To eat or not to eat

[CoComom]

I have been on this site for over a month now and I am amazed at how many different diets there are for sleeve patients. I am mostly curious about the first 3 weeks after surgery. My Dr. has a 3 week liquid diet while others are eating soft foods after only a week. I am very confused how this could be. Cottage cheese, refried beans, eggs and fish seem to be the most consumed during this early stage. Are Dr.'s actually saying it is ok to eat these or are people just feeling good and trying them out on their own. I cannot have those things until my 4th week after surgery. Funny because my pre diet is only a 1500 cal low fat and no liquid diet like most have.

[kcallis]

I was on liquids for only about 8 days and yesterday started on soft foods. It consist of protein shakes, cottage cheese, refried beans, string cheese, yogurt and sf pudding. There is a little recipe for egg drop soup, but its just cup of chicken broth, one chopped up hard boil egg, and melted shredded cheese (sounds interesting huh?) . I wish I had tuna on my meal because I love tuna and have some of those small Starkist packages that is hickory flavored or garlic/lemon flavored. It's funny how a lot of our doctors are different!

[scentual1]

It is true, many programs are different. I had no pre-op diet and started on 'soft foods' after one week. My dr's philosophy is that they want me to make better, high protein choices and they start that out sooner versus later. My diet (1 week out to 2 months) consists of chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, eggs, cottage cheese, , greek yogurt, tofu, beans, cooked vegetables (except corn and potato's), and fruit. Always have to eat 3 bites of protein to one bite of vegetable or fruit. 3 meals per day with 100 calorie protein shakes for snacks. But, again, every program is different. If you follow the program you dr provides, you will be successful.

[Msvetrn]

Doctors are saying its ok and other doc's patients are trying it on their own. You have to do what you can tolerate. There is no right or wrong, obviously, or we would have all done the same thing.

[Sunlilly]

I had my surgery on July 10 and I am on Pureed foods starting tomorrow. I'm allowed Wendy's chili as long as its pureed. Another recipe is tomato sauce, ricotta cheese and the option of ground beef (90/10) or ground turkey. I think every Dr. is different depending on the person.

[PipperMarrow]

yes, same here! I think it depends on the patient even at my doc's. Some have two weeks liquid pre-op some have one week. I was given one week but am doing 10 days for a kick start. Everyone's diet is different, I'm just going to follow my doc's orders to the T! I start my liquid diet on Wednesday, getting a little bit nervous!

[Kelli D]

As stated above all doctors are different. Mine sent me home wanting me to try puree within a few days and if that was okay to move on to soft foods. He stressed that I was to try 1 food at a time. I had absolutely no trouble with this. by week 2 I was eating grilled fish and sauteed spinach with no troubles. With that said I still think you should follow your doctors instructions. Your surgery is getting closer and I know you must be getting excited. I am excited for you!! Please keep us posted with your progress!!

[reading mom]

I had one week clear liquids, no protein shakes. Week 2 was full liquids, anything that could be suck up a straw if we could use a straw which we couldn't. Week 3 soft foods/pureed foods. Then starting week 4 solid foods.

[CoComom]

Thanks guys ! I do believe that each of our stomach's will handle food differently. I don't know how brave I will be to try foods early (but I am not having liquids right now either) Maybe when I have had nothing but liquid for two weeks I will become brave. lol

[HopeFaithLove]

As far as the pre-op diet. My surgeon told me that they have you do high protein, no carb for 1 to 2 weeks so you can shrink the liver before surgery. The diet they gave me is mot completely liquid but dows have protein shakes included. Since ghe liver has to be moved out of the way during surgery, having a smaller one makes it easier!

[mskitti]

I had no liquid diet pre op but was 3 weeks liquids post op, simply follow your doctor, don't worry about what others are doing, it's best to follow your plan and you'll be fine, some people I think just do what they feel is ok, and others like me follow their eating plan. I've been at goal for over 2 months now and was at goal 8 months after my op, believe me it works and if you do it correctly it will work for your body too. Good Luck

[Breen]

Our diets sound similar. I had no liquid diet just low fat, low sugar. I am on 3 weeks liquid, that includes runny cream of wheat and oatmeal. I start creamy foods tomorrow like eggs, yogurt, custard and cottage cheese. I would wait and do what the doctor says. No food is worth going back in the hospital for complications. You can do it!