Problem with fresh fruit/fruit juice??

I posted this in a reply somewhere else, but I'm really interested in hearing if anyone has had the same problem, so I thought it deserved its own thread. I'm 17 days out from RNY surgery, and my recovery has been going great. However, just recently I've been feeling lethargic, nauseous and gassy... really pretty miserable. The only thing I've done differently is add fruit juice/ fresh fruit to my diet. The nutritionist told me I needed to get some carbs and suggested drinking some fruit juice, so I did that on Friday. Then I started feeling this way. Then on Sunday (just when I started feeling better) I had a protein smoothie at my gym... finally something that tasted great! But it also had fruit/fruit juice...(pureed banana, strawberry, and orange juice) and I'm back to feeling yucky again. Anyone have this problem with fresh fruit/fruit juice? I'm going to call the nutritionist today, but would love to hear from the wise and experienced folks on the board, since you've been through it already.

If you are going to puree your own fruit, I'd recommend your pairing up light fruits (ie melons). Banana's are a heavy fruit. High in sugar. Most pre-made juices are high in sugar...so be a label checker! Suggestion: If you are going to make your own fruit smoothie, use a fresh orange instead of OJ...or be sure the OJ contains no sugar...or use unsweetened grapefruit juice & add a little Splenda. Avoid canned fruits. Del Monte has a terrific low calorie/low carb fruit but other than that, they all seem to have sugars. I have a problem with hyperglycemia and my sugar plummeted the other day from 3 small pieces of canned pineapple! I'm so use to my fresh fruits that I didn't even think about getting some fruit off a breakfast bar. Duh, huh??? Sherri

Katy, I personal havent had the problem since I havent had surgery yet. However, with all the reading Ive been doing Ive heard that alot. Ive also read that u should start out with a banana that most ppl can tolerate that right off the bat. Then slowly add in new fruits one at a time so u can tell which ones u can tolerate and which ones u cant. Then Ive also read that just cause u cant tolerate them now doesnt mean in 6 months u cant try it again and then u might tolerate it. Keep up the good work. opps I got to get to the pool. I have therapy in 15 min ..bbl to read the rest of the posts. Mariah

Mariah, It's wonderful to see Newbies & pre-ops being involved in trying to help others! It's fantastic to see that willingness to help! That's what this site's all about. Many foods can give post-ops problems at one point or another. I think most post-ops would concur that it is usually a consistency thing. Hard to eat chicken (or ____) because it's too dry. Can't eat apple peels because they are hard to get chewed up fine enough. Hard to eat tomatoes because the acid causes ulcers. The list goes on & on. And yes, if you try in January & can't eat something...you might be able to in February. Then again, on Monday, a piece of cantaloupe may be fine, but on Tuesday, you from it. Our pouches are very picky babies. Some are more picky than others. Some are picky for a longer period than others. Today, I from chicken....juicy leftover chicken from last night's dinner! And I'm almost 2 yrs post-op. Usually, if someone has problems post-op, they either or REALLY want to . And...they feel instantly better once that they do and get it up. This is often from not chewing up the food well enough or the food being dry & irritating the pouch. If this happens no matter what you eat, and you KNOW you chewed it up well enough, you may have a stricture and should contact your surgeon. If the post-op feels like crap and ends up sitting on the throne constantly instead, that is dumping. Foods high in sugar/fat/starch can cause this. I've never dumped..but my sister did. She tried to get a Starbuck's like I had ordered for her & got a regular cappuccino. She now knows that it's a decaf latte with skim milk and SF vanilla. And then there's what Katy referred to... Some post-ops end up hypoglycemic post-op to where we are very sensitive to sugars & starches. According to my endocrinologist, I most likely have a propensity for diabetes. Right now, we are trying to control it by keeping a close journal of what I eat & my sugar levels...and me avoiding the trigger foods. I usually do pretty good, but this week, had 2 times bite me. One was a BS of 50 after having 3 small pieces of canned pineapple. The 2nd time was a BS of 38 from 1/2 corn. They are both on my no-no list now. The symptoms can vary, but feeling tired, feeling like crap (but no diarrhea), hot flashes, heart palpitations, can all be telltale signs. Thanks again for being willing to help Katy out. I hope you don't mind me addressing this note to you. I thought since you listen to what can happen to post-ops and are willing to help others, that you might would be able to use this info in the future...if not for others, for yourself. Sherri

Sherri I dont mind. I am trying to read everything I can. Like I told her at the time ...I didnt have any personal knowledge just only know what I read. I read the posts by reading the most recent posts so I didnt know u had already responded to her or we were typing about the same time (u and I have done that before). I just thought I would give her a fast answer until one of u more knowledgeable ppl got online to help her out. I would never suggest ppl take my advice over someone thats already been thru it. Again, I do try to always say I havent had surgery yet when I try to help someone out. I just do alot of reading. I belong to several online support groups and I know several of them reccomend reading the book "Feeding the Hungry Heart". It deals with alot of issues Im going to have. I tend to be an emotional eater. Esp if Im hungry or sad. So if any newbys are needing help I thought I would mention that book in here too. Mariah

I think it's terrific that you reached out to help! Keep up the wonderful, caring support! Sherri

Thanks, Ladies. I just spoke with one of the nutritionists at St. V and she said the same thing... some people are just more sensitive to the natural sugar in fruit, so I've had symptoms similar to dumping. I guess I'm going to be one of those that dumps....which is probably a good thing for me in the long run. It is yucky, and will probably stop me from eating Ritters or cake with buttercream icing - two of my former favorites! She suggested that to get carbs I should wait a few days and then try diluting the juice... or switching to Gatorade (and diluting it also) because it has less sugar. Now I just need to force myself to get my protein in today... I've been feeling just yucky enough to avoid drinking it, which probably isn't helping me get my energy back!

Katy, I'm very sensitive to natural sugars & starches (that become sugars). I take it that you are either in ketosis or close to it...? I used light grape juice. Check the sugar content. One of them is very light in sugar, but does have some needed carbs. Because of me becoming hyperglycemic, I'm an avid label reader now. Do you have a glucose meter? If so, when you feel crappy, check your sugar. If it is under 70, eat a little bit of protein & keep track of what you eat & what your sugars are. Discuss this with your dietician. You may have to avoid some things as you get further out. If you had no diahreah with your ill feelings, it may be a hypeglycemic thing instead of dumping. That, is something that you can learn to live with. Me? I just have to avoid all potatoes (even bits & pieces in veggie soup!), corn, and all canned fruits (except Del monte's Carb Clever fruits). Sherri

Sherri, I'm going to look into this hypoglycemia issue... I've never had blood sugar issues before, but I wonder about this. The dietician described what I was feeling as dumping, but I haven't had diarreha, and to me my ill feelings seemed to linger a lot longer than dumping does (from what I've read). Left me with a lasting feeling of lethargy, weakness, etc. I feel a lot better today, but still tired. I had a protein shake first thing, thinking that it might help with energy. I hope so! Perhaps I should invest in a blood glucose monitor. Thanks again to everyone for your helpful input!

i was about 2 months out when i tried 3 slices of an orange...........i was sick for hours after, throwing up and where all that came from i have no idea.. also i believe i have heard carbs are what will give you gas, and i say this due to the one person i know who is always gassed up.... try some gas x seee if they helps any... could be alot of sugars in those juices for you too..