I posted this under another forum, but this might be the right place for this...

There seems to be very different stages on when to eat foods after surgery and I'm getting confused.

Some plans are liquids only for 1week, then full liquids week2, then pureed foods week 3, then soft food week 4, then solid food week 5 and beyond.

My sister had surgery a year ago May in NYC. She was started on pureed and soft foods by day 3 and by week 3 was on solid foods.

I'm having mine in Mexico on 7/16. I see my Vermont bariatric doctor two weeks after the surgery (he doesn't want me to go to Mexico, but will be my doc anyway.)

The only food plan I located on line that followed the guidelines my sister used was from Cornell. Almost all others were similiar to the 'phased-in' plan over 4-5 weeks.

So here's the confusion. My Vermont doc won't give me a food plan, and my surgeon in Mexico uses the phased-in plan. My sister is arguing with me as to what foods/liquids we need to take to Mexico and what I'll need afterward as I'll be in NY for a couple days before returning home.

What plans are other people following? When are you eating full liquids, pureed foods, soft foods, etc.?

Kaiser recommends that we do 3 weeks of a liquid diet, 3 weeks pureed, 3 weeks of soft and then introduce foods gradually. This was an effective plan for me and a friend that I gave this diet too.

I thought you got a lot of good answers on the other thread you started.....

But ok here's my answer again

You choose your surgeon for a reason.. I think the best thing you can do is follow his or her plan.

Because you will drive yourself crazy comparing to others plans and if you find a plan you like better how are you going to explain that to your surgeon should there be a problem.

"Well I thought your plan sucked so I followed this other girls plan I liked better"

Everyone's plan is very different. If the docs aren't giving you a plan, you def need to be conservative/ safe with your choices. Maybe bring a diet to your Vermont doc and ask his opinions instead of asking him to give you a diet. ??

Here was mine:

Week 1- Clear Liquids only (sugar free)- Water, sf Popsicles, sf Jello, Powerade or Gatorade zero, broth

Week 2- thicker liquids- creamy Soups, v8, Protein shakes

Week3- soft diet- tuna salad, chicken salad, yogurt, sf pudding

Week 4 - slowly introduce more solid food starting with fish and very moist meats.

Hope this helps you.

I thought you got a lot of good answers on the other thread you started.....

But ok here's my answer again

You choose your surgeon for a reason.. I think the best thing you can do is follow his or her plan.

Because you will drive yourself crazy comparing to others plans and if you find a plan you like better how are you going to explain that to your surgeon should there be a problem.

"Well I thought your plan sucked so I followed this other girls plan I liked better"

^^^ THIS! Why even question it or worry about it? The local doc won't give you a food plan because they aren't your surgeon. There are hundreds of different diets out there. Don't compare and just do what your surgeon tells you. Mine was longer than a lot of people who were sleeved at the same time, but if you trust a doctor to remove 85% of your stomach, you should trust them to provide you with the appropriate diet!!!

My Dr. has me on the following: weeks 1-2 clear liquids, Isopure clear protein is good, protein shakes ( not in the blender, adds air ). sugar free jello, popsicles and pudding. Cream soups strained of solids .Drink up to 4 oz of liquid every hour, tiny sips, do NOT gulp. Keep pushing fluids to stay hydrated. Weeks 3,4,5 are pureed foods. Yogurt ( no fruit pieces ) tuna in light mayo. Key is 2-6 TBS TOTAL per meal and chew chew, chew. You want to work up tp 60 grams of protein or more to heal and 64 oz of fluid to stay hydrated. Week 6 adds well cooked veggies, melon, bananas baked fish, Again CHEW. continue 5 small meals per day. 2-6 TBS per meal. this is just 1 of many suggestions you will get.

I went to a support group meeting that was at a center that does nothing but bariatric surgeries. They have many satified patients. My doctor is at a major hospital in the Oklahoma City area. His diet is very different than the one that the patients at the other hospital use. After making a fool of myself after trying to convince the other patients about bariatric diets, I found out real soon that I needed to shut my mouth and listen to them and let them do the program that their doctor has them use. I will use the one my doctor is giving me. I have some real reservations about getting bariatric surgery in a foreign country and then flying home and trying to get another bariatric surgeon to give you the kind of support that your really need. I just makes me feel a little uneasy and I'm not even doingit. Good luck and get your diet instructions straight before you go under the knife please for your sake.

As long as your bariatric doc is willing to see you, I think you'll do just fine having surgery in Mexico and following up at home with a different doctor. Hundreds of people from this forum do it, including myself! In fact, it's a great thing that you already have that lined up. A lot of people do it later when they realize they need more support or if they start having issues! Mexico surgery certainly isn't for everyone, and I understand that, but you'll do great, especially with the planning you've already done!!

But please please please, stick to the post op diet your surgeon gives you. They plan their procedures on the pre and post op diets they give you, so it's essential to follow the as directed!!

Thank you all for your insight, advice and suggestions. I really appreciate it.