My Sugar & Carb Filled Post-Op Hell

Hi Frank, Please let us know what Dr. Rabkin advises. I will be very interested in hearing his take on it.

Wow!  Sweet hm...I'd think you should try sugar-free alternatives maybe?  What about Protein Drinks--some of them (Muscle Milk comes to mind) are really sweet.  You really, really need to up your protein intake or your going to crash and end up in the hospital very, very  ill sooner rather than later.

Some idea:  how about dusting regular roasted nuts with butter & splenda?  How about lemon in water w/ splenda or even agave nectar if you can't tolerate the fake stuff?  How about making your own popsicles or granita w/ sf jello?  What about Val's ricotta fluff (sweet) or peanut butter cookies.  All of these are sweet ideas, BUT they all pack a protein punch (except for the water).

Protein drinks...really not negotiable with your current diet.  Unjury is flavorless and can be added to your lemonade, etc.

The reason you're having pain and gas everyday is simple--all your taking in is carbs. 

Seriously, this is VERY concerning, you've been through too much to wreck this at 6 weeks. 

Thanks for the tips! Some I've tried, but others I haven't.

I know that carbs are easier.  But they just aren't what we need.  You obviously already know that.  Perhaps if you regress your date to very early post op and try things like broths, cottage cheese, soft cheeses, good cuts of beef/ steak.  Find a protein drink you can stomach.

I can promise you that I didn't enjoy much of anything that passed my lips the first couple of months.  I would fill my little four ounce bowls with my food and treat it like medicine.  It would often take me close to an hour to get through that bowl.

If sweets are calling your name, try Val's ricotta fluff.  Or staple of mine was the instant sugar free pudding that I would add protein to.  Even a diet of whole milk is better than what you are eating at this point. 

I really think you are setting yourself up for long term failure because Simple Carbs create intense cravings for more simple carbs.  It is a tough cycle to break.  It is defenitely easier to fit more volume wise of bad carbs than protein for me.

You've got to turn this thing around for yourself now.  You can do it.  A motivational factor would be to google protein malnutrition.  You could also look at duodenalswitch.com . They have a regrets section where some brave and honest souls have bared their hearts about issues they have faced due to noncompliance.  Really, take a look.  I know you want better for yourself.

Being thin is no fun if you are in a wheel chair or dead.

A few people have recommended Val's Ricotta Fluff. I'll check that out. I'm not planning on getting sick or kickin' the bucket quite yet. I'll keep working on it. Thanks.

Balance Bar Gold - Carmel Nut Blast
***Bacon
***Hot Dogs
Candied Walnuts
Doritos, Cheese Puffs... and other chip like products that contain protein
Licorice, Good 'n Plenty
Candy
***Baked Beans
Some Soups
Popsicles
The only thing I drink is diluted Lemonade (1/3 Lemonade, 2/3 water). I can drink Hawaiian Punch, too.

*Sigh* Really Frank?  The only things from that list that are even remotely okay I've highlighted in green.  PLEASE take this list of foods you're eating to Dr. Rabkin.  It's GREAT that you've lost 40 pounds, life after the DS isn't only measured by what you lose....what I'm worried about is what you're doing to your health.  I can see that you'd like to change what you're eating, so I'm not flaming you.  But you need to get your hands on some protein shakes YESTERDAY...no joke.  You don't have to eat a lot of food to get protein in.  Just find a protein shake and do three 30 gram shakes a day.  Easy peasy. 

Please take care of you.

Lori

Lori... I wi**** was as easy as getting in three shakes. The shakes are particularly hard for me to get down, in fact I think the shakes in part triggered the eleven day stretch of nausea where I didn't eat a thing.

It's been awhile since I've tried a shake, so I'll give it another go.  I'll check with Dr. R tomorrow and get through this one way or another. Thanks!

Frank,

There are MANY many shakes on the market.  If one doesn't work, please look for another. 

Lori

Last summer, I had to have a stent placed to take care of a chronic leak.  For the two months that I had the stent, eating was beyond miserable...even worse than my first days after the surgery.  The one food that literally saved me from starvation was protein ice cream.  There are numerous recipes on eggface's blog located at http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/  I would make a big batch of vanilla protein ice cream and eat it for 3 meals and then try to get some other stuff down in between.  Even if not much else worked, at least I was getting in a good deal of protein.   The carbs you're eating are not great, but the lack of protein is not optional.  You have to get it in or you'll only make yourself sicker.  Good luck!

Stop drinking hawaiian punch and lemonade.  Period.  Sugar free koolaide, crystal light has lemonade and fruit punch.  Stop eating sugar.  No more excuses.

Walnuts - no more candied.  No more candy.  Popsicles r okay IF they are sugar free.

Eat meat - make it tender, use gravy to help slide down, tiny bites.  Pot roast, fish w/ cream sauce, egg salad, tuna salad, etc...moist is key. 

Deli slices of meat, eat cheese, eggs (if it is hard to get down, mix it w/ Miracle Whip) doesnt matter if it is boiled, fried, etc. 

Start experiementing w/ sauces and gravies.  They help food go down. 

*****Protein shakes. Banana scream is good.