Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Why the drastic differences in post-op diets?



Recommended Posts

I am posting in this in 2 seperate places in order to get a variety of opinions. I am just curious why it is that doctor's post-op diets vary so much from doctor to doctor? I am on clears still and going CRAZY, 7 days out. I notice the Cornell program discharges people on soft foods? Huh? Any insight, just for my own knowledge would be great! Thanks so much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Frustrating, isn't it? I am on my preop diet and it is crazy how different the diets can be!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Different doctor's opinions? My doc would have me doing 2 weeks clears with a few Protein drinks. I looked up the Cornell diet and decided they had a good reputation and I wouldn't be in trouble with some Soup (purreed) and a soft boiled egg.

My surgeon was GREAT but his dietician a bit of a ditz. I TRIED to work with her on a long term diet that will work for me, but she wasn't into thinking critically. My doc is out of town (I mean, I traveled from home to have surgery), so I'm going to find a dietician here to work with. So far the Cornell plan looks like the most doable of all the plans, so I'd like to use that as a starting place.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm with ya, Jen. The clears are driving me CRAZY and I don't care if I never eat broth again. I have to admit I guess I sort of cheated and got egg drop Soup from my fav chinese restaurant because I just couldn't take it anymore. I've eaten some the last two days and been fine. Granted, the soup part is clear and I chewed the little egg pieces until they were mush before I swallowed them, but I can't wait til tomorrow when I can eat full liquids. My mommy is making me some potato soup that I'll puree' :) Anyway, I totally understand how you feel. I'm gonna goole this Cornell program and see what they have to say...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ally - I want egg drop Soup so bad. OMG! We won't talk about cheating. Since I have started having NOT clear Protein shakes. I couldn't cut it otherwise. I was starving. I had a bite of low carb, sugar free yogurt tonite. Surprisingly, it didn't do the trick. :)

How is the gurgling in your stomach. Mine is better but by no means gone.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My tummy is just a gurglin' away, Jenn! I got some of the chewable Gas X and it seems to work for awhile, then the gurgling just comes right back. Also, this was my first night back at work since surgery and I am d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g! I don't know if it's because I don't have enough food on board or if I'm coming down with a cold. Ugh... How are you feeling?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am 4 days post op and I couldn't agree with you more. I wondered the same thing. My program has me on Clear Liquids with creamy Soups for 2 weeks before I can progress to soft foods. I made myself some cream of broccoli Soup and it was awesome. So far so good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doc has me on clear liquid for one week post op also. Had I not had to have a band removed and a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time I would have been on pureed within a couple of days. The danger of leakage is higher due to the band removal. Also I didn't have to have a pre op diet this time. Because my BMI is around 30 rather than above 40. Also I've never carried most of my weight in the belly area.

Please keep in mind that your doc may have decided on your post op diet based on what he saw when he did your surgery and may have a different diet for another patient. I'm 56, so I assume my tissue wouldn't be as good as a 20 year old, even if this were my first WLS. Please do as your doctor recommends and don't try to do what someone else is allowed. :thumbup:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry for the big print I gotta adjust my settings.

Anyways, my doctor sent a post op diet that was really strict on liquids for 3 whole weeks. I took a look at the Cornell one and said ...I will take that one! LOL. So I sort of combined the two and used common sense and took it very slow when advancing to the next stage. I just figured they are a well respected facility. My surgery was straight forward, I am young, my health was good other then the whole obese thing. It worked well for me and I seem to be losing at a good pace.

Edited by mp8btpc
print seemed huge in reply box, not so huge on screen.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was thinking the same thing...lol.

Even about pre-op stuff. I had heard so much about liquid dieting to shrink the liver before surgery, but when I mentioned that at one of my visits they (the surgeon's office) was like "oh my goodness, no we do a 24 hour clear diet the day before surgery and that is it. We feel like longer than that is cruel"...so then I asked about my liver and they said "oh it is fine" ...so go figure?

I agree with Ellisa, just do what they say to do, even though there is a big difference among surgeons within the bariatric community.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×