From the beginning, I've been getting a different story from the various members of my Bariatric team. Yesterday I had my first post-op visit. I thought it would be the surgeon, but instead it was a nurse. Now, two weeks after surgery they tell me not to twist at the waist as I might get a muscle spasm(yes, thanks - did that the other night in bed), that for the first week after surgery I was to eat 2 tbsp at each meal(Pre-surgery it was 1/4 -1/2 cup), that I should not drink while eating and for an hour after(Pre-surgery it was no liquid 30 min before and 45 min after), no fresh veggies or fruit for 4 months(Pre-sugery it was 5 weeks)

I'm getting so mired in the rules that it's almost easier not to eat!

It does get confusing. There are three doctors merging in the bldg I go to..all three have different approaches..two somewhat close and the third totally different..of course mine being the strictest!! I would say that the water...30 minutes before and 45 to an hour afterwards is probably the closest "rule of thumb" to follow. The reasoning behind this is that you want your solid proteins to stay in your stoma as long as possible to keep you full..the more liquids you have in you you will flush it out and you will become hungry quicker. You will notice that you stay full longer from eating a piece of chicken than you do from drinking a shake..I am a shake lover but I know it is a 3 hour fix..not a 4-5 hour fix.

I eat about 1/4-1/2 cup of food at each meal.

Thanks for the insight. I had 1/2 of egg sub and a 1/4 c of oatmeal fortified with protein so I'll be good to go until mid-late afternoon. I'm losing about a pound every 2-3 days so I must be on the right track.