Newbie post op water/protein/vitamin/pain questions

Hello fellow newbies! Happy 2007, it is nearly upon us all! I have a question for all new post ops: 1) How is everyone doing with their water intake? I am up to 45 ounces per day, with an eventual goal of 64 oz per day. 2) How is everyone getting their protein in? I am using powder for shakes, eating small amounts of 1% cottage cheese, adding skim milk to whatever I can. I noted that everyone has different "goals" for daily protein...and I am just trying to squeeze it in wherever I can! 3) What has everyone been told about vitamins? I have purchased chewable of all forms of my vitamins, except iron and B12. I plan to start them on Monday, which would be my 3rd post op week. I have noted that everyone seems to start them at different times, so I am wondering how far out everyone is starting them... 4) LOWER LEFT QUADRANT PAIN! I had this pain in the hospital, and it was minimal because of the painkillers. I was told this is normal, due to how the surgery is performed, where they rearrange things, etc. Now, I have noted that in the last 3-4 days since I have not been on painkillers that I have had more sensitivity and/or pain in this area, and I feel it most when bending down or turning to either side. Anyone else have this? If so, how are you dealing with it (without painkillers)? For those how might be farther out, how long did you have the pain before it went away? THANKS TO EVERYONE IN ADVANCE FOR THE FEEDBACK, CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FORM YOU ALL! Megan

Hi Megan! My surgery was on 12/18, yes I'm getting my H20 in but not all in the form of water, I can't do water yet, it upsets my pouch, (room temp sometimes goes down but only the right kind), but I can do decaf tea, so I drink a lot of that. 2) I was having difficulty with this but just yesterday I found that I could drink s/f hot choc (3 grams protein) made with milk (8gr) and then add 1 scoop of my protein powder (20g) and get a whopping 31 grams of protein in one punch, so I think I'll be ok now. I was also doing the protein shakes with a blended banana. I add (pro-stat) protein to my jello and to my yougart. 3) I've been on vits before surgery and will be on them for the rest of my life, 2 s/f bugs bunny chewables, 1 b12 sublingual, 500mg vitC chewable, and the one I hate taking b/c not chewable Citracal 250 mg(it seems to sit right above my pouch and cause discomfort/pain (so some days it doesn't get taken) 4) My pain is generally from the upper left quadrant (which is where the pouch is located) but I haven't really had any lower left pain. Did you call the doc a/b this, I would. Now for my quick question, what foods are you allowed to eat, I'm only on full liquids until 3 weeks out. Good Luck to you, it sounds like you're doing great. Bridget Does this count as my exercise today? LOL just kidding, I'm headed to the treadmill now.

Hi Megan, Happy New Year to you. I am also a Dec 19th rebirth. I haven't used any pain pills since Christmas. My pain is pretty much gone. Did you have yours open or laproscopicly? I had mine done laproscopicly. I would call you surgeon as soon as you can. If you can't stand the pain go to the ER. Now on to the protein and vits and h2o. I am right there with you on water. On a good day I can get in 50 oz. Last night I did 45 oz. I was told to take a chewable complete multi vitamin as soon as I got home from the hospital. I bought the Wal MArt brand of Flinstones. That was the only brand that didn't have sugar in it. I have also started taking biotin. And my Dr said to take tums at night for the calcium until I see him on my first post op visit. Which thankfully will be Jan 3rd. I am sooooo over this all liquid diet. Protein is another story. My Dr wants me to get in 90g a day. So far I have managed around 40g until last night. I bought a new protien powder and I got in 60g. I was so proud of myself. When I drink more than 45 oz of fluids I fell yucky. I feel so darn full, I feel kinda sick. I found on line a spray B 12. It has a spermint flavor. Not too bad. I found it on here. The web site is www.bbvitamins.com . I have not started any iron pills yet. Take care and good luck with everything. Corinn

It is so hard to get all tha****er in! I'm at about 60 ounces just because I thought I was getting dehydrated the first week out and I didn't want that right before Christmas. So I sip all day. I am trying to get my two protein drinks in daily. I have to have them with warm water though. I can't wait until I am one month out then I can add ingredients to them like fruits, peanut butter and flavorings. Otherwise I am eating eggs 6 pr, string cheese 9 pr and chicken salad, which I figured is 19 pr. I was only only on liquid for one week so I don't know how I would get it in except the drinks if I was still on liquid. I was told to start vitamins my 2nd week. Calcium is liquid which I tried in a drink, Yuck. I take it twice a day. I just have to take it by tablespoon in one hit. I use Flintstones, twice a day, for one month, chewable B Complex, B12 sublingual. I have to take two Pepcid daily for two months (that stuff is expensive!!!) I need to get started on Iron, which will be twice a day, as soon as I find the right kind. And now I start taking my birth control today. Whew- I just don't know how to fit them all in during the day. And yes I still have lower left pain once in a while. Trying to get up off my tummy or when I went to the doctor and had to lay back it hurt like crazy. Other than that everything else feels good. The nurse just told me that they had to go through all that muscle in the lower left tummy and it will hurt for awhile. I don't need anything for my pain because it does go away. I do find myself holding my tummy if it hurts and that seems to help. Good luck, Kristina

