Question:
Sugared Jello at Hospital Post-Op??
What did your hospital feed you post-op? After my leak test, I was given beef broth, fruit juice, and sugared jello - for 3 days in a row. I thought this was very weird and wouldn't eat the jello or juice. What was everyone else given? — Kathy J. (posted on August 27, 2003)
August 26, 2003
Yeah, that happens sometimes. I know at the Hospital of the University of
PA, the bariatric nutritionist is trying to work with the dietary
department to create a standard post-gastric bypass diet, but it's slow
going. My wife, who had her surgery in May, had a can of regular ginger
ale on her first food tray!
<p>
I think part of it also is laziness on the part of the surgeon or his
residents who write the orders. If they would take the time to specify a
sugar-free or diabetic liquid diet, then we wouldn't have the problem. So
often, I think they just write the orders for clear liquids and leave the
dietary people and the patient to sort it out.
<p>
BTW, I had beef or chicken broth with apple juice (100% juice - no added
sugar, which is perfectly fine) and sugar-free gelatin. I skipped the
gelatin and work on the broth and juice at my meals...JR
— John Rushton
August 26, 2003
Sugar-free jello should be given. Sounds like the kitchen needs to be
better informed as to what should be served to gastric bypass patients.
— Rachel T.
August 26, 2003
Same here for the sugar jello and fruit juice, as well as a sugar popsicle!
I ate some of the broth (nasty tasting stuff by the way), and a bite of
jello before I realized it had sugar. I diluted the juice. When my
surgeon's nurse stopped by to give me my diet instructions for home, I told
her about the trays. She looked alarmed and asked if I had eaten any of it,
which I hadn't. Then she said she had tried many times to get the menu
updated for us bariatric patients but was having trouble getting the
message through. I don't know, how hard can it be to say NO SUGAR on the
patient's chart? It was a minor aggravation, though, so I never pursued it
with the hospital. Maybe I should have. They were certainly prompt enough
in sending me my copay bills.
— Carole V.
August 27, 2003
when I was hospitalized for hernia repair 11 months post rny, My dr ordered
sugar free at my request, my menu was stamped sugar free and I ordered a
low cholesterol cheese omlet and with it they served peaches in a thick
sweet syrup. I had a clear diet for a couple days and was told the jello
was sugar free per my request, but I did have my family bring in tea bags
and splenda and I lived on that for a couple days
— **willow**
August 27, 2003
I was on a pureed diet after surgery. They brought huge trays of pureed
foods for every meal! Obviously, I couldn't begin to eat all of it, but
the idea was to try different items to see how they were tolerated. I had
a small refridgerator in my room, and I would save stuff "for
later" in it. Like I was going to get hungry or something! LOL! The
only thing I was leery of was the pureed fruits, since I couldn't tell if
they were in juice or syrup.
— koogy
August 27, 2003
This happened to me too. I had jello w/ sugar in it, and other liquids w/
sugar. When I mentioned it, they changed it to "zero calorie"
instead of sugar free, so they took away my broth and juice. What did I
get instead? Diet soda! I believe they eventually worked it out, but I
has mostly water until I got home.
— mom2jtx3
August 27, 2003
I have been hospitalized 5 times since my WLS (I am 16 months post-op). No
matter how wonderful the Bariatric Team is at the hospital, either the
nursing staff or kitchen messes up my trays every time. It never fails. And
after each episode, I hear they are working on it. I have no doubt that the
Bariatric Team is trying their best, but believe that most other hospital
staff is horribly uneducated about WLS patient needs.
— kultgirl
August 27, 2003
Not an answer to the poster's question, just a comment... what do these
hospitals serve diabetics? Do they mess their meals up as well?
— sunneegirl
August 27, 2003
I was very fortunate to be at a hospital with an excellent Bariatric
Nutrition program. I had my surgery at Orange Coast Memorial Hospital in
Fountain Valley, CA. They served us the Lite Cranberry juice, made sugar
free jello and sugar free pudding with Protein powder (procel), sugar free
yogurts, and made sure that we did not get any sugar in our post-surgical
diets. They were especially set up for the bariatric patients and would
bring in a big bucket of ice filled with all sorts of little containers of
sugar-free, and protein enriched foods. Everything was portion sized in
little medicine cups too. I didn't have to think or worry about anything.
— Janet S.
August 27, 2003
My first day that I was allowed anything by mouth in the hospital WLS, I
was brought a big ole plate full of roast beef, boiled potatoes and green
beans with pudding. I looked at it and just groaned because I was starving
and had so looked forward to my little taste of broth. My boyfriend had a
fit and had it returned adn replaced with the appropriate meal. After that
I only got clear liquids including sugar free jello. Dan checked
everything they brought into my room from there on out to make sure it was
not only part of the full liquid diet but also sugar free. It's best to
have someone with you as much as you can while in the hospital. Great
hospital and they treated me very well. It was just a little mistake on
the kitchen's part.
— Vicki H.
August 27, 2003
Hi Kathy Jo- We had a friend who was hospitalized with end stage cancer.
When his meal came, it was totally inappropriate and not what he was
supposed to be having. The nurse explained that when the menu had come
around, my friend was not in his room to mark his choices (he was having
some tests done), so the kitchen just sent up the "blue plate
special". It seems like it should be noted somewhere if a patient
needs a restricted diet, don't you think? I agree with you, I wouldn't have
eaten anything with sugar either. Good Luck :o)
— Mea A.
August 28, 2003
My doctor had his patients on Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breakfast for
the first two weeks - so that's what I got. I was only in the hospital for
a couple of meals after my leak test.
— sandsonik
August 29, 2003
I haven't had my surgery as of yet, but it is going to be at the same
hospital that my Sis-In-Law had hers done in. We have the same Dr.'s group
too so my meals will be the same. When she was finally allowed to eat, her
meals consisted of hot tea, sugar free jello, broth,and sugar free
popsicles. She had this at every meal until she went home. Yum!!! LOL
— Debbie R.
August 29, 2003
I haven't had my surgery as of yet, but it is going to be at the same
hospital that my Sis-In-Law had hers done in. We have the same Dr.'s group
so my meals will be the same. When she was finally allowed to eat, her
meals consisted of hot tea, sugar free jello, broth,and sugar free
popsicles. She had this at every meal until she went home. Yum!!! LOL
— Debbie R.
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