Help for a friend.

Hello everyone! I have a friend who just had WLS on Monday. She is home and doing great but feeling very confused. She lives here in Greenville and her surgeon is Dr. Naziri.

She’s really confused about liquids and getting in her protein. She said she feels so stuffed from water it’s ridiculous. She’s going by what the hospital said to do.

She’s drinking 1-2ozs of water each hour. She is drinking 2ozs of boost as a meal 6 times a day. She said following those guidelines isn’t giving her a break 30 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes after the meal from not drinking anything. Also, only drinking the boost she is only getting 15g of protein. Should she add protein powder to that? I told her she should because I thought that’s what I remembered from nutrition class. She tried the protein bullet but she said it’s kind of thick and yucky.

I certainly would appreciate any advice you have for her. It will of course help her and then in turn help me when I finally get a surgery date. Thanks everyone! :) Becky

I went through SS also with Dr. MacDonald. Tell her congrats on getting her surgery and to sip sip sip! Since she is on liquids only, she does not have to stop 30 mintues before and 30 minutes after in order to get all of her meals in. It's all liquid so it goes down easy.  There are other posts on here also about this from recently... Regarding the boost-- yes, she should put potein powder in it if she can take it.  Tell her to mix 1 thing of Boost with 1-2 scoops of protein for the entire day. Then drink 2 oz or so 6 x a day and it should be enough.  Like Darcie said, staying hydrated is the most important thing, but if she can get the protein in that is good too. I was told Boost ALONE was not enough protein. She should have gotten some paperwork from the Nutritionist when she met with them in her pre-op visits. Tell her to look back at it now and it will help her TREMENDOUSLY! I still refer to them and I'm 7 weeks out.  And always, when in doubt-- call the surgeon's office. Bobbi will be more than glad to help her! Is she planning to come to the support group meeting next week? if she is feeling up to it, it would probably be very informative for her.  Feel free to come yourself also! :) Good luck with YOUR impending surgery!!!

Thanks! I told her she could always call the office, but I thought I'd also ask up here because I think this board and you ladies are awesome! We will both be going to the support group meeting. :) Becky

Great! I look forward to meeting you both! :)

First of all, please extend my congratultions to your friend. Secondly, tell her not to worry about the 30 mins before/after at this point. Right now hydration and protien are the main focuses ... HYDRATION being key here. She should speak with her nut. or Dr, but the 30 before/after rule doesn't apply until you are eating solids and right now, she's on total liquids.

Barb

You really only have to do the 30 min rule when you move to soft foods and then normal eating. Technically water and protein drinks all count as liquids... the point of not drinking before eating is to keep food in the pouch and since liquids move right thru it doesnt make a difference.

Staying hydrated is very important... but so is protein. For water I was told 1 small sip every 2 minutes... not sure how much that comes out to. As for the protein I would definately suggest she get more than 15g in if she can... I saw that Designer Whey has protein single serving packets that mix with water (at GNC)... she could also add protein to the boost, or just make her own protein shakes.

Call Dr. Naziri's surgical PA.  She can answer all of your questions.  I had my surgery at Nash General and their nutritionist was yucky.  I met with her before surgery--she gave me no booklet or notes.  Just told me to go on a low carb diet two weeks prior to surgery.  I was never able to meet with her again.  I am 4 months out and just winging it on my own.   If I have a real serious question I call the Physician's Assistant for Dr. Naziri and ask her.   Water is most important and mixing protein powder with the Boost is real important.  I loved the Pecan flavored mixed with unflavored powder or vanilla powder.   I drank the 2 oz a day for about two weeks then slowly moved it up 1/2 oz at a time until I got to three ounces.  I used the plastic 3 oz cups from Food Lion.  They were less intimadating than facing a 16 oz glass.  I found some small 8 oz water bottles at Wal-mart and just refilled these.  I think they were Wal-Mart brand Spring Water.   I kept my water at room temperature.  Really cold water hurt my stomach.   Make sure to take the vitamins recommended by Dr. Naziri. 

I had Dr. Mann who is Dr. Naziris partner. Dr. Mann told me the number one concern he had was for me to stay HYDRATED and not bother with the protein for the first two weeks. I know its hard to get the stuff down and I just sipped water all day long. She can call Southern Surgical if she has any questions tell her congrats on her WLS!!

Darcie