Milk

I was trying to get some protein in today so I had a Carnation instant breakfast with a cup of milk. About half way through it, I got massive diarrhea. I have had it slightly for the last couple of days but not like this. Does this always happen or does that mean I have an intolerance to milk now.  Also, I was thinking. When do I get to eat  more than a tablespoon of anything. I just started thinking about how you cook for a tablespoon of food. When can I trust my stomach to tell me when I am full? Tina

MILK  The diarrhea you experienced MAY or MAY NOT be a result of the milk.  (Sorry, but that's the truth of it.  You won't even know after it happening just that once.) I know the first time I drank an entire protein shake, it was like taking a laxative.  It was only like that the first 2 or 3 times, then it quit happening.   The only real way to identify food intolerances (including milk) is to experiment.  Try the milk again.  If the diarrhea happens again, you'll have more reason to believe you could have a milk intolerance.  (If it doesn't, hopefully it was just a one time fluke!)  However, even after it happening twice, I'd still say to wait a few days and try it once more.  If it happens a 3rd time, you can pretty much bet you have some sort of lactose intolerance.   However, that is not the end of the world.  Many post-ops who develope lactose intolerance see their symptoms improve a month or two post-op.  If you DO have lactose intolerance, be sure to continue "trying" milk once every 2 or 3 weeks to see if you still have problems.   TABLESPOON How do you cook for 1 tablespoon of food?  In short, you can't.  I've invested in little tiny rubber bowls with lids.  (The ones that hold 1/2 cup of less are great.)  If I'm only cooking for me, I cook as small a portion as I can - then I put the rest in the tiny bowls for later!  It's not the perfect solution, but the best one I have.   FULL Most post-ops CAN'T trust their stomachs to tell them when they are "full".  Post-ops who eat according to prescribed portion sizes fair MUCH better in the long run than those who eat until "full".  There are MANY reasons for this.  Most of us have eaten to BEYOND full for so long, we wouldn't know what "full" felt like if it walked up and introduced itself.  Also, as time passes, it takes more and more food to give you that "full" feeling (increasing the probability of long term regain).   Hope some of this helped!  Good luck!   Wen

I had trouble with milk myself, and I would just drink it 1/2 and 1/2 with water.  I seemed to tolerate it much better with water.  Also if your drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast for protein reasons, I have heard a lot of horror stories about it and suggest you look into getting a protein powder.  I use the protein powder that Wal-Mart sells (whey protein).  I could probably drink milk normally now, but I have grown to like my milk/water mixture LOL.  Plus add a little bit of Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup to it and you have chocolate milk, YUMMY!!  I measured everything the first many many months, and still measure some things.  I don't remember when I could eat more than a tablespoon.  Your post-op information should tell you when you can start eating more.  I just remember using medicine cups, Baptist sent me home with a stack of them and I washed and reused them for the longest time. 

HI Tina, Wendy gave you some very good info and advice.  I strongly urge you to ask Carrie for one of the food booklets from Baptist when you go to see Gibbs for your follow up visit.  There is a strict progression of how much  and what you eat explained there. Call me later and I'll go over it with you

In the beginning and even now, I get diarrhea really easy.  I never eat anything new away from home.   I have a milk intolerance, but my symptoms are nausea and vomitting and extreme gas where I burp and burp.  I get so nauseated that I have to lie down.  It's a horrible feeling, sort of like dumping.  I've tried every kind of milk and the only one that doesn't cause it is soy milk. 

I have all sorts of books from Dr. Fuller's office but unfortunately none of them can tell me how food progresses. They tell me what kind of food progression but not how much food progression.  I am sorry to be such a bother but I don't think I have ever been so confused in my life. Thanks so much for all your help. Tina

Ok, I've got my booklet out, so here goes:      Portion progression post op      Weeks 1-4:        1-2 tablespoons per meal (3-6 tsp) Weeks 4-6:         2-4 tablespoons per meal (6-12 tsp) Weeks 6-8:         4-6 tablespoons per meal (12-18 tsp) DO NOT EXCEED 8 TBS PER MEAL (1/2 CUP) Soft diet should begin six days after surgery and stay on this for 4-5 weeks. Nonfat cottage cheese, sugar free yogurt, cheeses Cooked cereals made with skim milk Soggy cold cereals which are fat free and no sugar coating Smooth NATURAL peanut butter Low fat soups made with skim milk Whole wheat crackers or melba toast Potatoes, baked or boiled without skin Whole wheat pasta Macaroni and cheese made with fat free cheese and skim milk (from scratch, not boxed) Brown or wild rice Canned fruit--no sugar added Mashed bananas Melons Applesauce or apples, without peel Pears, peaches or nectarines, without peel Canned vegetables-without seeds Soft cooked vegetables (carrots, eggplant, beets, greenbeans, squash and peas) Poached soft cooked eggs, NO hard boiled or scrambled!! Sugar free popsicles, sugar free pudding made with skim milk Tuna salad made with water packed tuna, chicken salad or ham salad made with non fat mayo, mixed to a smooth texture This should get you going until you see Dr Gibbs. Make sure to ask Carrie for the guidebook.  I've written all over mine with notes and almost had it memorized in the beginning. Take care

Tina, I have to drink soy milk now, cant handle the real stuff, not even skim.  I dont have rhea, its the passing out, hot flashes and weakness that I get.  I like the soy, and its healthy as well.  I can do Sugar Free Yogurt, prefer activia, can eat cheese, just cant drink the white stuff.  I also cannot eat Sugar Free Ice Cream, I can handle the sugar free frozen yogurt (that you get at Kroger, in quarts like ice cream) but cant handle the SF Ice cream, go figure.  Not sure if its the Milk or the fat, I dont indulge in the Frozen yogurt very often, but when Im craving the good stuff, thats what I have.  Havent tried like TCBY soft serve Sugar Free yet, not sure about it. But try the soy, its good, and even comes in  vanilla flavor.  When I want a quick protein drink, I have 8 oz of soy w/a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and if I want choc milk, I squeeze in some SF hershey syrup. Just my 2 scents worth, hope it helps.  I just never could stomach the flavor of the instant breakfast, but like the soy and protein powder. Rhonda D.

I have trouble with sugar free ice cream - but I figure it's the sugar alcohol that's in it. I found that the slow churned Edy's no sugar added is GOOD and doesn't bother me at all. Really it's probably not such a good thing to know it when I think about it but when the craving is overwhelming it's a good thing to have! AT

7 yrs later and whole milk is a no- no in amounts larger than 1/4 cup for me. Skim is ok but usually about 3/4 cup. Nothing else dairy bothers me tho.....just the milk.  good luck on this.....everyone has given you good answers and suggestions......even tho I am farther out....I still have to proceed with caution on new foods.....just pay attention to all the signals your body sends you..... tammy