Week 5 Post Bariatric Surgery Instructions

Medically Reviewed by Katelyn J. Mock, US-Registered Dietician (R.D.)

By week 5 post-op, you should include at least 1-2 small servings of non-starchy vegetables each day.

Try some steamed carrots or zucchini with a squeeze of lemon, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.

Dealing with Nausea and Vomiting Post WLS

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects after any bariatric surgery. These are because of the reduced volume of the stomach and patient error i. consuming food.

If you are consistently experiencing nausea and vomiting, here are some tips.

• Remember to slow down while eating. Take no more than 1-2 bites per minute.
• Take dime-sized bites. Chew till the food is a liquid.
• Try sipping half a teaspoon of fluids at a time. Avoid drinking with meals, specifically “gulping” liquids.
• Avoid food that is dry, tough, or overly fibrous.
• Avoid lying down after a meal.
• After having 4-6 bites of a meal, take a 1-2-minute pause to notice how you and your stomach are responding to the food. Repeat this pause after another 4 to 6 bites.

By bringing awareness to these moments and noticing the small sensations going on in your body, you can help prevent excess consumption and limit intake of foods that are simply not “sitting” right in your stomach.

Have you noticed any taste or aroma aversions? Especially to foods or smells you that you used to like?

This displeasure to specific tastes and smells can be fairly common after bariatric surgery and usually improves with time, although some aversions can continue for one to two years, and sometimes even longer.

Avoid “pushing” yourself too hard to have certain foods. Instead, wait until the food sounds “good” to you again and try a small amount to see how your body reacts.

Some other sources of protein are:

• 3 oz firm tofu: 7gm
• 1 tbs. nut butter: 3-4gm
• 1 egg: 7gm
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese: 13gm
• 1oz string cheese: 7gm
• 1/3 cup beans: 4gm