What foods are working for you?

Hi everyone-- I'm 18 days out today (Friday), and really weirded out by the foods that are (and are not) working for me. I'm wondering if anyone else is having this experience. For instance, I was SO looking forward to mashed potatoes, and . . . BLECH. They taste ok going down, but then they just sit in my stomach and make me wanna lie down for about a week. Isn't that weird? Cream of Wheat went down fine, easily, and I mixed it with different broths and even Campbell's French Onion soup, and that was great. But mashed potatoes are still a no go. Tried them last night, and the same. On the other hand, I have been fine with straight protein foods, like lunch meat. At my support group meeting on Saturday, one of the other post-ops mentioned that she has a little bit of turkey lunch meat rolled up with a piece of cheese, for lunch. I thought that sounded good and so I tried it. It was great! It went down fine, no yucky feelings. And best of all, the increased protein made a big dent in my lack of energy the next day. Anyway, I'm just curious what foods you guys are getting down and how they're treatin' ya. Chandra

i am having trouble figuring that out too. i am doing the lunch meat thing and it works fine. i tried some refried beans with a little salsa but that didnt make me feel too great either. i am sick of eggs!LOL. i wish i could find something else besides lunch meat. the protien drinks make me sick to my stomach so i have NOT been able to tolerate any protien supplements. i am feeling a little down because it is soo much harder that i thought it would be, you know? i am getting all my vitamines in and finally getting all my fluids! YEAH!!! let me know if you get any more ideas, LOL!!! *hugs* ~susanne~

Wow, susanne, I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't get those protein supps down! I got a few really good ones from Trader Joe's, with high protein, low fat and low sugar, and I had one sip. It tasted great, but I could feel the bile rise as soon as I swallowed it. No go! Now my husband is drinking them--he thinks it's the greatest thing! I've been too chicken to try eggs yet (no pun intended!). Maybe I'll get brave and do that tonight. I know what you mean about this being much harder than I thought it would be; I definitely feel that way too. Some days are better than others. I'm working on getting all my fluids in and that is getting easier, so there's hope! Take care, Chandra

I used refried beans with some melted cheddar cheese and lived the first couple months on string cheese and milk.. the protien supps YEC I couldnt do anyof them.. couldnt get past the smell.. Oatmeal.. and I can eat a fried egg with some mashed potatoes.. Watch the lunch meat ladies... to much sodium..try chicken salad. with lots of lite mayo.. Linda

Ahh the sodium--Yikes! I'm so glad you posted this warning, Linda, because when I hopped (well, stepped gingerly) on the scale this morning, I'd gained 3 pounds. Yes, that's GAINED. Dammit! What did I eat yesterday? Lunch meat and (canned) chicken noodle soup. Also, my first scrambled egg, with a little ketchup. And plenty of fluids, of course. I've been freaking out about how I could possibly have gained weight, and that 'splains it! My body gets a little too much sodium in it and then decides to hold on to enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool!! This is going to get easier, right? Chandra highest 253/official surgery 244/a couple of days ago 231/but today 234 surgery date 11/1/2005

Hi... A friend of mine sent me a great protein shake recipe that works for me and it is 20 grams of protein. I bought Whey Protein at GNC (chocolate) and bought sugar free Carnation Instant breakfast (chocolate) in the cannister. I am tolerating skim milk also. What I do is mix 1 cup of skim milk with 1 scoop of the protein powder and 1 serving (1/4 cup) of carnation instant breakfast. I mix it in the blender really well, add 4 or 5 cubes of ice and there it is. It is the ONLY protein shake I like. It is pretty good actually. I am getting my fluids and vitamins in also. I can eat meat and potatoes and eggs. I did a no no though and thought I would eat 2 fried shrimp thinking oh...what's 2 going to hurt....big mistake. I felt like it stuck under my breast bone and it hurt. I didn't throw up but I learned my lesson. I don't really like fried foods but I love shrimp. I will never do fried again. Hope you continue to find foods you can tolerate... Beth

I havent tried lunch meat yet, i am still on full liquids, I do put low fat cheese on most things, love it on mashed potatos, in soups etc. I got some sf nestles quick and unflavored unjury protien powder and it makes a good protien drink in milk or lactaid. I dont seem to be lactose intolerant but i did try lactaid the first week home. i got some sf cool whip and put a little in a couple spoons of chocolate pudding mmmmmm now thats good. I also got some sf tapioka pudding at walmart that is awsome. My mom makes great potato soup and that really hits the spot,,, just wish i could get her to make it more often. refried beans with low fat cheese is really good. (smashed up of course) also bean with bacon soup. Im not having much luck with anything fruity, dont know why it dont agree with me. I havent dumped on anything yet thank goodness. I am interested in any suggestions you all have, Take Care, Carla

Hey Carla-- Any chance your mom would share her recipe for potato soup? That sounds absolutely heavenly to me! Chandra

Hi there. I've been having egg beaters with cheese, fat free refried beans with cheese, turky deli meat, cottage cheese, and chicken salad. I bought the chicken salad prepared from Trader Joe's. It's made with nonfat yogurt, so the fat and sugar is really low, and it's 17 grams of protein per 1/2 cup! I blended it up with my stick blender so the consistancy is soft and easy to chew. It's great. I had a tbsp of mashed potatoes, but after years of loving them they really didn't do anything for me anymore. PLUS they offer no protein for me, so the most I'd even consider having of them is a tbsp. I think I'm going to try tuna or canned salmon today with some mayo.

I just got to start on pureed foods yesterday afternoon. I tried the scrambled eggs pureed in the food processor and they tasted great but I spent the night sitting up because it really hurt. We had to go to Denver today to see the dr. and get the drain removed-- more than 11 hours in the truck round trip. Anyway I had planned to pick up some yogurt to eat once we got there but ended up at KFC instead and ate some of the mashed potatoes. They just didn't taste right but they sat well. I also did well with sf Jello chocolate pudding with Any Whey added. While on liquids I tried Carnation instant breakfast with lactaid milk and dumped big time. My DH bought me three different flavors of Isopure (the stuff that looks like kool-aid) but it was horrible. I don't know that I've ever tasted anything so nasty. I'm really looking forward to cottage cheese and yogurt tomorrow. My nutritionist said it was ok for me to try refried beans but no cheese yet.