Doctors Recommendations Post-Surgery Diet

Thank you so much !!!!

Thanks jacquilove77 - I'm also going to copy & paste this into a word doc - it's more comprehensive than the info I received.

My first post-op appointment with the dietician is not until 4 weeks post surgery - (2 weeks to go) but this info will keep me going until then! :)

bump for me...

**bump for Glenn**

I think this one needs to be a sticky :)

Its got such great info we dont want to lose it

bump
This thread is awesome

Hi,
Thanks for that, I am learning but very slowly.

I am just trying to find somewhere to put a question on the post op page, slowly but surely step by step LOL

In this case, it means adding a comment so the thread shows when you do a "Posts since last visit" search.

Hi,
Thanks heaps for the info, 6 days post op and I think that it will be really useful.
I have pasted it all so that I can print it out and take to work to read.

For the pretty illiterate computer person what does "bumped" mean
Thanks Gail.

This is very helpful am gonna bump it again so I can use it post op!!

This is very helpful :)

thanks!

i have bumped this thread up. some great info for newbies and 2bies.

as Chris mentioned, its good to compare

awesome - i'd love to be where you are eight months from now in terms of weight loss and food intake!

Nearly 8 months out now :)

applesauce

that's good applesauce - sounds like you're pretty much spot on then - how far post-op are you? i know i've read it somewhere but not sure where.

That's great. Thanks Jacquilove.

Interesting..........

I would do.....

bread ceral........
1 serve 4 times a week the rest of the week none.

vegtables.........
at least 2 serves every day usally 3 or more

fruit........

1 serve 3 or 4 times a week slack here but will be better in summer

dairy.......
2 serves every day

protien.........

2-3 serves every day

Thanks very much for that, Jacqui. It's good to compare.
Chris

Recommended Post Surgery Dietary Intake
Aim to achieve this intake 3 months after surgery.

Bread/cereals
Min.2 serves/day

ONE SERVE IS:
1/2 cup cereal, or
1 slice bread, or
2 medium crackers, or
1/2 cup rice/pasta

Important for fibre
Use wholegrain or wholemeal
Good source of B group vitamins

Vegetables
1-2 serves/day

ONE SERVE IS:
1/2 cup cooked
1 cup salad
1 medium potato

Steam for best retention of nutrition
Good source of fibre, vitamin A
Include a variety of different colours

Fruit
Min 1 serve/day

ONE SERVE IS:
1 medium piece
1/2 cup diced
1 tablespoon dried

Fresh is best but utilise tinned in natural juice or dried
Good source of fibre, Vitamins A&C


Dairy
Min 2 serve/day

ONE SERVE IS:
250mls skim milk
200g low fat yoghurt
60g low fat cottage/ricotta
20g low fat cheese

Keep to daily limit
Always use skim or lowest fat
Important source of calcium
Seek dietary advice if intake is inadequate

Protein
Min 2 serve/day

ONE SERVE IS:
30-45g lean meat
30-45g lean chicken
60g fish
1 egg
1/2 cup legumes

Important source of zinc and iron
Always trim fat and skin and use low fat cooking methods
Use a variety during your week

Tips for Managing Nausea
In the early stages of the texture progression, you can experience some nausea. Try the following to prevent or reduce the severity:
Don't take your medications all at once if possible
Avoid becoming too hungry. Even if you don't feel hungry, it is important to achieve at least the minimum recommended food intake.
Avoid over filling yourself by eating slowly and have 6 small meals rather than 3 full meals.
Take Supradyn (a liquid multivitamin) instead of capsules - wait for the fizz to stop.
Avoid spicy or strong smelling foods.
Avoid citrus fruit/ juice.
Have your beverages very cold.
Suck on some ice cubes.

Tips for Managing Diarrhoea and Constipation
After surgery, changes in your eating habits and food choices can cause constipation. Because there is less "bulk" due to a reduction in the amount of food eaten post-surgery, this can reduce the number of bowel movements you have. This is expected, however, because the food is in you large bowel for longer, it can 'dry out' making it more difficult to go to the toilet. If this is the case for you, try the following:

Aim to have at least one piece of fruit and 1-2 serves of vegetables per day
Choose whole grain carbohydrates
Aim to get through at least 2x600ml bottles of water per day by sipping regularly
Take a soluble fibre supplement per day such as psyllium husk, Fibogel, Benefibre or Metamucil every day. This will make it softer and easier to pass (need water to work)
Try to have a brisk walk most days.

