How to Feed After Tube Stomach Surgery?

Congratulations! You've left the hard part behind at the start of a new life. Your surgery was completed successfully, you do not have any complaints, all your findings are normal… Well, let's move on to the next stage.

“What am I going to eat and drink now? How am I supposed to eat from now on?” We came to the part.

In this process, it is very important to take enough fluid and protein to recover quickly. The daily protein target should be 60-80 grams after sleeve gastrectomy, also known as Tube Stomach surgery. Since it will be difficult to reach these amounts at first, we often get support from protein supplements in powder form. Likewise, it is important to use regular multivitamin supplements due to increased vitamin-mineral needs with a restricted diet after surgery.

We have a phased diet protocol of approximately 1 month after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. We can roughly classify our feeding stages as clear liquids, thick liquids, purees, soft solids and transition to normal nutrition.

If we detail these stages a little more;

1. The clear fluid period begins in the hospital on the second day after surgery. We expect you to be able to take about 30 cc of liquid per hour in small sips. Water, clear tea, linden, chamomile, etc. herbal teas, prepared with vegetables and filtered-grain-free meat/chicken juice, grain-free-sugar-free compotes, grain-free-pulp-free apple juice, cherry juice, grape juice… are among the preferred liquids in this period. The liquids you drink should be at room temperature.

2. Full liquid period: we continue liquid nutrition after discharge from the hospital. We do not expect any meal order from you during this period. We want you to drink 1 tea glass of water and liquid slowly every hour. Make sure your drinks are not too hot or too cold. Yes, you will encounter a program that is a little out of your habits at first. But don't worry, we will get through this period in the blink of an eye and your diet will become a little more enjoyable. ???? At this stage, you can choose extra liquids; Ayran, kefir, lactose-free yogurt, lactose-free milk, high-protein milks, vegetable milks, protein drinks, blenderized soups, meat/ chicken/ vegetable juices, sugar-free-grain-free compotes and compotes that you prepare yourself…

3. You can switch to the puree period as of the 3rd week after the surgery. In this period, we are now starting to create a meal order. You need to eat at least 5-6 times a day with main and snack meals. Meal contents; Soft-boiled or boiled egg white, soft spreadable cheeses, lactose-free milk, yoghurt (without cream), potato/ zucchini/ carrot puree, etc., vegetable dishes with minced meat (blendered), banana smashed with a fork, sugar-free applesauce, fruit purees in a blender, sugar-free smoothies, sugar-free pudding, etc. way it could be. With this process, a new habit enters our lives. We do not consume any liquid 30 minutes before and after the main meals. In the future, it will be very important to pay attention to this rule in order to get enough nutrition.

4. In the first month of the operation, you can now transition to soft solids. In this period, we can choose boiled/scrambled eggs, omelet with milk/cheese, non-fat/ low-fat cheese varieties, low-fat/skimmed milk, yogurt, well-cooked/boiled vegetables, juicy dishes with minced meat, steamed fish, skinless fruits. Afterwards, you can increase your food variety by observing yourself week by week. You will experience the feeling of fullness more clearly with solid foods. Eating fast and chewing less by getting into your old habits will fill your stomach capacity very quickly and may cause you to experience post-meal pain, cramps and bloating. Therefore, when you switch to normal nutrition, as we always say, you need to consume foods by chewing slowly and well. Snacking behavior can cause you to experience nutritional disorders in the future. Remember, you should sit at the table for a minimum of 25-30 minutes during your main meals!

Gastric sleeve surgery is not a procedure that will require you to diet for a lifetime. The main point here is to gain the habit of healthy eating in the long term and to reach the competence to sustain it.

There are a few basic points that we want you to pay particular attention to when you switch to a completely normal diet; The first is to always be mindful of your protein intake. You should definitely have a protein source food in your every meal and you should start your meals with these protein-containing foods. Secondly, you should make a habit of eating slowly by chewing all the food you eat very well. Another point is that tea, coffee, water etc. If you have a habit of consuming liquid, you should stop it and follow this rule, which we call solid-liquid separation in main meals. This is one of the most important rules in order not to increase your stomach volume in the long run. The more you pay attention to this rule, the more you will protect the effect of the surgery.

The good news is that each individual's metabolic rate and the amount of weight they need to lose are different, but after this surgery, people usually reach their ideal weight within 6 months - 1 year! Of course, it is of great importance in your weight loss process that you come to the controls on the dates you will be told. As long as you come for regular checkups and have your routine tests done, we do not encounter any serious problems. In the future, you can plan your daily diet together with your dietitian and maintain it in harmony with your lifestyle. You are never alone in this process and you can always contact us if you have any questions or problems.

Healthy days…