My doctor has me on a week of clear liquids before I add protein shakes and my vitamins. It's been a long week of hunger, I'm only taking sugar free popsicles, chicken broth, jello and water. This morning I woke up and decided to have a protein shake. I'm a day early but I can't see starving my body for one more day, I really don't see the advantage. I'm a med-surge RN and the longest my abdominal patients would take a clear liquid diet would be 2-3 days for bowel rest. I will adhere the full 3 more weeks of liquids as the doctor prescribes but I was very worried about the lack of calories and nutrients I was missing from the protein shakes. I was feeling run down and tired and I want to feel good! What are your thoughts on my prescribed diet? There are so many different diets per person and doctor. Some are eating mushie food right off the bat, etc. Makes me wonder why the vast difference between doctors? BTW I was banded November 30th and have had a routine recovery.

My doctor had clear liquids for 7 days but I was allowed to have protein shakes. Though they were'nt clear. Shrug. As long as the shake is thin like liquid I think having it would be fine. My doctor said I should be having at least 60 g of protein a day. How would that happen with just broth? I sometimes wonder if Band doctors make really strigent diets because they worry if I give them an inch they'll take a mile (there are posters who talk about going out for KFC or McDonalds less then a week from surgery). That said I did a week of clears with protein shakes, 1 week full liquids with protein shakes, 1 week mushies (cottage/ricotta cheese, egg whites, applesauce), 1 week of mushies adding in canned tuna/chicken, THEN onto solids.

Thank you Honk for your reply. I agree, how can I get the much needed protein if I'm not taking the shakes. I'm going to call the nutritionist today and double check with them. I should have asked them in the first place, I'm not sure my Dr.'s advice was the best. This week has been hard.

My doctor had clear liquids for 7 days but I was allowed to have protein shakes. Though they were'nt clear. Shrug. As long as the shake is thin like liquid I think having it would be fine. My doctor said I should be having at least 60 g of protein a day. How would that happen with just broth? I sometimes wonder if Band doctors make really strigent diets because they worry if I give them an inch they'll take a mile (there are posters who talk about going out for KFC or McDonalds less then a week from surgery). That said I did a week of clears with protein shakes, 1 week full liquids with protein shakes, 1 week mushies (cottage/ricotta cheese, egg whites, applesauce), 1 week of mushies adding in canned tuna/chicken, THEN onto solids.

My doctor also had me on clear liquids for seven days and I did the same thing as you and added protein shakes one day early because I was starving. Then I was on full liquids for fourteen days and then mushies for two weeks and then onto regular food. I sometimes struggle with the differences between my doctor and some of the other doctors on the site. Two things in particular. My doctor said no caffeine at all and so many people on here post that they have coffee. I really miss my coffee. Second, my doctor says absolutely no grains until I have lost 75% of my excess body weight. I struggle with this because I have already tried the Atkins and Protein diets and do not want to go down that road again. Even with these frustrations, I have decided to follow my doctor's advice as much as possible because if anything goes wrong, he is the one I am calling and going to be looking to get me through this journey.

Thank you for telling me this, it helps a lot! I feel so much better today, two Protein shakes and the other clear stuff and I'm very satisfied. I feel stronger too. I agree with you, I plan to follow his advice as much as possible also. I'm going to see him tomorrow for my follow up appointment, it should be interesting. My mind is in such a better place now that I don't have a headache and feel so hungry. Thank you for writing.

My doctor also had me on clear liquids for seven days and I did the same thing as you and added protein shakes one day early because I was starving. Then I was on full liquids for fourteen days and then mushies for two weeks and then onto regular food. I sometimes struggle with the differences between my doctor and some of the other doctors on the site. Two things in particular. My doctor said no caffeine at all and so many people on here post that they have coffee. I really miss my coffee. Second, my doctor says absolutely no grains until I have lost 75% of my excess body weight. I struggle with this because I have already tried the Atkins and Protein diets and do not want to go down that road again. Even with these frustrations, I have decided to follow my doctor's advice as much as possible because if anything goes wrong, he is the one I am calling and going to be looking to get me through this journey.

Hello everyone,

From what i understand, the liquid diets after fills are only because our pouch/throat may become inflamed after fooling around with it during a fill/unfill.

So, they put us on thin liquids at first, just in case it is sensitive. The last Fill i had actually bothered me, so it made sense, but before that, I see your point of why starve myself.

So, if you can get a thin Protein drink down with clear liquids, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just to make sure you don't hurt/irritate your pouch area more.

I usually stick to Water, coffee, broth for my liquid days. But, i understand when it comes to 7 days. Wooh!

Good Luck!

I think I had 3-4 days after surgery of clear liquids (not a week). But as has beens stated, all the doctors vary so much, its hard to compare. I know that Unjury makes a chicken broth. One scoop has 90 calories and 21 grams of protein. It would be considered a clear liquid I think (you would mix it with water instead of milk) and a good source of protein during the clear liquid phase if you were having concerns about the shakes.

The powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken broth isn't bad. I have a feeling during my clear liquid phase I am going to be living on it. It has the Protein and I have tried the Isopure Protein drinks and I cannot drink it, 1 sip makes me want to puke, so in order to get my protein requirement that is what I am going to have to do.

As for the clear liquid phase after surgery, I have not had surgery yet, will on the 20th, my nutritionist said I could start full liquids after 5 days if I feel up to it, but if I do that I still have to do it for 9 days instead of 7. Because I can't start mushies til 2 weeks after surgery. Then it is 1 week of blenderized/puree consistancy, then 1 week of chopped/ground consistancy. Then solid foods.