Why do food plans differ?

When perusing the board, I often see vets saying "make sure that food is on your plan."

Why the variety? Do surgeons perform the surgery differently?

Every surgeon has their own protocols based on what they think works best (in their experiences with patients). It seems to be a common thing, honestly. For instance, my plan allowed me to have toast with peanut butter at three weeks. However, there were some people on here who were told no bread of any kind for the first 6 months. And, I did get a lot of people questioning my food choice, but only because it was so different from what they were told. 

It's important to follow YOUR plan because of this varying degree of what is acceptable. 

The basic surgery is the same, but the may be MINOR variations from one surgeon to another.

Different surgeons just have different ideas about what food plan they believe will provide the best outcome overall, and it really just boils down to surgeon preference. Some surgeons require a very lengthy period of liquids only, some have a very detailed progression from clear liquids to full liquids to purées to soft foods to all foods, and some surgeons (like mine) have patients on soft foods as soon as Day Three (assuming they tolerated full liquids ok on Day Two). Eating solids right away will not physically damage the pouch (as long as you chew thoroughly) and some surgeons have found that people who have an extended period of liquids and puréed have more trouble tolerating solid foods once they finally get to eat them again, so they get people eating easily digestible food right away.

Some surgeons have a philosophy that a period of liquids and purées will help their patients make a more solid psychological break with the bad eating habits and food choices they had pre-op. Other surgeons believe that starting solid foods more quickly enables the patient to make a clean break with the bad eating habits by starting the new, healthy food plan right away while motivation is still high (and they are not discouraged by so many weeks of liquids and purées).

Even with similar eating plans, some surgeons want people to limit certain harder to digest foods (e.g., broccoli, pineapple, nuts, raw veggies) for a longer period of time.

Lora

Hi Lora,

I believe you hit it spot on about taking a psychological break with bad eating habits and food choices.  We have lived so long on this roller coaster that we literally are having to retrain our thinking.  Thank you for all your advise, Lora.  Jane

I honestly think that it depends on a surgeon's personal outlook about eating/food. Like I can tell some surgeons think people become obese simply because they eat too much, hence they tell them to only eat three meals a day. Some surgeons are more athletic themselves and know you should eat smaller meals throughout the day. Some surgeons think it's dangerous for patients to depend too much on protein shakes and forbid them while others take a more case by case approach.

I wish there was more uniformity but alas there just isn't. We always say follow your surgeon's plan because they are medical professionals and we are not.

I thank goodness that I have a realistic program & nutritionist.  She said I can eat pretty much whatever I want...but to (obviously) eat much less, and eat slowly, and try things one at a time so if something doesn't agree with me I know what does it.  They did not say "no bread," "no pasta," "no rice," no anything really.  So I'm learning for myself.  I do fine with ONE slice of bread, but can't do two like in a sandwich.  Can't really do pasta - makes me uncomfortable.  Rice is just fine.  They didn't give me a hard and fast rule on calories everyday.  Just said to work my way up to between 1200-1500 a day.  I'm absolutely happy with how everything is going, and I think part of that is not having to obsess about food anymore.  I'm glad I didn't have to trade one kind of food obsession for another.  

Thank you all for the responses. What you said makes much more sense. 

In my case, my surgeon, my nutritionist (part of insurance,only had to see once pre-op), the program or class required by the hospital, the physicians assistant at my surgeon's office---all said different things about the diet!!! One said full liquids for 3-4 weeks and then soft for 4 weeks with no solid food until 2 months, one said for 2 weeks full liquids then 4 weeks soft, one said to start trying solid foods one day at a time after 2 weeks. 

I made a hybrid plan essentially. I have remained in each stage a majority of the time that the class printed out for us but I took the advice of the physician's assistant to try and add in a new food at home each day to see if I can tolerate it. I have been doing really well...I have never vomited, I avoid anything too crazy like popcorn, I have only had dumping syndrome twice (mashed potatoes and a bite of a chocolate muffin), and I feel like a normal person with the foods I eat. I am super happy I had this surgery and I am completely changing my relationship with food.