Hello,
My surgery is not til March 25th, but I have been trying to get started with my vitamins and everything else BEFORE my surgery and I just started my protein drink yesterday.
Here is the question/problem..............I ate my normal but smaller portion dinner last night and drank my 10 oz of chocolate protein drink with my dinner.   About 45 minutes after dinner I felt like my stomach was going to explode (not painful, but overfull).  Does the protein drink expand after you drink it????    I was very comfortable when I left the table but then everything turned into misery......
Anyone else have this experience?   I want to make sure when I drink my protein drink after surgery that I don't' drink too much or drink it to quick and cause my band to slip.
Any suggestions?????
Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi - I'm also pre-op - my surgery is this Friday (LapBand). I haven't had any issues with the protein drink expanding - but I've also been on a complete liquid diet for the past two weeks in preparation for surgery. I haven't ever eaten anything other than a yogurt or a pudding with it before. I think that you might find it better to have the protein drink in place of a meal rather than with a meal - just my opinion - I'm certainly not a doctor - but you might want to talk to the doctor's office. I'm sure that all protein drinks are a little bit different as well!

Take care and good luck!

Jeri

my nuturtionist said to replace a meal with the protein shake maybe thats why you were overfull feelin.

Shakes are meant to replace meals. Also, 10 ounces is a lot of liquid, especially in the early stages after surgery. You will do better with shakes that don't require so much liquid. There are some that are just 4-6 ounces.

I don't generally have any problems with the protein drinks, but I do not eat or drink within 30 minutes of a meal - not 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after.  Drinking before makes you feel full so you don't eat, and drinking after pushes the food through.  I'm not sure if the 30/30 rules applies to lapband, but since you will have restriction, it's something to think about.

protien drinks are meal replacements as everyone has said. 

while I can drink 24 oz of water quickly I find a large protein drink takes an hour or so to drink.

they just seem more filling.

I would not drink them with a meal but instead of a meal or snack.

also be aware that what you LIKE or TOLERATE before surgery may change after surgery.  

There are only a few protein drinks I can tolerate or like now...

and after surgery you will not DRINK you will SIP....

life before surgery can get you ideas of what life after surgery will be but it cannot be imagined.  It's totally different than what you  think ti's going to be no matter WHAT you think.

it's a paradox.

Hey there,
Thank you everyone for your posts, I really appreciate it.   I feel kind of foolish, but I never thought about replacing a meal with the drink......my common sense should have told me this, but, I guess I've been so caught up in the nerves of this whole surgery that I completely lost my common sense......LOL
Thank you again for all of your posts.
I will try the drink without the food this time!!!   LMAO