Soon to be R N Y ers

If any of you are planning R N Y and I know some of you are, please take this one piece of advice from me. I'm still having problems with this one area. I can't seem to be able to find anything to drink that I like to drink. The only thing so far I've found is sugar free popsicles. I've become completely milk intolerant.    Water, crystal light, tomato juice, orange juice, coffee tea, apple juice are what I drank pre surgery, now they are inedible. Tastes bad!!!
Before surg, go buy different drink things so there may be something you can easily drink later.
I don't think bandsters have this issue to deal with.
I am going now to make a cup of tea with coffeemate and splenda, to see if I can tolerate that.

Have you tried herbal teas? They come in a large variety of tastes- minty, spicy, sweet, peppery. If you want a sweet taste, try anything with hibiscus flowers in it. I like splenda with mine, but you would have to experiment. Don.t forget Gator-aide, it has electrolytes. Try watering it down too. How was the tea?

Maggie

Are you able to tolerate any protein drinks of any kind - did you locate beneprotein - I saw a topic on the rny boards today about people getting beneprotein for post surgery cause it will mix in cold and hold stuff - there is no taste- it dissolves. like for tonight with your tea you would have mixed in a couple teaspoons and voila protein tea.... try to avoid caffenated drinks cause they defeat the purpose of trying to take in all your fluids....

I think herbal/decaffinated teas would be a good shot just make them weaker if you find them too strong in flavouring.

ARe you tolerating any boost or glucerna or any of those types - now that you have switched iron pills is your diarrea any better. So right now are you getting any protein in as far as supplemented protein- what does Dr B want you to aim for .....

Yup our taste buds are affected big time .......... I cant do any crystal light or the nestea mixes by doing the whole single serving - early out I would just put in enough to take the iron metally taste away from the water - I used I think white grape and peach ice tea as they were the ones I found most  mild and even then I only probably used a 1/4 of a package in water bottle - the other thing you can do is make your icecubes out of the crystal light or nesteas instant cold teas and toss in couple in your glass of water for a lil flavoring.

Also warm water with a lil lemon sometimes is better than cold water. There are protein hot chocolates that have 15 grams of protein -now I was finding everything to sweet when first out but you may be ok with them and you can add divinici syrups to have moch/chocolate or hazlenut chocolate I even bought a kalluha flavor -

Dont give up you can try soy protein drinks if you are lactose intolerant....

Like you said Maggie you just have to keep trying - protein is so important for the weight loss and also to keep healthy with regards to hair and skin and nails . Also brain fuction when it comes down to it you really need your protein to function when I wasnt able to find any that tasted ok or I could keep down - I was losing my concentration and not able to think very quickly the doctor told me it was because it was like there was a famine going on in my body - at one point she thought it was best I didnt drive cause I couldnt remember where I was headed and couldnt focus on the road.

hang in there

hugs
deb

My decaffinated tea did go well. So I guess I've found something I can drink. Thank God, I was getting desperate. I don't care for herbed or spiced teas. The closest I come to herbed tea is orange peko. LOL  I'm only 1 1/2 weeks out so I think I'll stop worrying about protein for right now and concentrate on getting food to set in my pouch. Protein drinks and things just don't work for me and by making me puke, I don't think they are doing the healing much good either. The human body is self sustainable for up to a month before you really need to start to worry too much.
 
I am concenteating on getting food in right now last night for supper, I had 1/2 cup mashed potates and 1/2 cup carrots mashed with alittle butter. It was heaven. I couldn't get it all in but it was so good to eat something. I had a scrambled egg and 1/2 toast yesterday am. Slowly but surely. Deb, can I take my Centrum forte along with my palafer at night or should I take one in the am and one in the pm? I take palafer at bedtime as you suggested and it does not seem to bother my belly so much. Thank you.

Hi Maggie

You dont want to take anything with your iron but vitamin c - I dont have centrum in front of me but if you take anything will calcium it will affect the absorption.

I personally take my calcium a couple times a day. Then I take my multis after lunch and my b- complex afternoon as I find I dont like it on an empty stomach. I do my b12 sublingual alternate days and take it late morning.

The only thing I take at night in supplements is my iron and vitamin c and it is just before I shut off the lights.

take care & hugs
deb

I've asked Dr. B's dietian Rinette and she says we need only centrum forte and later a calcium suppliment. She said  menstrating women may need and iron suppliment . I have asked specifically about baratric vitimins and minerals but she says no. I take my palafer at hs and my centrum forte before b'fast. 

That is the current policy re vitamins, but she said that their opinion is starting to swing back to bariatric vitamins.   My opinion is that even people who eat well don't get everything they need every day, so I ordered the bariatric vitamins. After the first 6 months, I may change my mind, but for the healing period I want the best.

Charline

I agree with you - taking vitamins designed for our new bods just makes me feel that much better on what I am putting into my body.

I know the vitamin/supplement industry is a multi/billion dollar industry but you have to do your reseach and even with your surgeons advice go with your gut (pouch) lol on this one .

I have learned the hard way with protein and supplements - by starting off not taking the right amounts and now see how much more sucessful I am with health and my losses and my blood work is not just in the norm for levels it shows a healthier me -

My last battle is my iron- and that keeps on going up so I am excited to get results later this week to see how much more it has come up this month....

I am a huge advocate from the get go - that WLS patients ask for copies of your their blood work - so that you can then chart and be responsible for what your numbers are - remember most docs are looking for norm levels - they dont get flagged on the results with changing numbers headed in the wrong direction & most dont have the time to say hey this xyz is on a decline .... so that is up to me to be vigilant about my numbers and with research and professional advice tweak my supplements to keep me at my healthiest.

deb

My family doctor just called me about an hour ago. She just got back by latest hemoglobin results and they were 80. I had a hard time convincing her that that test was taken 3 days after my last transfusion. She wants me to call the blood lab tomorrow and book a c.b.c./diff, a creatin, b12, ferritin and erc folate. Said I would but think I'm wasting my time. Seems all the docs want to do for low hemoglobin is to prescribe iron suppliments. She's concerned about my secondary infections (thrush) and doesn't want it to go systemic due to lower hemo levels. I do see her point but I don't feel like going to SJRH. UUUGGG I'm tired.

Your hemoglobin level can tell them more than a number- if the number has dropped  below 80, you need a transfusion stat. A significant drop could mean you are leaking blood somewhere. Not a happy thought but better to know , Book the appointment, Maggie.