6 week post TG - meal plan?

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Hi all, I'll be 6 weeks post TG on Thursday (4 Sep) and doing reasonably well.

Im getting frustrated and anxious about how I'm able to fit in enough calories throughout the day. It's frustrating and I can't see how I'm ever going to be able to live a normal life having to eat every 2-3 hours.

Has anyone any advice? Im thinking of creating a meal plan so at least I have an idea what times I need to eat or snack. Hopefully this will help reduce my anxiety about losing too much weight.

Im still not sure how we're supposed to live our lives when chained to such a plan. Im hoping to return to my full time career sooner rather than later but scared im never going to be able to get back to where I was professionally and socially.

Also upsetting that my partner and I can no longer enjoy eating together.

Any positive stories and or advice would be really helpful right now

Jacquiw10 21 days ago

Hi I found it much easier after six weeks as I could gradually introduce new foods rather than the soft diet. I also counted calories using an App as that helped me know if I was eating enough calories. The opposite of trying to lose weight! I added cream to potatoes and full fat yoghurt to breakfast often having porridge! I never ate that before! I didn’t suffer from dumping syndrome which helped!

You will be able to eat out! Sometimes I share a starter with my husband and then have a main course. Eating out was an important part of our life so I just went to places I knew and planned what I was going to eat! I now eat out as before!

You will get there!

Jac

Life is what happens when you are making other plans!

Blueeyes24 21 days ago in reply to Jacquiw10

That's reassuring to hear. Thanks Jac

Did you lose much weight during this time and have you been able to put any back on if so?

Jacquiw10 21 days ago in reply to Blueeyes24

Yes I lost weight before diagnosis and during treatment. I always watched my weight before I was diagnosed but wasn’t overweight.
It took about two months after surgery to start putting weight on and I did worry about it.
That’s why I started measuring calories and used my Fitbit at the time to track. It stopped me panicking! I just focused on eating high calories and high protein foods. All the things I had spent my life cutting down.. cheese, full fat milk, yoghurt, avocados with eggs was a regular lunch! You might need to watch dairy products in case it causes dumping.
I went out for coffee and pastries with my husband in the morning or afternoon! I didn’t drink water during a meal but had some afterwards.
It does feel as if all you do is eat and drink! But it gets easier as your new plumbing adjusts!

Jac

Life is what happens when you are making other plans!

Blueeyes24 20 days ago in reply to Jacquiw10

Thank you Jac x

justawife 19 days ago

Of course you need a meal plan now! Don’t worry about “chained to it”, things will change every month. Probably even every week at your early stage.

Here is an example plan I copied from one of the leaflets we were given post-op. Ignore the supplements column.

Time	Food	Fluids	Supplements
7:00 am	None	½ cup decaf tea with protein (milk, milk substitute and/or protein powder)	None
8:15 am	1 scrambled egg with cheese (prepared in oil) ½ slice wheat toast, topped with oil spread, margarine or butter	None	None
9:30 am	2 oz. cheese and 1 slice avocado on ½ tortilla ½ cup canned fruit in water	None	Calcium citrate 500mg
10:45 am	None	1+ cup water or sugar-free drink (sip slowly over 30+ minutes)	None
12:00 pm	½ cup tuna fish made with added fat (avocado, mayonnaise and/or hummus) on 1 slice wheat bread	None	Bariatric multivitamin
1:15 pm	None	1+ cup low-sugar, high protein drink	None
2:30 pm	¾ cup unsweetened Greek yogurt topped with unsweetened apple sauce	None	Calcium citrate 500mg
3:45 pm	None	1+ cup homemade protein drink made with milk, allowed fruit(s), unsweetened nut butter and/or protein powder	None
5:00 pm	2 oz. grilled fish ½ cup cooked carrots (cooked in oil) ¼ cup rice made with oil, margarine or butter	None	Calcium citrate 500mg
6:15 pm	None	1+ cup water or unsweetened fluid (sip slowly over 30+ minutes)	None
7:30 pm	None	1+ cup low-sugar, protein drink	None
8:45 pm	½ cup cottage cheese	None	None

justawife 19 days ago

Some more links I found useful:

Diet and Nutrition After Gastrectomy: Your Plan | Center for Cancer Research

Dietary advice following a gastrectomy

https://opa.org.uk/opa-a-guide-to-life-after-oesophageal-gastric-surgery/

https://breakthroughcancerresearch.ie/cancer-diet/

My husband had his operation in July 2024 and we definitely enjoyed some meals together since. Even done street food tours in couple of cities - great for him, as the food is consumed in small portions over 3-4 hours.

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