5 days after surgery

Hi everyone. I'm 5 days out of surgery (3/14) and I'm actually feeling pretty good. The hospital staff and my Dr. told me I was a "poster child"...yay me! Do ya think the morphine helped? hehe! I have several questions that some of you may be able to answer. Don't want to be a pest at my Dr.'s office for every little thing. 1. Constipation (what can I take to help) Like I said it's been 5 days and I'm feeling really bloated. I tried some Baby Prunes but they're not helping. Any suggestions? 2. My bypass "bible" has sample menu's and either there's a typo or I'm a real idiot. It says that Carnation Instant Breakfast is 36g of protein..NO WAY! So I'm stuck on how to get the most protein without having to drink gallons of a shake. What protein drinks do you recommend? I'm drinking Atkins shake today but that's only 15g's. I'm supposed to get about 90 grams in and I just don't see that happening with my 2 oz meals. 3. Also I know sugar is waaaay bad! but it appears like everything has a little sugar. maybe only 5g's per serving but some sugar. Is a few grams OK? I also read the ingredients to make sure that there are no sugar additives in the first 5 items. 4. (this is probably more for the dr, but...) My abdomin is so bloated. I have 2 areas where it looks like I'm about to give birth and have the feet and/or head of a baby poking outl. I mean there is a large mass under the skin. One is on the right side and about the size of a plum and the other is on my left and if I feel it it's more like a tube shape. Should I be worried? I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the constipation. Is it really true that I can eat all the SF Jello I want (just like popsicles)? I'd really like to hear how members are getting the 90grams of protein everyday. BTW, I've lost 4 lbs since Weds and I haven't even moved my bowels....imagine that might be another couple of lbs. Thanks for letting me join the forum, have a feeling I might visit often. :o) Judy

Judy....they dont expect you to get all that protein right at 1st. it took me a month before I could get most of my protein in. my Dr told me to take colace at night for constipation so check with them tomorrow, also walking and fluids helped with the poop problem. Just give yourself some time!!!! When I first got home I drank 2 carnations with milk and dried milk to help with protein....DEB

Judy, when I was constipated at first, I got a liquid stool softner at the drugstore, and that helped alot. Make sure you are getting enough liquids too. That will help. The protein is hard. The St. Vincent's program suggests 75 g of protein daily, so that's a little easier. You probably won't get it all everyday at first. You can try different kinds of shakes to see what you can tolerate. Drinking milk is good too, and can count towards your liquids intake. Just don't be like me and ignore your protein and cross your fingers, until you get dead tired and start losing hair. (Now I'm getting enough, though.) Linda Vicory

Judy: Welcome to the losers bench I felt bloated for a LONG time after surgery. For the most part, I think that's pretty normal. I was also full of gas. I learned to live on Gas-X for quite a while Any time you have major surgery your system slows down and it may be several days before having a bowel movement. This is normal. Remember to count sugar alcohol as well as sugar. I was told to stay below 7g total. Best Wishes Claudette

Judy, First of all, congrats on your surgery and becoming a loser! Second, do not EVER feel like you are pestering your surgeon's office! That's what they get the big $$ for! 1. Constipation: Every post-op's nightmare. OK..not every, but many. Ask your surgeon's office if you can try some colace. They are over-the-counter. I would recommend using the tablet form, not jeltab, not capsule. For myself, if it's not a tablet, it goes through me with no dissolving at all. 2. Protein: St. Vincent's prefers you to try thier mix first. The next thing a dietician from there would probably suggest is Isopure from GNC. Both of these to me! You may want to order yourself some Pure Protein from BariatricEating.com. It is 35 g of protein with only 160 calories. I have the Cookies & Cream and the Banana Cream. Both of these flavors are fine to me. After you get out a little further and are getting more protein via food, I would also recommend AchievOne with 20 g protein and 120 calories. It's a coffee based and there's a little bit of caffiene so I would definately wait until you are fully healed for this. I drink 2x water the volume of the drink in addition to my 64 oz to make up for the caffiene effect. When you are early out, caffiene can cause ulcers so don't try it until you are able to do ok with catup and other acidic products and you are able to get the water intake you need. 3. Sugar: Try as you might, you are not going to be able to avoid 100% of sugar. The best we can do is avoid what we can and keep the gram intake low. I just learned last night that there was sugar in the imitation crab I used. Who knew It wasn't enough to cause any issues so that I am happy for. But it does go to show that sugars can be in the strangest of places. 4. Bloating: Have you been able to pass gas? If not, try some Gas-X chewables. You may want to mention this when you call your doc about the colace. Yes...Sugar-free jello & sugar-free popcycles are both on the list. Obviously, you don't want it to replace meals, but yes, you can have it. Chicken broth is another one. There's one that comes in a cardboard box by Swanson (check the label to get the right one) that has something like 5-6 g of protein per 8 oz. It tasted fairly decent too...well..for broth. You are so newly out that I know getting in your food, your protein and your water can seem over-whelming. It does get better. No one can get it all in at first. All you can do is try your best. Sherri

Deb, Linda, Claudette & Sherri.....ty ty ty ty for replying. You all look awesome in your pictures. pAlthough I live in Indy I'm recovering at my Mom's lake house in Don't Blink, Mich (LOL). Not like there's anyone here to talk to or ask questions. However a beautiful place to take walks. I am so releived that I was over analyzing the bariatric notebook I was given. Like I said I found many inconsistencies Who better to ask then people that have all had the surgery. On the protein question, YUCK to Isopure (but drinking it anyway). I will order the Pure Protein. I also bought protein powder and mix that in with my meals and ofcourse have the Carnation & Atkins shakes. I use Biotin Shampoo which I picked up at Nature's Cubbord and will ask my Doc if I can take a Biotin supplement. Will wait and ask my doc about Colace & Gas-X. I'm not drinking any caffeine, however; I was told by my Dr. that decaf is OK. should I stay away from that too? Thanks again for your support and replies...I feel like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. Hugs, Judy:-p

Judy, Although I didn't have RNY and can't offer suggestions on the protein , I may have a suggestion for the Constipation. I have trouble with pills , and the liquid laxitives I thought tasted NASTY so I looked for natural alternatives. I found an Herbal Tea (you may even see it at grocery stores) by Traditional Medicinals called (appropriately) 'Smooth Move' (I affectionately call it my 'Poop Tea' ) I take it at night before I go to bed, and viola the next day I have 'comfortable' relief. The tea has a minty taste, and I use Splenda in it for sweetening. A plus, it counts as a liquid too. Hope that helps Hope