I had my 2nd appt. with the nutritionist and asked her about liquid proteins etc. She said starting week 2 it protein form normal sources, even chicken as long as you chew it up well. From what I have read most people seem to be on soft foods for 4-6 weeks. Is that the norm? My other question -- after surgery (months later/long term) can you take an advil? I thought I read something about after Bypass surgery that you couldn't take it. What do I do in 20 years if I have arthritis?

That is very unusual. My doc is pretty liberal about the food plan (no liver shrink diet, just lose some weight and clears 2 days before) and you are allowed yogurt and ricotta cheese after 5 days during full liquids, but considering how hard it is for me to get down a few spoons of yogurt, I would never attempt chicken by 2 weeks. Bean puree maybe, but not chicken. This is one time I would not follow professional advice to the letter. I would go very, very slowly so that you don't make yourself sick, especially with animal proteins like chicken.

I started softs at 2 weeks post op.

Yeah, I was cleared to start on soft foods 10 days after my surgery. I started with easier stuff like yogurt and cottage cheese and refried beans -- chicken wasn't for a couple of weeks, for me, and I started with chicken cooked in a crockpot with barbecue sauce, pulled apart with a fork like pulled pork -- but it was fine. I tried a new food almost every day and worked my way through the list without much trouble.

I was on that until almost the 6 week mark (so, 4.5 weeks on soft foods), and now I'm allowed to try anything I want (except for rice, pasta, or alcohol, anyway). I haven't tried any raw veggies (besides a little lettuce) or steak or anything I know is super hard. But I've had grilled chicken and hamburger patties without problems, and I'm not 7 weeks out yet.

The other thing they told me was, if something does settle wrong, and you throw up: give yourself a day of only liquids, to rest your stomach.

Edited November 16, 20187 yr by CrankyMagpie

Hi, new to the forum. I had my surgery 10/17/18 and was on liquids (3 protein shakes and water with broth, SF popecycles and SF Jello for snakes) week one with soft foods for the next 3 weeks then reg food starting week 5. Soft food consisted of seafood (fish, crab, etc), soft cooked veggies (but no asparagus yet), and the usual sliders. Pureed stage was only for Bypass patients. I ate all the above with no issues. Down 30lbs as of this morning. I'd advise to follow your program but listen to your body. As they advised, if u try something that doesn't work initially then stop and reintroduce the food a couple weeks later.

Oops, forgot to mention....Soft food also included grounded meats ( think hamburger, sausage), and chicken. However, I add beef and chicken from meals in the Instant Pot. Also, no liquid pre-op diet except for clears the day before surgery. Pre-op liquids was only for patients with a BMI >50.

Ate...not add

At two weeks I changed from liquids to puréed (and at four weeks on to minced and mashed). Meat had to be puréed.

I have a BMI of 39 and I have to do 8 days of liquids pre-op. Very interesting what each doctor prefers!