Cheating on post op full liquid diet

[ChrissyT]

Help! I am so sick of protein smoothies I could puke! My doctor has me on 3 weeks of full liquids post op. Today I broke down and had a small sample square of cheese, the size of a piece of dice. I don't know if I can handle two more weeks of protein smoothies. Did anyone else break down during this phase? I know I shouldn't skip ahead before my doctor gives me permission but I don't know what to do to tolerate these smoothies any more.

[Calico]

Hi Chrissy. I haven't been sleeved yet but my doctor's post op instructions are for 3 weeks of thin full liquids. The instructions say it must flow through a strainer easily, and include pureed/strained cream of chicken, tomato or mushrooms soups, beef, chicken and vegetable broth, skim or 1% milk with no sugar added instant breakfast, sugar free popsicles. I can relate about the protein drinks...I'm on my 2 weeks pre-op and these protein drinks make me want to gag. It's been a struggle. But I do like the Unjury chicken soup mix. It's really quite tasty and 21 grams of protein. I figure that chicken soup will become a staple in my diet the 3 weeks post op.

[niamh]

I was on a full liquid diet but I had lots of different soups to get a variety of flavours. I ate some pre-made canned and carton ones; I also made some myself and put in cream cheese or skim milk powder to up the protein. I had protein shakes as snacks. I needed some savoury flavours.

One of the soups I made I boiled bacon in it and then removed it so it had the flavour of the meat but was still smooth. Get creative with having a different variety of flavours.

Good luck.

[ChrissyT]

Technically I am only supposed to be having broth. I am straining soups daily for dinner that my husband brings home from the diner he works at. That is the only thing I look forward to. I'm not supposed to add fruit to my smoothies either which means there is no way to cut that taste.

[oncebanded]

add peanut butter to shakes!

[ChrissyT]

But peanut butter is not on my approved list. Is it still okay? My approved list sucks, no fruit, no peanut butter, nada. I actually just called my MD ofc. and the nutritionist is only there on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

[Lola Belle]

Every doctor is different and has their own reasons for what diets they put you on. My doctor has you on clear liquids starting the day after surgery through day 7, then on days 8-14 you are on full liquids, which includes cream soups, smoothies and shakes, then on days 15 through 30 you are on soft foods, like mashed potatoes, refried beans, soft fishes, chicken salad, tuna salad a number of things that are considered soft enough to get down and be gentle on your stomach. The first week I stayed with the clear liquids, the second week I could not go a full 7 days, so I started creams on day 5, then again I cheated a couple of days off of the second week and went ahead to the soft foods, I was so happy to get to that point. There was no way I could take another bite of a cream type soup. Then really I only did the soft foods for about a week or a little bit longer and then started eating anything I wanted, I just made sure to be careful it was not something that was too hard and I made sure to chew, chew, chew and wait a few minutes between bites.

[Msvetrn]

But peanut butter is not on my approved list. Is it still okay? My approved list sucks, no fruit, no peanut butter, nada. I actually just called my MD ofc. and the nutritionist is only there on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

A piece of cheese isn't on your approved list, either but you ate that!
If you are going to eat something other than a smoothie (or liquids) at least make it a soft food and not something like cheese. Like canned chicken or tuna (the cheaper brands are perfect as they are really minced), cottage cheese, pudding, mashed potatoes, refried beans. These are all things I ate around week two. Just take it slow and you should be fine.

[ChrissyT]

LOL, true true.

[rooney]

I must confess - I have been cheating on my purreed/soft food diet a bit .....I am tired of the same old same cream soups, cottage cheese, baked ricotta, mashed potatoes & gravy, protein shakes (I never have been a real big fan of shakes to begin with).....I try to sneak good foods like turkey bites, tuna fish, etc.... I have an appointment with my NUT next week and I know if I level with her I am probably going to get scolded for advancing my diet without their blessing. I chew, chew, chew and only a eat very small amounts until I know whether or not thefood will agree with my stomach, no problems at all other than my guilty conscience for not following Dr. orders.

[ChrissyT]

P.S. The peanut butter really helps!!

[Nene135712]

I totally understand your feelings!!! Sleeved 6/8 and started full liquids 2 days early. 1st day could only do about 3 bites, 2nd day was better, today had 1/4 cup of homemade veg/beef soup broth with a few carrots and green beans pureed and added to the broth to make it creamy (just the thought of another cup of broth OMG!!!) I use muscle milk ready to drink (Wal Mart pharmacy area) they really have a good taste. Still only able to get 1 a day down, 1/2 in the am and 1/2 in the PM.

[Lunaya]

I am 10 days post op and supposed to be on a full liquid but today for dinner I cheated and had three bites of soft Avocado and four bites of tuna. It was sooooo good and my tummy didn't mind it one bit. Annnd I actually felt full.

[Rox]

I just worry that at 9 or 10 days out that your sleeve is not fully healed and that the liquid diet is imposed on everyone because of that fact. I mean even the mexican Docs tell you clear liquids, full liquids, pureed, and soft and it seems everyone varies on the time for each stage.

[Cathie]

technically your actual stomach heals in 2 days...it remains tender and still easily injured but it really heals quite fast..the soft foods, liquids, ect..are to make sure you don't over work the stomach..the acids are going to cause issues on their own...I too couldn't do these last 4 days of clear liquids and started to have thicker shakes, I had some hummus and cottage cheese...yep definitely cant eat a lot of it but I feel soooo much better, no headaches and I am not so lethargic anymore...I definitely was going to get very sick if I kept on just liquids.., I was so weak and drained...I will tell my dr tomorrow when I go for follow up...I can tell I still have swelling because the thicker liquids so feel sore going down but if you make sure everything is completely mushed or liquidized before you swallow, I don't see the harm...I had lapband 3 yrs ago so I have been through this and learned a lot back then...of course they also want us to jump start weight loss and taking these steps are going to help and hopefully stop the hunger or what we think is hunger