst
June 5, 2002
Well, lemme tell ya - I feel your pain. I am just under 3 weeks post op
and I went through a similar experience. I began eating "real
food" 6 days post op (I know I know - bad bad girl). 5 days of sugar
free Jello were about all I could take. On the 6th day I ate some Nalley's
chilli (mild kind) and a couple crackers. I was only able to eat about 3
small bites - but boy was it good! I felt like a human again! I put a few
drops of liquid Beano on the chilli to make sure I did not end up with gas
(it worked!). The next day I ate some steak (very very tiny bites - chewed
to puree) and felt great! That's the key - chewing the food until it's
almost liquid in your mouth. My surgeon's instructions were to be on full
liquids for 2 weeks, so, I figured I could take that steak and put it in a
blender - then drink it (yuk!!) or just "blender" it in my mouth.
Not the most appealing thing - yes - but - it works for me. I have not
looked back. At this point, bread is the only thing that gives me problems
- it hurts my pouch so I stay away from it. Everything else is fine as
long as I chew it thoroughly. I have called Ralph on the big white
telephone several times because I have failed to chew properly - bad
experience! My sister and I had our surgeries done on the same day (by the
same surgeon no less!). She is still on the liquid diet and thinks I am
crazy. She cannot tollerate "real" food yet - it hurts her
pouch. If you must deviate from the liquid diet just remember to take it
SLOW and chew chew chew!
— Traci A.
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