Milk

Hi Everyone, I am having a heck of a time getting in my three servings of milk.  Darla suggested doing two twelve ounce servings.  Tried that...too much for my pouch right now, but will remember that for the future!  (Love ya Darla!)  I am tolerating skim milk just fine but I feel so full and uncomfortable by the end of the day after eating three meals of pureed foods, my water, and then three servings of milk (not in that order) I don't know what to do. Any tips, tricks, suggestions? Thanks in advance! Colleen  

Do you count pureed cottage cheese or yogurt? I had my milk (skim) watered down by 1/2 with well water!  Then I used that to make a protein shake. I don't tolerate milk very well anymore....can't do more then 1/4 cup of skim at one time.  Bad dump. Good luck!

Breathe GF  --- It's still very early after your surgery so stop stressing about "getting it all in".  You may be like me and have a smaller, sensitive pouchie and take longer to get it all in.  And you might not be able to eat as much as the "book schedule" says you should.  I'm three months out and I'm still not at the 1/4 cup the book says I should be at.  But not everyone ends up at the 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups at each meal.  Some end up at 3/4 of a cup -- I suspect I'm one of those and you may be too.   Just concentrate on getting in what you can do and not what you can't do -- the glass half full and not half empty.  Keep it positive -- things will work out.   You don't want to put stress on the pouchie and be uncomfortable or irritate it.  You have the rest of you life to catch up to the 1 cup of food at a meal.  Your pouch is "unswelling" and letting a certain amount of food and fluid to pass.  You can't force it to heal faster and you could be irritating it and it will just take longer to heal.  The 24 ounces of milk count for the milk, plus it is 24 grams of protein -- probably close to 1/2 of what you need to do for the day.  Spend the 3 meals getting what you "can" get in, but not so that you are uncomfortable -- I'm still at 3 tablespoons at most meals, but sometimes I'm full at 2.  My body tells me when to stop -- not the book schedule.   You may not be up to the amount of protein you should do every day for another month.  Your body has reserves so nothing "bad" is going to happen.  Dehydration, not starvation, is what you should be concentrating on.  The amount of food and protein amounts will build as you go on. And if the "book schedule" doesn't work for you, you can adjust it.  I don't do the 3 milk breaks -- I do 2 - 12 ounce milks.  I needed to adjust the schedule because I don't eat as much at my meals.  I needed to find a way to get a "4th" mini meal in to get the protein counts up.  I can't do any type of protein mix cause I get nausea so the "3rd milk" in the late afternoon/evening is usually a pinky finger of chicken to finish up my protein for the day.  I don't like cottage cheese or cheese (unless it is melted) so I have to do higher protein other foods to get it all in -- at the 3 months mark -- not the 3 weeks mark.  I get in my 46 ounces of protein every day but had to find a schedule that lets me do my 3 tablespoons capacity. This time is to get into good eating habits and finding what works for you.  It is not to stress about "getting it all in".  It is going to take a while and the nurses and nutritionists know that.  You are doing great and will find a schedule that works for you.  It just takes time. XXOO

And remember that "slow & steady wins the race".  Meaning, the 12 oz. glass of milk may take me 1/2 hour to finish!  Although like Barb said, you don't have to be concerned with getting it all in yet, but work towards the goals they gave you.  Milk is an excellent choice because it counts for 3 important components - protein (1 gram per ounce of milk you drink), liquid (24 oz. in a day means only 40 oz of water or Crystal Lite or whatever your beverage of choice may be), and it will also help with your calcium.   I have a hard time with it because of the TOOTS it causes me, but I try to get it in when I know I won't be in an embarassing situation WHEN the ga****s! 

I have the exact same problem. I talked to my NUT about it and she suggested I add a scope of Beneprotien to a drink or milk a day. You can get it online through walgreens or at Meadowbrook.

Thanks for all the tips and info.  I feel better about what I've been doing as far as trying to get it in, or at least what I can get in.  "Slow and steady wins the race." MN OH is the best!! Thanks ladies!! Colleen