Post-op Meal Phases

[BigHarleyGuy1 149]

I have heard a lot about the phases of introducing food back after the surgery. It seems to vary per person. Mostly folks are saying 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks pureed, 2 weeks soft, etc.

Can someone break it down in easy to understand terms for me. I have a meeting with the NUT Friday morning and I could ask her. Curious what the folks here have experienced.

Also, wife does the shopping and needs to know what to buy to be prepared for the after. Surgery is still over a month away. I am just trying to get all the info I can.

Thanks.

[jess9395 5,449]

Every doctor has a different plan so it's hard to break it down like that. My doctor progresses on the more rapid size. I had one week of liquids only (full liquids not just clear) then a week of puréed (thicker Soups without chinks, cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta, retried Beans all worked fine too) then a week of soft which was anything I could cut/mash with a fork (soft fish, deli meats, cooked vegetables, eric) then I was cleared to introduce anything and continue as tolerated.

[Willow822 24]

My post-op diet was:

Week 1 clear liquids- sugar free (broth, Jello, popsicles, Fruit drinks, sherbert, Water, Decaf coffee and tea, skim milk, Protein shakes)

Week 2 full liquids- (all the same as above but can add low fat or fat free yogurt and cottage cheese)

Weeks 3 & 4 pureed foods- ( food pureed with liquid to applesauce consistency, can add spices)

Weeks 5 & 6 soft foods - (soft cooked moist meats and veggies, soft fruit, ground lean meat)

After week 6 I can have pretty much anything I can tolerate with the exception of alcohol and salad. I have to wait until 6 months post op to add those things. From what I have learned on here, doctors vary greatly on their post op diets so ask any and all questions so you fully understand yours. I emailed my poor NUT several times a week in the beginning but she was great!

[Bufflehead 6,358]

It really does vary a lot. My plan was:

four weeks full liquids -- Protein Shakes, milk, strained or cream Soups, G2, Powerade Zero, SF popsicles, SF Jello

four weeks purees -- poached or scrambled eggs, various forms of dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese, melted cheese), pureed meats or Beans, nut butters, soft tofu, refried beans -- ONLY high Protein foods, no fruits, vegetables, or grains

four months of soft foods -- food soft enough to cut easily with a fork. No grains, starchy veggies, or sweets permitted.

As you can see from the variety of responses here, you'll need to get detailed information, including lists of permitted and forbidden foods, from your dietician directly. It's really pretty irrelevant what other surgical practices do -- you should only care about your own.