Thinking My Surgeon Has Lost His Mind!

[jiggyjen1982@yahoo.com 15]

Today was my first post op visit. I am officially 14 days post op from my surgery. My dr told me today that I was doing really well, I had lost 14 lbs. But listen to this... He said I could go ahead & start trying some real food! He said to start trying different things & see what works for me. I thought you were supposed to wait until at least 4 wks? He also said I could lift what I wanted to! Idk. I was thinking you shouldn't lift no more than 10 lbs for the first 6 wks? He also said I could try some diet soda! I realize he is the dr & I'm the patient, but this is going against everything I have heard....

[SparklingSarah 18]

Huh? Soda? Really?

Well, I know each doc is different. Mine said to never have any soda again- the bubbles will expand your tummy, it's really acidic and just all around no good. A waste of space when you should be getting in Protein and veggies.

Lifting- do what your body tells you then. If you feel like your not ready- then you're not ready. He doesn't know how you feel.

Interesting....

[Not Amish 2]

I have my first post-op on Thursday. I definitely wasn't expecting to hear those words from my doctor, but I guess we'll see what he says. If anything it sounds positive for you and that he wants you to work on getting back to normal. If you haven't started back on caffeine I think it would be a good idea to just stay off it. One less drug you are dependent on. Good luck and let us know how the regular food goes.

[iegal 460]

Agree all surgeons are different, but I agree with your initial reaction. I have read many post op diet plans for VSG and not one suggests it is okay to drink soda. At 1 1/2 years out not one drop of soda has passed my lips still. Not one VSG diet plan allows you to eat anything and everything you feel like at 2 weeks out.

Even with a very expereinced surgeon, I did not follow everything my surgeon said to the letter. Listen to common sense, what your body says is okay. Maybe troll the internet for other surgeons diet plans and modify to what you feel is best for you and your needs. Although I could go to mushies at 2 weeks, my first taste of real food was at 5 weeks - 1 tablespoon of applesauce. It was what I could handle mentally as welll as physically.

Let me know if you would like any surgeons diet plans that I have collected. Or better yet, just go to google and put in VSG diet plan.

Congrats on your sleeve!

[jiggyjen1982@yahoo.com 15]

Thanks guys!! I have definitely decided not to back on sodas. I can do without them. He has just got me really confused.

[AliveAgain 283]

Instincts exist for a reason.

I would say this doctor's "plan" is unorthodox compared to mine, and from what I've read, many others. For what it's worth, I was on Clear liquids first week, started incorporating more full liquids the second week. Third week, slowly bringing in the mushies (greek yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce). I wasn't even comfortable with solid foods until four weeks out, and even then it was another 1-2 weeks before I was more solid than mushy or liquid.

As for lifting, my doctor said nothing over 25 pounds the first two weeks, then take it down by 5 pounds each week. He said it takes the stomach and the internal stiches about 6 weeks to FULLY heal. I would agree.

As for soda, this is your chance to break any bad habits, so I would. I wasn't much of a soda drinker before surgery, but I did enjoy a good bubbly Water. Haven't touched the stuff since a week or so before surgery. Don't miss it at all! Well, I did have a tiny sip of an Orangina soda at dinner the other night (my husband loves to get it at our favorite Italian place). Granted, by the time I took a sip, it was a little flat. It really didn't do anything for me, didn't want more, just seemed like sweet empty calories.

Take some time to browse these forums, you'll start to get an idea of what most doctors are saying and be able to form your own opinions. The important thing is to listen to your body, measure what you eat, pay attention to ingredients and how you prepare food, eat slowly, follow the no drinking before/after meal rule (10-20 min before, 30-45 after), take small bites, and the rest will happen naturally. The first two weeks are really about keeping your hydration up, taking your Vitamins and meds, and working up to the protein/calorie count that will help you best.

[cookie2012 44]

Hi Jen

These are the directions my surgeon gives his sleeve patients -

Day 2 Post Op - Fluids

Day 3-4 Puree diet

Week 3-4 Soft diet

Week 6-8 Solid diet

I guess every surgeon has their own instructions - they also want you to succeed!!

[SweetP 18]

My post-op plan was the same as cookie2012. Also, I was not allowed to lift more than 10 pounds until 6 weeks.

[Caradina 65]

Woah. I donno about that! I was on clears for week 1, full liquids week 2, mushies and softs on week 3, and just started solids on week 4. I find that I can eat pretty much anything except bread and sweets, which makes me slime. (and this is goood, because they are my downfall.) I was told that at week 4, I could do non caffinated diet soda if I like, but that I must shake it up repeatedly until it is fully flat. I do this gladly once in awhile to get to have some diet grape soda or some diet Vernors! I'm soooo sick of Water and crystal lite! The water is yuck now, and the crystal lite leaves a weird aftertaste...

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I'm sure your surgeon is very good, but even among good WLS surgeons, not every one is a metabolic or bariatric scholar. Bubbly sodas? Seriously? Lifting weights 2 weeks out? SOLID FOODS?? I may get flamed for this but I'm going to flat out say no, those are not good ideas. I didn't eat solids till the end of my 2nd month and if I had it to do over again I would have waited till the end of 3 months, I didn't lift weights until one month out and I REALLY wish I had waited on that as well.

[lyndynojo 140]

I came home from the hospital on mushies, adding a few new things every day. I was cleared for anything at 5 weeks. My cousin's dr in Utah never had her do any Protein Shakes at all, he started her getting Protein from foods from the very first. so every doctor is different. My dr said no carbonation for 3 months but also said after that it can't stretch the sleeve.

[BenisaMartim4 369]

I am two months out and still can hardly eat. Don't take it too fast, it will make you throw up and this will be a set back. I threw up so much that I had to go off food completely for awhile. As for the sodas, I have been drinking them the entire time FLAT. If they have the fizz out it is perfectly fine. If you plan to just open it and drink it, I wouldn't. That is unless you want to know what a hot air ballon feels like at the point of lift off.

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[Piplula 709]

I am two weeks out and I am allowed mushy real foods...like chicken...fish..that I chew the heck out of...and on my diet sheet..it does say diet soda...BUT...it must be completely flat...no bubbles at all...so..that one does sounds a bit strange if he meant for it to be carbonated ....I would be afraid it could cause a leak from the pressure...I would go forward cautiously...and id you have a dieititan that was part of the team...ask to see her/him....they are the food experts...

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[Miriam 50]

Like cookie, I was allowed soft foods (fish, chicken, Pasta, etc.) in weeks 3-4 and full solids from week 5 and on. That worked fine for me. In addition, my doctor also told me at the 2 week visit that I could lift anything under 20 lbs. or so. But you know what? I couldn't and told him so! Even a tiny bit of lifting caused me terrible pain, and that lasted till about week 6 (even now, week 7, some lifting is beyond me). So doctors are not always right ...

As for soda, is he serious??? Everything I've read suggests that soda will stretch the sleeve - why would anyone want to risk that?

[cookie2012 44]

Another rule of thumb "If it hurts don't do it"