9 weeks out- struggling, help

Hello, I had my GBS on May 12th and I have really been struggling. I have had a really tough time with solids, still just having soup and Isopure protein drinks...yogurt and I can tolerate Bretton minis crackers which i dip in Tzaki or peanutbutter. Got really sick from eggs, dry toast, cold cuts, soggy cereal tuna and egg salad, and some other things I cant think of. I am so afraid to try anything new now. What is everyone else eating and tolerating- although I know its so different for everyone. I called my doctor this week after a particularly bad episode, horrible chest pain, and couldnt catch my breathe 3 hours after eating 2 bites of scrambled egg and 2 bites of toast. He wanted me to go to the ER but I threw up shortly after they called so I didnt go. Could I have a stricture? I dont know what to try next or what to do. I have lost 55 pounds including post op but I am struggling to get in 500 cals a day, cant tolerate any protein shakes, only Isopure clear, and feeling really depressed about having the surgery. Overall I feel pretty good and can't believe I have the energy to get through each day based on what i am getting down. Is this normal at 9 weeks out- am I just taking longer to heal? What should I try to eat next? I am so afraid to eat meat and have heard all the horrors about pasta, rice, bread, chicken. I cant believe all the people who are so happy they had it and seem to be eating so many things. Is something wrong with me? Anyone have any of these experiences or any advice I could really use it. Thanks all! Deb in Boston

hi Deb, I am seven weeks out. I am having some food issues. My pouch is very grumpy lately. Things that I could eat a week ago are no longer tolerated. Items that I have no problems with are shrimp, crab, salmon, hot dogs, protein shakes, soup, cottage cheese, solid cheese. I did eat some steak tips, cut into miniscule bites a week ago that went down fine, but I wouldn't date try them this week. I even have problems with water. I have added Totally Light Berry Pomengranate to my water and try to remember to sip slowly. It goes down better. I know, however, that this is the best thing that I have ever done! I left the hospital no longer on diabetes and high blood pressure medicines. We are having an outing in Waltham on July 27th. Why don't you come there and meet the others and they can give you some ideas. Read about it on the Massachusetts forum. This will be our second outing. Jayne

Don't feel bad I only do one shake a day and maybe two bites of egg and thats all I can do on a good day.Sometimes I get sick from the isopure shake (choc).And I have nothing all day.I have lost 50 pounds since surgery. I have a dr appt Monday to address these issues. So I will let you know how it goes.By the way I had the gastric bypass on May 14th.So your not alone. Tammy

Tammy how are you and what did your doc say? I have had a few more bad episodes and plan to call my doc tomorrow to get an appt. Its been rough. Hope you are feeling better. Deb

Hi Deb...I hate that you're feeling depressed about having your surgery, especially at 9 wks. out...you should be enjoying life again! But I totally understand your food issues. I'm nearly 18 months out from RNY and still cannot eat eggs, pasta, or tuna....they're just no longer part of my diet. I don't do so well with dry cereals either. Have you tried instant oatmeal? I hated oatmeal before surgery, wouldn't touch the stuff...now I have a bowl almost every morning. I use the Weight Control instant oatmeal...the cinnamon and banana bread are good. You can also add in a tablespoon or so of vanilla protein powder to your oatmeal without it changing the taste. I don't do protein shakes either, never could tolerate them. I drink 1-2 glasses of chocolate milk every day....8oz. fat free milk and a couple squirts of sugar free chocolate syrup mixed together is very good. The milk will add to your protein and fluid totals for the day, not to mention extra calcium. I would make sure that any meat you eat is very moist, make a sauce if you have to so you'll have something to dip it in...a little ketchup or bbq sauce works good to. I have no problems with lean beef, chicken, or turkey. Try making some homemade chili....lean ground beef (as lean as you can find), a can of light kidney beans (or any bean you prefer), a can of sliced stewed tomatoes (you can use diced if you want), some chili seasoning and that's it. If you have a food processor or small food chopper you can grind up the beef after its cooked to make it super fine, then just add in the other ingredients and let it cook. I add in some yellow mustard to mine for extra taste and a dollop of light sour cream. You can also use chicken or turkey for your chili as well, it doesn't have to be beef. I do encourage you to try meats, they'll be your best source of protein the further out you get and you won't have to depend on protein supplements as much. Take it slow, try one thing at a time and make sure the meat is moist and you take small bites and chew it to death. If you'd like some other examples of what I eat feel free to PM me...I'll go back to my food journal to see what I was eating at 9-10wks. out from surgery. The horrible pain in your chest was most likely due to either not chewing the food well enough or too big of a bite...I remember it all too well and throwing it up was/is the only way to get relief. You won't do it too many more times before you learn your lesson, I finally have Hang in there, it will get easier and better and I'm glad to help in any way I can. Hope this did help you some, good luck to you! Denise Garcia