General Guidelines for Healthy Eating
Aim to include a high protein food in at least two of your meals for the day
Eat the majority of the high protein foods on your plate before consuming the low protein foods.
If managing less than half a cup full of food at meal time, eat at least 5-6 smaller meals per day or continue to utilise nourishing/ high protein drinks between meals until your volume increases.
Remember, your progression through the textures will vary depending on your individual recovery from surgery. There is no gold standards, it's important to progress as you feel ready and comfortable.
It is recommended that you take a multivitamin supplement twice a day to help you achieve the Recommended Dietary Intake of nutrients.
You may need to watch your iron and calcium levels, and consider a supplement.

to be continued...

**NOTE** You should obtain your own doctor's advice on these matters - this is provided as an information tool only, but please discuss your individual requirements with your doctor

Transition Diet Stages

Stage 1
High Protein
-Eggs: scrambled, soft poached
-Fish: soft flesh, steamed, poached, tinned
-Legumes: lentils, fork mashed baked beans, kidney beans etc
-Dairy based drinks, puddings, custards

Low Protein
-Cooked breakfast cereals
-Soft cereals eg mushy weetbix
-Mashed vegetables
-Chunky vegetable soups
-Tinned/stewed fruits

Stage 2
High Protein
-Minced meats (incl sauce)
-Any fish and soft seafood eg.prawns, crab
-Mornay - fish/tuna/vegetable
-Legumes: lentils, baked beans etc
-Dairy based drinks, puddings, custards

Low Protein
-Pasta/rice with sauces
-Most cereals except those containing nuts/dried fruits
-Well cooked vegetables
-Soft fruit eg. banana, melons, berries

Stage 3
High Protein
-casserole/curried meats/chicken
-Processed meats eg lean ham, beef, chicken

Low Protein
-Most pasta/rice dishes
-Steamed/stir friend vegetables
-Most cereals
-Most fruits: may need to peel apples, pears etc
-Bread/crackers

Stage 4
High Protein
-Grilled/BBQ meat/chicken
-Roasted meats
-Nuts/seeds

Low Protein
-Salad and raw vegetables
-All fruit including dried and non-peeled
-All types of bread/cereal/crackers

to be continued...

Two weeks after surgery - following your post surgery liquid diet after you have been reviewed by your surgeon and/or the dietician, you should be able to commence the Transition Diet that will progress you back to normal food textures and diet. Commence the diet at Stage 1 and maintain this stage for 3-4 days without any adverse symptoms before you progress to Stage 2. Then you simply repeat this process through each of the stages until you reach the Final Stage of Normal Diet.

If you experience any adverse symptoms during this transition process, you should avoid any of the new textures that you have introduced, and return to foods of the texture you were previously tolerating. Maintain this stage for another 3-4 days, before attempting to progress to the next stage [I likened this to snakes and ladders... if you're struggling, go backwards for a while before progressing forward again].

Adverse symptoms may include:

• Vomiting or regurgitation of food

• Pain or discomfort on or after eating

• Severe reflux or indigestion

• Nausea

The purpose of the Transition Diet is to allow you to adjust to the restrictions of your procedure and to develop appropriate eating and drinking behaviours that will assist you in tolerating normal diet without adverse side effects.

Some of the key behaviours to learn during this Transition are:

• Eating slowly

• Cutting food into small pieces

• Chewing each small portion of food thoroughly to achieve a mushy consistency in your mouth

• Avoiding drinking 30 minutes prior to and after eating

• Sipping liquids slowly and regularly between meals

to be continued...

Ok I'm going to post parts of the doctor's recommendation for post-surgery diet (have paraphrased a little) - this is after the full liquids stage - ie about two weeks after surgery once the doctor has given the go ahead. You guys might want to compare your own information, maybe get a bit extra, or post what your doctor said.

General

• As you increase the texture of foods, remember to eat slowly and chew all foods thoroughly - at least 25 times before swallowing

• An increase in the texture of your food may result in a reduction of the quantity of food it takes to feel full, so avoild overeating

• Make sure all food eaten is of good nutritional quality. Once your diet is back to normal textures (this will usually be somewhere between 6-8 weeks up to 3 months after your surgery) ensure you are getting the recommended serves per day of each food group

• Meals should be nutritionally balanced, low in fat and refined carbohydrates. Choose lean protein foods first, then fruits/vegetables, then wholegrains.

• Revise your golden rules particularly in relation to your consumption of liquids. Remember, regular sipping in between meals of calorie free liquids to a minimum of 6 cups per day.

to be continued....