Clear Liquids driving me mad...

knitchique · October 9, 2003

Well.. maybe not totally mad, but I am only four dys post-op, and the stomache grumbleing constantly is annoying, and I AM hungry. A bowl of broth leaves me feeling bloated/full (not sure which) but I still have those "sounds" coming from my tummy.

Does anyone have any advice?? I am to be on Clear liquids for two weeks post-op.

-Sigh- I guess I just have to endure this till full liquid stage, then it will be better, and that malt-o-meal will taste like heaven!

Sheryl

nicolekiper · October 12, 2003

Hello, i am a lil confused. I was on Jello and liquids for a week and then was able to introduce pudding and yogurt the 2nd week. then the third week towards the end of the week i was able to eat mashed potatos. i was full on the yogurt. and have had no problems at all. in fact i had my surgery on 8/28 and have lost43 lbs

dezzyntx · October 12, 2003

Dear Sheryl, Are you sure it is Clear Liquids for two weeks? I was able to have anything through a straw from day 1. I would have just died if they would have told me clear liquids for 2 weeks. good luck!

knitchique · October 13, 2003

Yup! Clear for two weeks, I was obsessing about it for so long before my surgery. Actually, it's clear for two, full for one, purees for two, and mashed for ?? But I have to confess...I went out with friends last night, and ordered the Soup, which was so good cuz it wasn't broth, and I ate some of the rice and a tiny bit of chicken, I mean like a teeny tiny bit. It all felt so good and it stayed down!! Today, I had a bit of cheese, and a teeny bit of pastrami. I am feeling guilt though. But my hunger pains are less severe today...thank God!

My doctor's reasoning for the liquids is, they don't want me to throw up. You know and hurt the band, make it slip, and all. I all along thought they were being way conservative on the food issue, cuz they are fairly new to the band. But I am trying to be a good patient, and I will "Comply" to the liquid diet, but a few sneaks may happen. I just hope the guilt wont kill me.

Sheryl

Banded 10/6/03...and down 7 1/2 pounds!!

nicolekiper · October 13, 2003

Hello again,

Well you are only 6 days post op so you can have yogurt and pudding, on top of chicken broth. I lived on it for 2 weeks. stay away from the meats until at least week 4. I eat meat now but waited until my 4th week. I had my one month anniversary on the 28th of september. You don't have to do all liquids for 2 weeks. I had lost 38lbs by the 26th and now am at 43 lbs and this in 6 weeks. i did lots of liquids, but also pudding and slim fast and stuff. you have to make sure you get your protiens in.

donali · October 13, 2003

It would be nice if the docs could agree on this, but one thing is certain regardless of what your doc says - your stomach has gone through major trauma, and has STITCHES in it. It needs time to heal, which is the reason for no solids at first.

When you eat solid food, your stomach (which is a muscle) contracts and works at the food - this motion puts stress on those new stitches, even if you're not feeling any pain. Think of a cut on your knee that needs stitches to close the wound. How fast do you think that's going to heal if you flex your knee 20 times a day?

Just pulling out one of those stitches weakens the band anchoring, and may cause problems years from now.

I would do what I could to stay on liquids for the advised amount of time.

knitchique · October 14, 2003

Thanks for the advice. I am really trying to stick to the liquids. It is hard though, once you find relief from those hunger pains. I go in on thursday for a follow up appointment, and I will be totally honest with the nurse on what I have been eating, I'll probably be chewed out (pardon the pun).

donali...You may have scared me straight!

Sheryl

GingerRenayd2 · October 18, 2003

You know it is really confussing. Every doctor wants a different thing. I had my surgery done in Indiana 10-08 and my Doc says 2 weeks liquid. I CAN NOT DEAL! I have not been too bad. Last night I opened a can of chicken noodle Soup picked out the chicken chunks then ran it in the blender. OH MY GOD!! It was so damn good and after 1/2 of a cup I was fine. The big thing my doc pushes is 75 grams of protien. Which I thought was cool until I got so sick the other day. Turns out I can not have milk products now. Maybe in small amounts. I am 10 days post op today and I thought okay the soup was okay I'm hungry I'm going to eat Breakfast. I fixed 1 ounce of CoCo wheat. I used a baby spoon and took like an hour to eat it but that was 6 hours ago and I'm just now starting to get hungry again. I'm going slow on foods and do not want to hurt my body. Its hard!

Email me if you want to talk more

GINGER

SecretShopGinger@aol.com