How Soon After Post-Op Were You Able to Eat Meat?

I'm still a bit vague on the whole food issue. My pre-op isn't until tomorrow. I've read posts about clear liquid diets pre-op and some posts about soft, bland food. I looked in the cook-book forum and saw all kinds of stuff that looks good...

But I want to know how soon will I be able to eat meat? I am the ultimate carnivore and soft stuff like pudding and jello is only going to tease me. Clear broth is going to torture me and applesauce is going to insult me. I'm interested. How soon before you could eat chicken or deli meat? I'm not looking to be gnawing on ribs two days after surgery... but this girl's got to have her meat.

Why not 2 days post op? I was put on regular diet day one, just ate light due to preference, for several days. Anesthesia and pain meds might curb your appetite but I had no post op diet restrictions. I think you'll be fine pretty quickly if that's the diet your used to already.

I got nothing to contribute... I'd assume you can eat anything your system can handle, but don't know... but your post made me laugh- love the way you said that, so I had to comment.

i ate whatever i wanted immediately after surgery... didn't have much of an appetite, but had no restrictions...

I know my first meal, maybe two, were liquid/soft diet but after that I had meat with every meal. When I found the food was not appetizing and I wasn't eating, my mom brought me whatever she could think of including Arby's sandwiches and I would eat those. I had no restrictions regarding meat following any surgery I have ever had and never had any issues going right back to a meat diet!

I personally didn't eat meat until a week after the surgery. I decided to stick to soft foods until my system got online. I did chew Gas-X and take stool softeners and this coupled with the soft foods diet really worked. I didn't have any stomach upsets, constipation etc. I ate a lot of scrambled eggs, toast, rice, fruits and veggies, cereal, oatmeal, jello and popsicles. I think it's up to you but that's what worked for me.

Thanks guys. I tend to have lots of digestive trouble to begin with so I really didn't want to risk eating meat before it was safe. Good suggestions Charmane. Thanks for the input ladies.

I haven't eaten meat in 17 years. I think I would end up back in the hospital if I did!! But soy can cause gas and intestinal distress so I may be between a rock and a hard place. I think Dyanne has good thoughts - toast, fruit, cereal - good comfort food.

I'm not knocking meat tho, my DH is a huge carnivore - I guess opposites attract - we've been married 26 years! I would just ask when they give you your discharge papers.

I'm on day 16 and still having BM problems so don't think eating meat would be wise right now. It's better to slowly build up what you can eat and go from there. I'm not a big meat eater to begin with so wouldn't even risk that at this time but if you are you might be ok. I was on clear fluids for 5 days so had to really take it easy after getting back to eating food again. I still don't have much of an appetite back.

Just take it slow...you'll know what your body can handle.

I thought about this last night and have a suggestion. Meat is harder on your digestive system, but if you counteract it with carrots - lots and lots of baby carrots, I bet it'll help it go through more easily.
Without going into detail, let's just say I know from personal experience that the fiber in carrots will clean out your system (without giving you diahrrea) if you eat enough of them, and it's a healthy method, instead of filling your system with laxatives. A regular size bag og baby carrots should do it. I'd eat 'em raw though - I don't know, but I suspect the cooked variety may not be as effective.