Question:
Eating regular foods in first month post-op.
What is the actual harm in eating soft regular foods within the first month post-op? I am talking about things like peanut butter (melted in your mouth before swallowing), tuna, canned chicken, cheese, scrambled eggs and maybe some things like spaghetti that has been in the processor. I don't mean anything hard or abrasive like chips, nuts, granola, etc...I have read where some patients go home eating regular foods. Just curious on what the scoop is with this. — [Anonymous] (posted on December 27, 2001)
December 27, 2001
I'm not sure why they all have different plans. Mine won't release you
from the hospital UNTIL you eat soft solids. I had eggs, pureed carrots
and yogurt before I left. They even gave me the OK to have turkey 2 weeks
out, very small amt. and chewed very well. Nobody has problems with this,
the pouch does fine. I would ask your surgeon whats the reason behind the
liquid diet. I'm sure he would explain it to you. There are those who
might say that the pouch needs the healing time, but all of my doc's
patients have done fine with his plan, and he was the first surgeon in the
state of VA to perform the lap, trains other surgeons, and has done
hundreds, so he has a great track record and has no problems with his
patients eating solids early on. Hope you figure out this mystery. Good
luck.
— Cheri M.
December 27, 2001
While I was still in the hospital (had surgery Friday, Dec 14 at 8:30 am)
and on Sunday at noon I got pureed turkey, mashed potatoes and pureed
apricots. Turkey tasted like crap, but the potatoes and apricots were ok.
Dr. sent me home on pureed foods. I went back a week later to have staples
out on Dec 21 and doctor said to start eating everything, but suggested
that I wait till last to eat beef. I have eaten everything I wanted,
including small, small portions of barbequed rib, green chili chicken
enchilada, hot dog no bread, red chili enchilada, tamale, plus, of course,
mashed potatoes, soft scrambled eggs, jello, banana, peanut butter (gonna
go have some now) and yogurt. Seems like I have a little cast iron pouch.
Haven't been sick a minute and am very thankful for all the good luck I
have had. Good luck to you! I guess every Doctor is different.
— Kathryn K.
December 27, 2001
i am 10 days post op open rny/silastic band. the morning of my discharge i
was given cream of wheat & HAD to eat it. for lunch i was brought
pureed mac & cheese & HAD to eat that too. 2 hours later, no
problems, the dr signed my discharge. i was told to eat ANYTHING i wanted
except of course bread, pasta & rice but i MUST puree for 6 weeks. in
fact, i just finished my dinner...1 oz of pureed shrimp coctail.
mmmmmmmmmmm.
— sheryl titone
December 27, 2001
I had to eat a meal of soft foods and keep it down to be
discharged. After that, it was regular table food. My dr.
wants us to eat mainly protein....... no carbs
— lessofme170
December 27, 2001
Wow, this is interesting, I had my surgery LAP RNY-12/12/01 and was on
liquids for 10 days(hated it!) and I am now on pureed food for 4 weeks-I
guess every Dr. is different, I would love to try small amounts of regular
food,but I will be careful. Thanks for the insight!!!
— jjpj497
December 28, 2001
I am 2 weeks post op and i eat all that stuff!! My dr. doesn't believe in
liquid/mush diets, Go figure... I ate scrambled eggs, fish, and brocholi
while i was in the hospital.
— Cindee A.
December 28, 2001
I am 10 days post op and still on clear liquids. On Wednesday (when I see
my surgeon) I will move to full liquids, then pureed (and that does not
include soft foods like eggs or cottage cheese...everything has to be able
to be sucked through a straw, even though we don't use a straw) and THEN
soft foods. I gotta tell you, I'm so hungry....and feel like if I could
eat a little bit of soft food, I would feel a heck of a lot better. But,
I've gotta follow what my surgeon and his nutritionists say.... I'm gonna
ask what the reasoning is behind the liquid diet esp. since many other
doctors seem to have other opinions about it. Isn't it amazing how many
differences there are in the ways the different doctors handle the same
surgery? ~Tracy
— Tracy M.
January 5, 2002
Here is the rationale from my surgeon for the Full Liquid Diet from
1-4weeks post op: To allow the staple line and anastomosis sufficient time
for healing with minimal stress from foods, to prevent obstruction and to
promote maximum weight loss.
Same rationale for the "blenderized diet" from 4 to 10 weeks with
the addition of : This is a learning phase, a time in which patients need
to develop the habit of eating slowly and chewing foods to liquid
consistency before swallowing. Emphasis on consuming only 1 oz in 10-15
minutes brevents both vomiting and premature stretching of the stomach
pouch or stomach stoma.
I am assuming those of you that were just realeased to eat regular food
were at least given a "weight loss" diet and not told to just eat
any old thing. Isn't that what got us into trouble in the first place?LOL
One of the things that I am counting on since I am not ready to eat
"regular" food until 10 weeks post op....some people have told me
that after being deprived for that long, they found they didn't have the
same "taste" for certain things. Sugar/fatty foods/etc. I have
already noticed that with caffiene. I used to drink a 2liter of Pepsi a
day. Well, I haven't had any soda- or sugar since December 10th.
Withdrawal was awful! But now that I am through it, I don't crave the soda
at all. I used to think I couldn't function in the morning without a
Pepsi, but now I am finding that I am much better rested, so my mornings
are actually more pleasant now.
— Amy G.
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