How Long Post Op Before Food?

[Lilee84 648]

My Dr had me start purees on day 8 but I see lots of people here who went 2,3, even 4 weeks post op. Just curious. I'm also thinking that my sleevie may not be ready for purees which may be why I'm having such a hard time with them.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

My surgeons post op guidelines are:

10 days of clears (on day 5 I was allowed Protein powders but made with Water only)

Then day 11-20 were full liquids, adding in puddings, yogurts, milks (didnt really do a lot of that) fruit juices, V8, etc...

Days 21-30 were mushies and purees. I only started with one meal per day mushies. I really took my time, and I'm glad I did. No rush, I had the rest of my life to get back to more solids.

Days 31 and beyond I could start adding in solids as it felt ok to do so.

If you feel you want to go slower and take your time with it, you won't be doing anything but helping yourself to get into your new stomach easier. Good luck!! It's always a good idea to take your time, especially with the sleeve. It can be really picky and finicky in the beginning.

[cscake 8]

I was Clear Liquids three days, full liquids 10 days, and I am now on soft foods which include chicken, fish, ground beef (which I have not done) I have eaten on the same chicken breast for three days. I have had no trouble moving up in my diet. My husband, however, did have some trouble moving up in his diet. He would just go back or stick with what he could tolerate. As long as he got his Protein and Water he was fine.

Everybody tolerates it a little differently.

Good luck

[Lissa 2,631]

I think I started solids at 5 weeks out, but I moved through the other stages pretty fast, I think. I didn't push my doc's recommendations, but I think he was much more liberal than a lot of other surgeons. I was eating scrambled eggs the second week, IIRC.

[jewelwithin 13]

Officially, my surgeon's reco was:

- 1 week Clear Liquids

- 1 week full liquids

- 1 week mushies

Move to "real food"

However, I moved to mushies/real food about 2 weeks out. I've noticed on the posts here that just as our bodies are all different, surgeons' post-op diet instructions seem to be all over the board. Because there didn't seem to be any consistency from doc to doc, I've been allowing my own body to supplement my surgeon's directions. This is one of the reasons I moved to mushies/real food earlier. I was simply WAY too tired and hungry all the time on 100% liquids. In fact, I was even consuming what I felt were a lot of calories based on what I've read here -- like 1,500-2,000/day! Now I'm satisfied with 3 meals and 2-3 Snacks a day that wind up in the area of 1,100/cal/day. One month out & with exercise I'm down 20 pounds.

For me (just as you've prob read from others), the key is chewing extremely well and eating very slow -- both good things that I didn't do pre-op. I do have tummy pain still about 50/50 of the time. For now, I practice avoiding foods I suspect my tummy isn't ready for based on how it responds. I'll try them again in a few weeks.

[Tenna38 17]

Wow reading the previous comments makes me wonder why my surgeon requires 3-weeks of clear liquids (can't have sf Jello or yogurt) and then 3-weeks puree/soft foods

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

May I suggest that if anyone needs to move along faster to another stage to please check in with your health care professionals first. That's why they get paid the big money. Make em earn it.

Usually a simple call will do the trick, and you will be sent or directed with an alternate eating plan.

[jewelwithin 13]

Good point MissDiva! I have sort of modified own my own after reading lots of posts and doing other research online, but checking in first with my doc prob would have been a wiser approach!

[hadouni 301]

1 week clear

1 week full liquid (no milk products though - even yougurt unless it was a drink which all have too much sugar)

2 weeks mushies (upgraded to lactose free milk and yogurt but no meats - just hard boiled eggs)

Week 5?? don't know... will find out tomorrow!