Question:
NEED HELP HAVING SURGERY 9-3 AND CONFUSED
I'M SO LOST RIGHT NOW! SURGERY IS SET SEPTEMBER 3RD AND AFTER SURGERY I FEEL AS IF THERE IS NO STRUCTURE LIKE DO I WEIGH EVERYTHING,MEASURE EVERYTHING,DO I WRITE DOWN ALL TIMES I HAVE EATEN??? I AM VERY FORGETTFUL AT TIMES AND HAVE 3 KIDS SO CAN SOMEONE ENLIGHTEN ME ON WHAT TO DO FROM MORNING TILL NIGHT ABOUT PROTEIN, FOOD ETC...AND HOW TO KEEP TABS WHAT IF I DONT GET IN ALL MY PROTEIN THEN WHAT??? — Marian M. (posted on August 20, 2003)
August 20, 2003
since you'll likely get MANY answers to this questions and they'll vary
greatly in their advice, I'd suggest discussing this with your doc or
nutritionist (the hospital I was at had me meet with one before I left).
Write down your questions so you don't forget them and they'll patiently
wait while you write down the answers to :>) Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
August 20, 2003
First, take a DEEP breath. You will be fine. Don't let the details
overwhelm you. Have you received a bariatric guidebook (including a food
breakdown)from your surgeon? If so, memorize it. In the first two-four
weeks, you really want to begin taking baby steps to re-learning how to use
your tool and eating again. I promise, it is totally different than
before. Just focus on LISTENING to your body. Yes, protein is very very
important, but just be sure to stock up on the many different foods which
provide that AND that you may have at the various stages. Writing down,
measuring, etc. those days should be behind you, at least for awhile.
Embark on this amazing journey by developing a new respect for your body
and treating it well. You can do that by following your surgeon's
direction with respect to acceptable foods, taking the vits, getting
starting with the exercise (a necessary element), and water, water, water.
Several weeks of following this routine, and it'll become like a new habit.
If you'd like specifics on my beginning days, please e-mail.
Relax, the BEST is yet to come!
— Kimberly L. A.
August 20, 2003
Get thee to a nutritionist who is well versed in post op care. I still at
7+ months out see mine once a week and she is a lifesaver! I have found
that being organized and regimented and on a schedule is the only way that
i can totally stay ion track. Also studies show that the posties who take
advantage of professionals lose more quickly and steadily.
— Carol S.
August 20, 2003
Hi,First of all,congrats on your surgery date! Dont worry things will go
smoothly, just remember to follow your doctors directions, because they all
have differant rules. You might buy some sugar free koolaid, and besure to
drink water all day long to stay hydrated, and keep moving, you will heal
faster, and feel much better sooner. My doctor has his patients eat 2oz
every 2 hours always protien first, cottage cheese is a good choice for
protien, and you need to measure but I highly doubt you will be able to eat
that much when you first get home, sf jello,sf pudding, are good also. If
you have a Sams club near you, you can buy a box of 2 oz cups (1200 for
around $6.00) Like you get cheese sauce at a carry out restruant, I have
found these very usefull, and you can also purchase lids too. I have found
a great place to keep tabs of what you eat it is fitday.com I also like
Carbsolutions drinks in the can they have 21g of protien, good luck on your
journey, I hope this helps! :0)
— wizz46
August 20, 2003
This may not be for everyone but for me it worked. My post-op plan never
uses protein drinks so by week 2 I was on real food. At first softer
things but I could really eat just about anything as long as it was
protein. I measured or weighed all my food for about the first month. I
then kept track of what I ate on an excel spreadsheet and totaled the
protein, carbs and fat. For me I needed to learn what a 1 oz or 2 oz, etc.
portion was. I also need to know where I stood with protein intake. It
also forced me to read labels and learn. I do not measure anything anymore
but do occassionally weigh my food just as a check to make sure my portion
sizes are not getting too big. I have a tendency to eat too much shrimp
for a meal, so every once in a while I weigh what I have put on my plate to
see where it is at. Ideally I should be eating 4 ounces total but usually
eat from 3-6 ounces with 4-1/2 to 5 being the norm. For lunch I had 3
string cheese sticks with quite a bit of mild salsa. Total carbs was about
5-6 and 24 grams of protein. I am quite full. Yet I can easily put down
6-7 ounces of shrimp with ketchup. The heavier and denser the foods the
less I eat, but never less than 3 ounces, so that I get in my protein for
the day.
<p>At first the bariatric nurse and surgeon were afraid I'd measure
my food for the rest of my life but I assured them I needed to get a handle
on this and it would not be forever. It's not normal to carry around a
scale or measuring cups everywhere you go and that's what they were afraid
of. I also took my food log with me to appointments to get feedback on
what I was doing, which again helped me a lot. It does not hurt to keep
track of things if for nothing more than to assure yourself that you are
doing what you should be and if not so you can get some help in the lacking
area.
— zoedogcbr
August 20, 2003
Your doctor will give you a set of instructions. I bought some little 1-2
oz cups in the grocery store and brought some home from hospital too. I
would use those. I didn't write anything down but I am lazy and probbaly
should have. At least the dietician yells at me for not doing it. LOL
— snicklefritz
August 20, 2003
Your doc and dietitian will give you lots of info on this, so don't panic.
Each doc seems to have their own protocol, so follow whatever s/he tells
you. I measured everything I ate from day 1 becuase I have no concept of
what one or two ounces of anything is. Portion control was always a
problem for me, and still is. At almost five months out, I still measure
almost everything that I eat at home, or package up to take to work with
me, and struggle with how much is an appropriate serving when I go out.
So, whatever food plan the doc gives you, I do suggest measuring your food,
at least for awhile. Some people get good very early about being able to
accurately estimate an appropriate portion. I cannot. I use regular
measuring cups, mesuring spoons and pre-measured containers (the Glad
washable/disposable containers come in half-cup sizes, and Tupperware makes
a set of 1/4 cup containers). I keep a one-cup measure, and a tablespoon
measure on my counter all the time. It's helped me a lot.
— Vespa R.
August 20, 2003
Do you have any sample menus? I had a couple from my diet classes, and
folowing those really helped. I did write down what I ate for the first
month. I was on pureed food the first 4 weeks, and I could never get in
everything. Don't worry too much about not geting in exactly the right
amount of anything. With a new, tiny, sensitive pouch, the main thing the
first few weeks is to heal. Best of luck!
— koogy
August 20, 2003
Your surgeon should provide you with all this information, including all
diet restrictions, amounts to eat, amounts of protien, water, etc you need
each day. Your diet should advance in stages, and it is a must that you
follow it. Please call your surgeon's office and ask them for this,
althought i am sure they will provide it for you at your pre-op visit
(that's when I got mine). I was on clear liquids for a week, then on to
soft protiens. I was never told to measure, just to eat until satisfied
(not full) and stop. At first you may not know what it feels like to be
full, but as you begin to eat more solid food, you will definately know.
— Happy I.
August 20, 2003
Don't panic at first. Your new stomach is healing and you won't be able to
eat or drink much. If you find yourself not able to eat at all without
getting sick, think about trying a clear liquid menu for a week and then
move on to a full liquid menu. I think it can be a big mistake sometimes
to move too fast with the general diet. Some people do just fine right off
the bat. Listen to your body. Good luck to you.
— Ginger M.
Click Here to Return