Silly question and some sharing

I know I am supposed to alternate drinking and food at least 30 minutes apart. But when I have a few sips of my protein drink (which I like by the way, makes me feel good) is that considered my "food" or is that "liquid" ? I also want to share that I have had cottage cheese 2 times--once in the hospital and once at home and it sets well and seems like "something!" I think I had a dumping already from some chocolate pudding in the hospital....had diarrhea uncontrolled but it was fast and furious and now over. Talked with my surgeon's office and that is what she thinks did it. That is why it was "dark" too...which is also a scary color relating to blood. phew! Still not sleeping well....I am a light sleeper anyway and only sleep about 6 hours a night (that is what happens when you get older) but when my routine is interrupted or I have something traumatic it takes me a while to get back so I am not too worried. Just found out most people go home with pain patches with my surgeon...but I didn't. I hardly used the pain pump in the hospital the 2nds day so they must go by that. I am taking Adult liquid tylenol when I am feeling uncomfortable.

Good question. I'd like to know the answer to that one too.

The dietician saw me in the hospital before I went home and told me that the protein supplements are considered a liquid, so you can also have water when trying to down one. I was told that for the first two weeks follow the full liquid diet, whi*****ludes three meals. For one I can have cream of wheat, or blenderized Healthy Request Cream soup (of course I have the Spicy bean soup) or SF pudding, or yogurt w/o fruit or nut chunks. Since I hate yougurt, I've been mostly living on cr of wheat and soup. Karen L

Thanks!

My dietician said the same thing as Karen's. Protein shakes are liquid. I think while you are on a liquid diet, the waiting after "meals" is more a training exercise than anything else. Once you are on soft foods like cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, etc, you do get a sensation of fullness that is worth maintaining for a spell. My doc has patients use cottage cheese every once in a while as a test to see how big the pouch is. You measure it out in ounces and eat very slowly until you feel full. Funny, but I can tell "full" better with cottage cheese than most things. Joy