Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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In two weeks, I have to have surgery to have an invasive cyst removed from lower jaw bone. Following the surgery, I will have to have my mouth wired shut for 3-4 weeks while the bone heals. I will have to follow a liquid/soft food diet.

I want to keep as much of the gains I've made on paleo as possible, namely the better blood sugar regulation. I also want to keep as much muscle mass as possible; when I had this surgery last year, I lost a lot of weight, but it wasn't fat that disappeared.

I plan on sipping lots of homemade bone broth and coconut milk after the surgery. I'm also going to be blending some meals of meat & veggies. Any other suggestions for healthy whole foods I can suck down after my surgery??

Bonus is that my family is going to take me to the beach while I recover, so I plan on getting plenty of sun for an extra boost of Vitamin D and also relaxing as much as possible- the surgery will be stressful enough on my body- don't want to overdo it on the cortisol!

Edited to add- what do y'all think about using a digestive enzyme to make sure I'm getting as much as possible from my nutrition as well? I'm 6 weeks into the paleo diet, though I was gluten-free and very whole foods oriented before that, just with a raging sweet tooth. I don't have any overt symptoms of gut pathology, but my mom has two autoimmune diseases, so I started a gluten-free diet prophylatically at the beginning of the year. Since going Paleo haven't noticed any trouble digesting proteins, but sometimes in the mornings, I have trouble with the desire to eat certain proteins, ie. I can stomach bacon & eggs just fine, but sometimes I don't want to eat anything if what I made was some salmon.

edited Sep 2 2011 at 14:27

asked Sep 2 2011 at 13:12

Honey_badger
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I don't recommend it but I did not take any antibiotics when I had gum graft surgery. I figured my immune system should be in the top shape because I do not get flu/colds and my all my cuts heal OK even dirty unsanitary deep cuts. Gums healed OK and I was glad I did not take any. – aaa Sep 2 2011 at 15:22

The Quilt · Answer 1 · 2011-09-02 13:17:46Z UTC

You need to pretreat with Mg CoEnQ10 and glutamine and if i Was you I would start an adaptogen in advance of the surgery. Double your normal Vitamin D dose. And for any bone proceedure I recommend using high dose trans reseveratrol. Make sure post op you drink bone broth every day!!!! And once your jaws are loose you need to add a probiotic for six weeks to counteract the antibiotics they are going to give you. I also would add Vitamin E and C to you regime.

Jules K · Answer 2 · 2011-09-02 13:51:07Z UTC

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Smoothies with pumpkin, coconut milk & egg white protein might be good. I hope everything goes well and you have a wonderful time at the beach :)

answered Sep 2 2011 at 13:51

Jules K
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The Japsican · Answer 3 · 2011-09-02 13:47:31Z UTC

I agree with Mg CoEnQ10, Vitamin D (in absence of sun), and probiotics (especially post-Abx). I'd add that you probably want to go more toward a ketogenic state to reduce infection proliferation. Up the protein a bit. Since you'll be on a liquid diet, protein may be a challenge. This may be a time when supplementation would be good, unless you can handle pureed liquefied meats.

As an aside, in my hospital when I'm working Ortho, many of my patients (some with DM) are placed on an AHA, Low fat, "Consistent Carbohydrate" Diet. It's always higher carb. And all I can do is shake my head and watch as infections happen constantly to those poor souls. It's ridiculous.

Daniel Kirsner · Answer 4 · 2011-09-03 03:49:15Z UTC

You know the drill--lift to the extent possible, 1-1.5 grams of protein/lb bodyweight in divided servings...protein powders or MRPs will obviously be very helpful, if you plan to ingest protein in other forms, whey proteins such as Designer Protein will suffice, if not, favor blends of both "fast" and "slow" proteins such as Met-Rx, http://www.trueprotein.com/Product_Details.aspx?cid=22&pid=70 , or hell, cottage cheese in a blender!

wildthing · Answer 5 · 2011-09-02 14:37:56Z UTC

If you scream and cause enough trouble.....the hospital will send a head of nutrition to your room . When I was in, mine allowed me to make up my own menu. I wrote steak, steamed broccoli on my menu. I would blenderize my steak if I had to. No carbs...none... She argued with me, but I stuck to my guns. My second child was born with a cord wrapped around his neck and breathed in fluid as he was being born. He had to be in an incubator for almost a week till the fluid dissipated. I insisted..NO SUGAR WATER!!...Again..the doctor argued with me, but did not give it to him. I nursed for short bouts of time. He weighed almost 9 pounds when he was born. I nursed and gave him liquid probiotics. ( they had him on antibiotics)

Hack my post-surgery recovery diet

5 Answers