I was wondering what kinds of foods people have been having trouble eating after surgery. Also how long did people need to wait until after surgery to start eating raw fruits and veggies. Like salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, strawberries, melons... This time of year in Ohio fresh produce is fantastic and I am dying for some salad and fresh fruits.

I'm 2 months post op now and have experimented with a little tomato with my meat or a piece of lettuce and have had no problem. But I would love a salad or snack on some fruit. Could I get some advice on different foods to help my cravings? My nut said I really shouldn't try any raw fruits (except bananas) and veggies until I'm 3 months out.

I'm 8 months post-op, and my post-op eating schedule ended after 8 weeks - except they said no alcohol or tough meat like steak for 6 months. So that meant I could have raw fruits at your point, maybe a week after. I haven't run into anything that I can't tolerate. Dry meats, like chicken breast, can still feel like a rock going down. Depends on how it's cooked. I stay away from anything tough. Probably a forever thing.

The only thing that's made me feel sick and like I really wanted to throw-up (I haven't thrown up/can't) was spinach and artichoke dip on bagel crackers. I ate it over enthusiastically... Too much too fast, and it was so painful. I did that to myself two days in a row, and I won't make it again. That's a me problem though, not the food.

So far the only food that bothered me was corn . I can eat roast but not a lot . I haven't tried bread or steak. I'm 4 months out. I lose more weight when I eat seafood .

I lose more weight when I eat seafood .

Thanks for reminding me! I should've mentioned that I mostly have seafood. It's the easiest for me. Baked salmon, canned tuna, shrimp, crab, etc.

I was told to wait three months to eat raw fruits and veggies, so I did. Just added them back into my diet, have so far eaten two salads. The first time, I had some stomach cramping after, but I also had my period, so the salad may have had nothing to do with it. The second time was a few days ago, and it went fine. I've never been a big fruit person, so I haven't tried any raw fruits. Figure I don't really need the carbs anyway.

One thing I have found that I don't tolerate is spicy foods, and it's driving me crazy! I love spicy food! It makes me so sad... I got a burrito bowl from Chipotle last night. Normally I would drench it in hot sauce, last night I just put a few drops in it, and it still was a little too much. I ate it, but was a little uncomfortable after.

Other than that, randomly I've thrown up the last two times I've tried to eat tuna salad. So that's off my list for awhile. And any Protein that's too dry tends to not go well. Better if it's served with a sauce that I can wet it with a little.

I haven't had anything that I couldn't eat. Including steak. I am 3 1/2 months post op. Although I can ....I choose not to eat certain things or at least have them in moderation! Heck I have even had a soft serve ice cream cone ... Well I had about 10 licks and gave the rest to the dogs! Hahaha

Edited August 7, 201411 yr by Nicey2u

At my three month appointment, my doc said, "no restrictions"...My body says something different.

I'm almost 9 months out and still have problems with lettuce - I can eat about 1/4 cup of finely (very finely) chopped romaine lettuce. I can have strawberries or blueberries in my shakes with no issues. I'm OK with some cooked veggies, but raw is hit or miss - some days I might be able to eat some carrot or tomato and another day, I can't.

This time of year cherries are a local favorite...I ate 10 cherries the other day and was in excruciating pain. I can have one or two at a time, that's it.

i have had no problems with any food that i've tried. the only things i haven't had yet are tough meats (steak, roast) and 'raw' breads (untoasted, non-crunchy bread things) and no raw cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower,etc).

everything sits great and no issues at all. i'm really watching my portions of everything i try. doing good, at 6 wks out down almost 40#...

My doctor said I could have pretty much whatever I wanted at 2 months, so I did that, just in very small bites. As long as you chew it well, it should be fine to have small servings. Also, eating only a few bites will help you gauge if anything makes you feel sick. I fortunately don't have an issue with most things when I eat slowly, but for some reason salmon no longer sits very well, bread doesn't always work out well, and pretty much all sugar makes me sweating, heaving, panting sick with just a few bites. I'm almost exactly 11 months out, so over time you'll learn what works and doesn't work for you.

Good luck!

I was cleared for whole foods at 4 1/2 weeks, but waited until two months to try some things. I could have chili from the start, and even salsa, but if I eat a fresh tomato, I have to peel the skin off. I can eat broccoli, but cauliflower left me in miserable discomfort for over four hours. I have not tried it since.

I can pretty much eat any kind of meat I want, so long as it is moist. Fish is hard for me to get past the taste buds, and I used to be a tuna salad freak.....loved the stuff. Filets have to be very moist. I have not even tried corn yet (8 months out) just because of the carbs.

Cherries and berries are no problem, but I really have to watch quantity. sugar free Jello has to be my fruit substitute most of the time. I love watermelon, but it does not love me so much...I get bloated. Just today I had a cucumber/tomato/onion salad with my lunch, but no lettuce. I have tried fresh spinach, endive, iceberg, no happiness there it will be a long time before I try them again.

Last night I had a very low blood sugar (insulin reaction--I am diabetic) I didn't have any glucose on hand, so I drank 8 oz. of apple juice. WHOA! I barely made it to the bathroom. It zoomed through the sleeve and came out without hesitation. Won't do that again!

I had some cooked meat with bbq sauce yesterday. It did not agree with me. Stomach rumbles, lots of gas and the bathroom was a good friend today. For me, when I have problems, those are the problems I develop. Rarely do I get stomach cramps or pain. When I do, I stop. I've tried some things with sugar, but it seems to be too sweet. I now LOVE my stevia.

I wasn't allowed raw veggies until six months after surgery. Fruit I could have only if it was something I could cut easily with a fork. So a ripe banana, yes, a raw apple, no.

I haven't had any food intolerances.

I'm about 4 months and I do pretty well with chicken and hamburger but oddly tofu gives me that stuck pain and takes s a while to pass. No restrictions after 8 week check up.