Is anyone else bummed????

This is such a positive supportive site i hesitate to write a negative question. But is any one else struggling? This is not easy!!!!! In fact it is downright difficult. I want to eat and i can't. I get nauseous and gag trying to take the prevacid each morning. I haven't found a protein drink i like and can choke down. I want to drink water and my pouch only allows the smallest sips. I know i'm not getting enough liquids in. I am 3 1/2 weeks out. Has anyone else struggled like this?????

Hi Beth, First off...don't feel like you're alone. We've all been though this. Did you have RNY or LAP-BAND? I know it's hard, but try to be a little more patient. If you had RNY your pouch is still healing and probably still swollen. It is difficult in the first days/weeks to get all the food/fluid requirements. Relax, just do your best, it will come. I would say after the initial 8-10 weeks, I started having less problems (and eventually no problems) with nausea and getting all my fluids and protein/food in on a daily basis. Taking pills became easier too. At six months I came off of the proton pump inhibitor I was on (protonix and boy was it a horsepill). In the beginning I tried several protein mixes with milk and found that they were just okay. I liked the unjury chocolate and the matrix chocolate. I also used the Nectar Lemon Tea. They were all okay, but had that protein taste and smell. It got to the point where the thought of drinking a milk based protein drink was gagging me. Then one time I decided to try another Nectar one that sounded different - It was from their "Naturals" line called Tealicious. It has no protein taste or smell whatsoever. Other than being a little cloudy you'd think you were drinking an instant iced tea beverage. It is a little strong and sweet. The first time I had it I mixed it with 10 oz of water and it was way too strong/sweet so I added water. Over time I found that I mix it with 16-18 oz of water and then add ice to make 20 oz and it's perfect. Also, you don't need a blender, it mixes with a spoon. They also have a Nectar Naturals Peach Flavor too. I am not a fan of peach so I have not tried it. I drink two of these drinks a day in order to make sure that I get in my 90-100grams of protein each day. I also count the water/ice I put in there toward my 64oz fluid tally for each day. I realize everyone has different tastes. You may want to try Susan Maria's site: BariatricEating.com to get a sample of the Tealicious. I hope this helps. If you get frustrated or have a question, please post away. Take Care, Terry

Thank you so much. I feel the same way about the protein drinks. I had RNY. I will get the samples of the tea you mentioned. I like tea and i like sweet so maybe it will do the trick for me. THANK YOU THANK YOU

I just orderd my samples. Crossing my fingers i have luck with them like you did. Thanks again.

Hang in there, Beth! It does get better. Just such an extreme adjustment, but as you know, well worth it. My protein drink of choice was a cup of Carnation sugar free breakfast (chocolate) with 1% milk and an additional 1/3 cup of powdered milk added also. They say you have to watch the sugar if your prone to dumping, but I never had a problem with it. Believe the protein grams totaled 23 and calories were about 250. Now, reference eating and the mind games associated with it. I'll give you a perspective from someone who is a little over 1.5 years out. I went to my friends Fall deck party last night. They provide the meats, and the guests bring the sides and desserts. It's always such a good spread and I was looking forward (mentally) to the variety and the amounts. I grabbed my plate, tossed on some pulled pork and chicken, corn casserole, sweet potato roll, and some chili. Sat down to enjoy my food, and was done after about 6 bites!!! Very disappointing (mentally), but after I got done feeling sorry for myself, I was thrilled that my "tool" was still working. Take it easy, try not to stress, and remember with time that all things work out. Just do your best! TraciL

Hi Beth, Don't be discouraged. I'm almost 3 weeks out and I'm having a hard time getting all of my water in. Before wls I could drink 8 or 9 bottles of water a day, now I am having a rough time drinking 2. I went to walmart last night and found designer whey powder, had some this morning (I put two teaspoons of chocolate ice cream and 4oz. 1% milk and blended it) has 20g protien for one scoop and it didn't taste too bad. I had also ordered the hanks protien samples, the chocolate was the best, I can not afford 50.00 for protein powder though. As for the prevacid try taking it at night before bed. I used to take that before wls, in the morning it made me nauseous also I didn't have any problems before bed. And yes I am struggling with head hunger also. But I think it's getting better. Hang in there. Everything will work out for you. Lisa

