6 days post-op and feeling a little lost

I had a RNY Gastric Bypass on December 2, as of right now I am feeling pretty ok, but I'm just not sure if a lot of the things I'm doing or feeling are "right". I know that I am supposed to be on liquids for two weeks, they also said that I could have thinned cereals like grits, cream-of-wheat and oatmeal as well. I can usually eat almost 2oz of the grits but no more than that. I have also tried some strained soups with the same results. I know that I am supposed to be drinking a protein shake to make up for the protein but I absolutely hate the kind that I have right now and can't really afford to get a different kind yet. I don't like the "milkshake" consistency kind and find that the taste almost makes me sick. I don't know what to do about getting my protein in at this point. I am also ashamed to say that as of today I have not taken a vitamin or calcuim supplement either. I know I need to.
I also seem to have a hard time drinking water, I will sip it, but it seems to make my stomach hurt when it goes down. Has anyone else had this happen?
My abdomen is very hard and bloated, I have been up walking around quite a bit like I should and it doesn't seem to help at all. I still have not had a BM as of yet either and am not sure if this is normal either.
If there is anyone who has any answers PLEASE let me know!

hi ,sorry to hear your having a hard time ! but i really think you should call the doc see what he has to say better safe then sorry  good luck!

Hi Paul,
I don't have answers to all of your questions, especially as I had a lap-band, not a RNY, but for the protein part, you can find some cheap ($15 to 18)  but good quality whey or soy protein powders at Walmart, and you can mix them yourself to the consistency you like. I had different ones, and liked them.
I also remember my belly being really hard about 1 week after surgery, and it was only post-trauma swelling.
Concerning your bowel movements, it will come at once...and liquid! not fun, but  when you're on a liquid diet, what else can you expect?... And  you really need to get as much fluid as you can. It will help the swelling to go away, your abdomen getting less hard, and your weight loss ! If you're worried about the pain when you sip water, maybe you should call your, doc, but I also remember that I experienced some discomfort at the stage you are now, and it stopped at about 2 weeks post-op.
So hang on, it seems you're on the right path!!!

I am 3 wks post op today. If you are having pain it's always best to check with the dr. Some of the things you mention I have felt over the last two weeks. For example, when I drink cold water it tends to feel funny, almost hurts going down, the smell of the protein shakes made me not want to drink them, my abdomen was very puffy and I felt like it was really bloated. It also took almost 6 days to have the first BM. At three weeks my abdomen feels much less swollen. The first weeks home are hard because the smell and taste of everything is hard to take. I ordered samples from bariatric eating, smart forme and enjoy health. This has been wonderful because it's given me a chance to find the things I do like without having to buy a giant bottle and waste it. If you have a Vitamin Shoppe by you they have a calendar for the samples they test monthy. It's a good opportunity to try new things. As far as getting in your protein, I mixed the shake with 5 oz skim milk or water and 1/3 cup of nonfat dry milk, I also added a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to the vanilla one. This moved the protein value up a bit and made it taste a little better. It took me about an hour to fini**** In the first two weeks I ate 1/2 cp chicken broth, I found the warmth of this to go down the best. I know you said you didn't want to buy more protein powder, my drs list had carnation instant breakfast sf and high protein boost on it. When I couldn't take the protein shake smell and taste I had these instead. I also bought unflavored unjury and added it to soups, shakes, & pudding to boost the protein content. I used a 1/4 cup as my serving size for cream of wheat but couldn't fini**** because I had to add so much milk/water to it to keep it from getting cold/hard. Once I was on full liquids I liked the V8 broccoli soup, they made some others too that tasted good. I just blended them well to make sure there were no chunks in it. I would eat about 1/2 cup of that. I am finally feeling like I can get in the vitamins and calcium, at first chewing them and the grit of it bothered me. I was told to mix them with sf pudding to help. I wish you luck!
Tammy

hi candice, I feel pretty much the same as you do I have been feeling ok but just the thoughts of being home and a nurse reminding you to do things ...oh wait I forgot to have breakfast, lol I didnt have my first bm until my 6th day and yes that is normal, also I think there is fear to go also but it is normal, I cant have cereals until next week but I can say I have 3 sugar free carnation instant breakfasts made with either calorie countdown milk or simply smart milk   fat free it is low in sugar and no fat so you will get at least  15 grams of protein with each serving so if you can have that at meal time you will get 45 grams out of the way I found adding a 1/2 scoop of the disgusting powder  lol the protein supplements to my cib shakes I use vanilla sugarfree and add a little choc. protein powder just to get me a little more  I am adding in more and for the water.  you may be taking a bit to large of a sip so just try a little smaller cause I know when my sip is to large it hurts going down  I know I feel bloated when I drink to soon and I think I know what the full feeling is but not quite sure I am still learning...well I hope I helped you any questions just ask

don't know about most of these things, i'm not scheduled until 12/19/08.  at nutrition class today, the nut told us to get a travel cup (with a lid) because that will keep the smell down and maybe you can tolerate the protein better.  i know it doesn't change the taste, but smell is part of taste.  you do need to get the protein in.  good luck.

Wow! your surgery date is just right around the corner! Congratulations!
Well, I'm glad to say that I am doing MUCH better now that I was when I made this post. I went to GNC and bought their unflavored protein and I can tolerate it a lot better. I also have been using the double milk thing to help get my protein in and it really helps a lot too. In fact today I think I got in over the 60 grams I needed and only had a little over 600 calories today. The first week home is pretty rough, it almost seems like your brain shuts down and you totally forget what they told you...lol
I also made the mistake of trying to advance my diet a little too soon. I tried to blend and eat some things that my pouch just wasn't ready for yet....lol I didn't get sick, but there was definitely a war going on in there. Ha ha. So I went back to the full liquids until after I see my surgeon on the 16th.
The unflavored powder is great, but the real life saver for me has been the double milk.
Good luck on the 19th!

I am recovering from my Lap RNY on 12/9 in NYC. It also hurts when I drink water but not when I drink the protein things, interestingly enough. So you seem someone is in the same boat.

Please keep in touch! - Lisa

Hey Lisa!

Well, I have to say that I have been feeling better over the past few days. The water still bothers me sometimes, but not as much as it did before. I still have the feeling like there is a rock in my stomach but I think that is normal. I am really not hungry at all and I am not complaining about that...lol I spoke to my Nut. today and told her about all of the things that I am drinking and she said it sounded like I was on the right track. But I know where you're coming from on the water issue..lol Have you tried any soups yet?
Keep in touch.

Candice