Hi Denise! Thanks so much for taking the time to give me some advice- it was very helpful indeed. I am doing better this week thank goodness. I guess the egg intolerance is pretty common and it just hit me hard. I was able to eat some crispy bacon this morning and tilapia for dinner. I definitely want to try chili next and your recipe sounds perfect. Do you think I should go for the lean beef, turkey or chicken first? Not just in the chili but in general? The chocolate milk suggestion is also great- I would not have thought of that. I am sure sick of Ispopure! Any other ideas you have for this time frame would be great. Oh I did try the oatmeal at 5 weeks but it didnt agree- I should give it a try again. It was really heavy at the time and I could only have a bite or 2. What is your experience like now 18 months out? Do you eat pretty normally- still feel full fast- and have you had any alcohol? That sounds like a silly questions but I do miss the ocassional glass of wine! It's way too early for that but I am just curious. Thanks again for your reply and congrats to you on your success! Best, Deb Cote

Hi Deb, Do I eat normally? Hmm...I'm not sure what normal is anymore! I sure don't eat like I did before surgery. I guess I eat pretty normal. A typical day for me would go something like this: WAKE UP--8oz. chocolate milk BREAKFAST--1 packet of oatmeal with a little protein powder mixed in SNACK--1oz. beef jerky LUNCH--1 cup homemade chili OR 1 chicken sausage link with 1/2 cup mashed sweet potato SNACK--1oz. beef jerky OR protein bar DINNER--same as lunch usually SNACK--1oz. 2% cheese with about 4-6 reduced fat Ritz crackers BEFORE BED--8oz. chocolate milk I pretty much eat the same things every day, but I do vary it occasionally. I go out to eat with my family maybe once a week or every two weeks, usually mexican and I almost always get something with chicken in it. Tonight we might have Chinese. I eat pizza about once every two weeks. I can tolerate most things, but I do have my limits on fat and sugar. I enjoy a chocolate chip cookie every once in a while. I believe in "moderation" for most things. Lets face it, are we going to go through the rest of our lives never eating another cookie, or handful of potato chips, or birthday cake? Not likely, as least not for me. You just have to learn your limits and don't make them an everyday habit, just as a treat occasionally. BUT not at 9wks....wait until you're closer to goal and stabilize a little, then you'll be able to see what you can eat/not eat and still maintain. Its a learning game that will probably never end. As far as feeling full goes, if I eat until I feel full then I've over-eaten and stuffed my little pouch. I can eyeball portion sizes now and I stick to that, I can really feel those extra couple of bites. Once you get to your max volume of food, probably about a cup at a time, you'll stay with that for life if you're smart...I don't try to eat more so I don't know if I can or not, don't want to know, I'm satisfied with the 1 cup. Should you try lean beef, chicken, or turkey first? I'd say whichever you prefer. At 9 wks. I was eating homemade meatballs made with lean ground beef and tolerated it just fine...I would add a little 2% shredded cheese melted on top and dip them in some low carb ketchup or a little may0/mustard mixed up together...sounds weird but it tasted good! Whatever you try make sure its moist or you pair it with some kind of sauce, take small bites, and chew well...you should be fine. If it doesn't settle well, don't give up on it forever...leave it for a couple of weeks then try it again. I haven't had any alcohol, but then I'm not a drinker so can't help you there. Hope this helps you some, good luck! Denise

Hello Deb, I also had surgery on May 12, 2008 which was the day before my birthday. We are at the same place with our weight loss. I can tolerate very little. I eat eggs with cheese cooked in milk, I eat yogurt, I made a soup with Beef Broth, and english peas, green beans today. I had to try something. I can eat Mandarin oranges in its on juices ( No Sugar Added), I eat pears in the can (no Sugar Added), I eat Ice cream with no sugar added, I eat frozen pop scilces. But nothing much outside this. I tried to eat tuna, chicken, beans, fish-nothing worked. I also can eat mashed potatoes with gravy from KFC. I have lost 60 LBS and have had the fear that this is all I am going to loose. The protein was making me sick, I got back on today. I am going to take my trendmill up to an hour per day this week. Hang in there, I think we are just going through a short period of time. Please keep in touch Pam

Hi Pam thanks for your note...you inspire me to get my butt moving- i have not been doing well with my exercise. i dont have the energy on so few calories. how do you do it? where did you have your surgery? Dont worry at the rate we are eating- we HAVE to lose more! I have had a stall for a week now and it coincides with the time i started eating protein bars so i am going to try and limit them. i have 1 a day and they are high in calories...but i am still not going over 600 cals a day so i dont know why it would be a problem. Its all so strange isnt it? Are you happy you did it? I haven't decided yet. Most days i would give it all back in a new york minute. But then i went bathing suit shopping yesterday and bought a size 18- down from a 28 and that was a great feeling. Let me know if you add any new foods! I wish i could eat fruit- i have only tried fresh so i am going to try those canned pears. Take care, Deb

Thank you all for posting here. It makes me feel better to know a lot of us have the same thoughts!