I'm four weeks out but I hope this helps! 1) I drink 80-100oz of fluids a day. I find I don't tolerate water well. I drink Fruit 2-0, hot tea and crystal light. 2) I'm not a breakfast person, so I usually have a big protein drink instead, usually 40-50 grams of protein. I try and get the rest from food. You may want to try some of the unflavored protein powder (like Unjury). i add to to soups, chilis, ricotta cheese with sauce. It definately helps getting that protein in. 3) *I take chewable mulit-vitamin, *capules of calium citrate that open up and put into a spoon of whatever I'm eating *regular iron pills that I cut into fourths and swallow with sips of whatever I'm drinking *sulbingual b12 that I take several times a week. I started at three weeks out and it took a couple days to be able to get into a schedule of taking them. 4)I can't help much with this one, as I didn't have that pain. But my doctor says that if we did, just make sure that it does get worse, if it does call. But it can take a month or so for it to quit "pulling" when we bend. Wishing the best of luck!!!! Joanne

I have to ask how in the world are you able to get so much fluid in? When do you have time to eat anything? I try to drink 8oz in the morning before I know it I haven't eaten any lunch. I then have to wait 30 mins to drink after that when I am still full from the 2-3 ozs of food that I have tried to eat. Help Holly

Hi Holly, I keep a bottle with me at all time. I take a swallow every 2-3 mintues. I can't drink 15 minutes before (it takes that long to make lunch for my kids and me) and 30 minutes after (about how long it takes to clean them and the kitchen up). I only eat 2-3 oz as well, but I'm not full. All I can suggest is to sip or swallow every couple minutes! Good luck, Joanne

Hello, I had my surgery on 12/21. Lap RNY. With the water, I don't do that great. I get about 40 ounces a day, and that is counting the water and other fluids I drink. As far as protien right now, I was told that the first month you have enough protien stored up that for the first few weeks, you don't need to focus so much on it. Expecially on the full liquids. I do get them in on the soups, yogurt, milk ect that I eat. I recently bought some protien powder from GNC and tried it with some yogurt in a smoothy. It was pretty good, doable. I am going to order some unflavored Unjury, I have been told this is awesome. Chewable vitamins I was told to start as soon as I got home from the hospital. Just a complete chewable is all for right now and then at 3 months out to start the B12 sublingual. As far as the lower left quadrant pain I am so glad to hear that other people have the same thing. I am in such pain it is not even funny. I sit around with a heating pad on my side and sleep with it also. I have had it since the day of surgery. No one in the hospital seemed to think it was a big deal, and gave me no info on what is causing it. My husband was starting to get upset about it and wanted me to call the doctor but since I hear others with the same, I will just wait to talk to him when I go back to see him on Friday. Thanks for the post, the info from everyone has been great. Makes me feel a little more normal. Happy New Year! Maryann

Thanks everyone! Good to hear ho we're all doing. I am going to start my vitamins (1 daily, iron, B12, biotin, calcium square---mostly chewables) on Monday. I am really excited to eventually graduate from this full liquid diet, which will happen at week #4, and I will go to soft solids (basically, stuff like tuna or salmon blended). The lower left pain is something my clinic told me to expect, it's where they attach the old stomach to the lower intestine, and it's a common complaint to them, so it was normalizing to hear from everyone that they have this also. I'll keep grinning and bearing it. I just hope I am not stuck with so much of it when I return to work! I do agree the protein shakes are a huge bonus, so I started them yesterday. Again, thanks everyone! Happy 2007, Megan

Hi all. I'm a 12/18 Lap RNY survivor! woot! My requirements from my doc are 80-100g protein in the form of shakes. 64+ oz water (broth, water, sf popcycles, etc) Multi-vitamin twice, prevacid. How I"m doing? I didn't get all my protein until about four days ago. It's like the swelling finally subsided and I got an extra "breakfast nook" in my pouch or something. I sip ALL DAY LONG and end up getting about 70-80. I'm really liking the grapefruit crystal light, but I've always like just plain water anyhow. I take a spray vitimin (www.vitaspray.com) four times a day and a prevacid in the morning (for ulcers they say). I got a B12 shot in the hospital, so I'm good for a month. After that I'll start taking a sublingual daily. My insurance will pay for monthly shots...I might opt for it because i forget stuff. I'm also able to eat some solid foods, but I can't count them as my protein yet. My favorites have been homemade chicken soup with peas, carrots, and green beans. I blended it out of ease. Yummy! I've also had fish, chicken, tuna, yoghurt, zucchini, carrots, peas, green beans, and cottage cheese. I really like taking 1/2 C cottage cheese (14g protein) and some chicken. I put in in my mini food processor with some salt/pepper and a shake of curry powder. It makes a nice mousse. I don't have the lower Left pain, but I'm starting to have pains in a few places around my abdomen. I figure that it's just pathways where the tools went, and now the muscles are reattaching. My main complaint right now is that because I've lost 20+# so fast, my center of gravity has changed so fast that my core muscles in my trunk are working overtime to hold me up. My upper back is starting to get really sore. Practicing good posture, and walking seems to help. I'm going to enroll in Pilates as soon as I"m cleared (after 6 weeks). This form of excercise focusses primarily on strengthening the core trunk muscles. BTW. My absolute favorite protein powder has been Designer Whey. It's available at WalMart. beats the expensive stuff HANDS DOWN.