I am sorry to hear about your struggles. Wow- i must say it sounds similar to my experience as a new post op. I had lactose intolerance before the RNY and it was much worse afterewards (still there some even now). Supposedly the part of the intentine bypassed helps digest lactose... I suggest trying the protein shakes but make with water. Also- IDS New Whey Liquid Protein- makes a small test tube size drink -fruity and sweet- they are about 3 oz for 20-25 gram protein. About 2-3 bucks each from www.netrition.com. Some of the bariatric sites may sell it too. Carry a beverage with you whereever you go. I could tolerate teas- I did better with warm tea- nothing with ice the first month or so for me. My stomach is still quite sensitve but it does get better- believe me- i have been thru it too. Check out my profile where I have chronicled by struggles and accomplishments. Feel free to contact me. I too felt alone in my stuggle then but this website is full of supportive people. Try you surgery date board- those folks are going thru the process at the same time you are- that is the board i fireqented most as an early post-op. Take care, Karen

Hi Beth. I haven't had a chance to read the other posts to your questions/concerns, so please forgive me if I repeat them. This group is a great place to come with questions and concerns. We are good at taking the good with the "negative". Although I don't feel your post is at all negative. No mine from the other day was negative and not even WLS related! Please know that (I think I can speak for most) we are happy to help you along in your wls journey any way we can. As for how you are feeling...I can totally relate. I had a HORRIBLE first couple of months. I came home from the hospital in a lot of pain and couldn't find anything that tasted good to eat or drink. Water was down right nasty and all the other sugar free stuff just didn't settle with me. Forget protein drinks! They were the worst. Part of the problem is that your body just isn't very happy about surgery and not getting the food it wants to eat. Part of it is simply recovering from major surgery. I eventually found Fiji water the best to tolerate and it had to be ice cold before I could stand it. I also stuck to just a few main staples for food. I ate cheese a lot but had to stop for lactose intolerance. (Thank goodness that has mostly gone away, still no milk or icecream, which is fine with me.) I ate chicken salad, turkey salad, just about any kind of poultry with sauce of some kind on it. The key was to keep things moist, makes it easier to digest, even today. I was sick to my stomach all the time too. I took prevacid by opening the capsule and putting the little balls on a spoonful of no sugar added applesauce. Somedays I gaged it down by for the most part that helped a lot. Keep sipping and keep trying to eat stuff. You will find that some days certain foods work well and other days those same foods just don't work out. If you find yourself feeling really bad physically, see your doctor. I got dehydrated and had to be rehospitalized for IV liquids. Not fun! Keep sipping on tha****er. It does get better. Took me about 8 weeks to feel close to myself again. Up until then I had no energy and would literally drop on the couch when I got home from work and stay there all evening. I have a very sensitive pouch so I get gas and nausea and other pains from time to time. I have my little tricks for getting better but mostly I avoid certain foods that do it too me. Sometimes it doesn't matter what I eat but for the most part things are better. Please don't hesitate to ask questions from us. We are here for you!! Hugs, Robin

Hi, Sorry you're bummed. I can't say that this path is easy at all, but I can say that it is the most worthwhile thing I have done for myself in quite some time. You can sip tha****er bit by bit and still meet your liquid requirements. Sip away. Don't let the things you can't do the way you use to make you forget the things you will be able to do soon that you couldn't. I had a WOW moment when I brought my first outfit from Old Navy. That might not sound grand to some but for me it was an absolute milestone. I am down 90 lbs in 5 months. Please work at getting your protien and liquids so you don't get rehospitalized for dehydration. Best wishes on a positive outlook and successful journey.