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Hello, I am a little over 8 weeks post op, 45 pounds lighter, and I have about a million questions, but I'll only ask a couple. I would love to know what some of you are eating. I have been having a real problem keeping food down. I don't have trouble with the protein shakes and I eat cold cereal in the mornings OK. It seems like whatever I eat in the evening comes right back up. I also am lucky to eat 4 times a day and probably don't drink enough water, I have trouble drinking a lot at one time. My husband said we spent a lot of money so I could learn to be bulimic. Ha! This started about two weeks ago. Also, what do you do about the awful taste in your mouth? Also, what can you drink besides water, I don't like fruit juice. OK, I'll quit for now. Cyndi

Hello Cyndi, I am about 10 weeks post op and found this website after my surgery. Sure wish I found it before, it's full of information. You can search the Q&A database for anything you have a question on and it will pull up a list of questions and their answers for you. You might want to try eggs and cheese in the morning instead of milk and cereal. The more protein the better and when it's hard to eat anything at all, go for the protein before the fiber or carbs. Water was hard for me too at first, now I seem to be getting better with it. It really did have a heavy feeling when I drank it, which makes no sense, since it's jus****er and is supposed to go right through. I drink a lot of Fruit2O flavored water and sometimes Propel. I also just bought some Isopure Zero Carb bottled protein drink at GNC but have not tried it yet. It has 40 g of protein in it and is like a Koolaid drink. Congrats on your great weight loss so far. Lisa RNY 12/1/03

First of all, congratulations on your weight loss. I am 8 weeks post op. My doctor would flip if he heard that I was eating cereal. Protein Protein Protein! I am required to get 20 grams of protein per meal and am not supposed to drink the shakes anymore unless I can't get my protein in for the day, then have one shake at the end of the day. I am supposed to get my protein from food only now. It is SO HARD! I too have had problems with being able to eat certain things. One day I will eat something, it will be fine, the next day I'll try to eat the same thing and it makes me sick. One thing that I have found that has the protein you need PLUS goes, and stays down is Gortons Lemon Pepper Fish. Not the breaded kind, just the filets. They come in perfect little rectangles and are just about the perfect size for a meal for us. My doctor suggested Lunch meat (of all things). Get the really low fat kind. There are lots out there that are really good, you can heat it or eat it cold sometimes I make 1/2 a sandwich with it. I'm probably not supposed to. I have been highly confused about the post surgical diet and I researched this surgery for almost 4 years prior to my surgery! The best advice I can give is READ LABLES...If it is HIGH in protein, low in carbs and fat and any kind of sugar is NOT within the first three ingredients on the lable, it is probably what you should be eating. Try the canned meat isle at the grocery. Tuna, Crab meat, Turkey, Chicken, Oysters, Clams and they even have a good roast beef in a can, are all high in protein. You can have other things with your protein however, I usually cannot fit anything else into my pouch after getting the 20 grams of protein in. Therefore my meals are pretty boring, meat meat meat! (I'm sick of meat) But your protein is SO important! If you do not get your protein in your hair will start to fall out among other things. So, you really should make sure you get your 60 grams in everyday. Take your vitamins too. I found an easier way to make sure that I get my water in... I went to Walmart and bought a 34 ounce insulated cup with a drinking spout. (about $2.00) I fill that up with ice and water and it stays cold for hours. I keep a cup with me and just keep refilling the cup constantly. It helps me get my water in. That way I KNOW how much I have gotten that day and I don't feel so pressured to get my water in, it just seems to happen! I hope that this helped. I am in the same boat as you are. Once you have the surgery and find out what you can and can't eat the diet doesn't seem so easy anymore. Best of luck!

Thanks for the good information & advice. I too found this site after my surgery & hope to gain much information from all of you. Cyndi

Food is a huge issue with me right now, so I have no advice there. As for the water, mine has to be ice cold, not just super cold, but ICE cold. Also, I have found that Propel and bottled Crystal Light goes down well too, if they are ice cold. Hope it helps. Kim