Please help!!!!!!

I am in serious trouble!!!  I finally broke down last night and cried and cried.  Anyway...

Since my surgury I have not been able to tolerate any protein powders (and I have spent tons of money trying different flavors and different brands).   On top of all that, I have a very hard time swallowing meats too (even if I chop it to death and chew it forever).  I can eat crab legs and my husband has been taking me out twice a week for that but I can't afford to eat them every day.   My surgeon is aware of this and says it will get better.  I am 3 1/2 months post op and only average about 20 grams of protein each day.  Anyway... I have noticed for the past month that my legs are getting really weak.  This has progressively gotten worse and now I have to have help to get up off the floor or out of the tub.  I can't even stand for very long without feeling like my legs are giving out on me.  My local medical doctor says that my muscles are atrophying (wasting away).  He even said he knows of a young woman that had RNY and now walks with a walker because of the same thing.  I am very scared but really don't know what to do.  Please help!!!!!

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time...  A few suggestions come to mind - have you tried unflavored protein powder- add it to soups, jello etc so its more 'hidden'? Have you tried the protein bullets... even if they taste nasty at least you get your protein in one small shot. Have you tried soy protein instead of whey? How about other high protein foods besides meat? A 1/2 cup of cottage cheese averages around 12g... string cheese, soy products (what about the fake soy/tofu meats?? boca burgers? etc)... glasses of soy milk/cows milk. Since you can eat crab - what about tuna? Tuna is packed with protein! There are post-oppers who arnt allowed protein suppliments... there are also post-oppers who are vegeterian - you may want to post to the diet & nutrition board to see if some of those people can give you ideas. I am amazed your surgeon doesnt seem more concerned... 20g of protein on average is extremely low, especially for you to be over 3 months out and still struggling... I would definately be a little more pushy with him or your NUT and get a better plan on how to get protein in without the protein shakes and even without meat.

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.  I haven't tried the soy protein but I definately will.  I did have some tuna for lunch today.  Took me forever to get it down but I did.  I am determined to get better with this...  it is now 2:00 in the afternoon and I have had 31 grams so far (that is the most I have ever had).  Thank you sooooo much.   Donna

Hello,

Im 6 weeks out and also have a hard time getting my protien in I have found egg beaters works for me and I cant tolerate meats either but tuna in small quanities. Try to use soups I eat alot of ckn and rice in those handy snack cups and cream of ckn soup I dont use protien shakes make me sick but I can tolerate my Mochas with fat free milk and light on choc at starbucks this gives 13 grams protien per 16 oz It takes me about 4 hours to drink but I can tolerate it also try protien bars you can snack on those all day I eat balance bar cinnamin & oaks takes me all day to eat 1 but 15 grams protien if you can tolerate try salmon lots of fiber 21 grams 3oz.

Thank you for replying.   Please (from my experience) make sure you get your protein in!!!!  I haven't tried the egg beaters but that sounds good.  I did have some tuna for lunch today but it took me forever to get it down.  I love soup!!!  I have seen the protein bars but I was scared to try them because they had so much sugar.  I will try nibbling on one all day and see how I do.  I have got to do this.   My mom use to fix salmon patties and I asked a lady at work today how to make them.  I think that is what I am going to try for supper.  I know I could handle that.  Thank you so much.  I do hope all is going well for you.  Thanks again.  Donna

If you tolerate crab, look for the pouches of white crab meat in the area where the canned and pouches of tuna are in the store.  And I think sometimes I've seen them in Walmart near the seafood area.  The only down side is the preservative stuff they put in it, but it's not bad (nor is the canned white and lump crab meat) and if it gets in some protein, I guess it's a tradeoff.  Another benefit is that these pouches are "travel friendly" and don't need refrigeration unless opened.  Serving Size: 2.5 oz. Servings: 1 Calories: 40.00 Calories from Fat: 5 Total Fat: 0 g. Saturated Fat: 0 g. Cholesterol: 60.00 mg. Sodium: 500.00 mg. Total Carbohydrates: 1.00 g. Dietary Fiber: 0 g. Sugars: 1 g. Protein: 9.00 g. Vitamin A: 0% Vitamin C: 0% Calcium: 6% Iron: 2%  Also, if you can go to a Lowe's (and I also get this sometimes at Food Lion), they have a 16 oz. LUMP crab meat that's pretty good.  I use it for my crab cakes.  I get it from 10.99/lb. to 14.99/lb. so when you divvy it up into several 4 oz. portions, it's not too bad... especially since overall you're eating way less than before surgery so factor that into how much something costs and don't shortchange yourself on good stuff you can tolerate!  Even if you spend $$ to eat that crab, you're STILL not spending as much on food as you were pre-surgery!  

Donna, Since reading your post this morning I have been very concerned about you. Getting that protien in is my main goal everyday along with my fluids. I have found the protien shakes dont do to well for me but like the flavors but still have to pay the price when drinking them. The protien bars I am now using are MetRX Protien Plus they have 3 grams of sugar and 25 grams of sugar alcohol and 32 grams of protien. For a 3oz bar they look huge. I  usally have a half in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. I have found soup does really well and a member on this board gave me a great soup recipe that is full of protien and it is very filling I make it every month now and even DH loves it too. Also Wendy's crab quiche is wonderful and you can get alot of meals out of the quiche also. I have found many foods have protien so I read labels like a wild woman and try to get most of my protien in with regular type foods instead of those shakes. I still have a hard time with beef but seafood and my pouch are best friends. I was able to have some grilled chicken on a salad for dinner the other night and I added one serving of 2% cheese to the salad. Salad seems to help things go down well for me but I always have something in the salad like chicken or seafood and cheese. Sounds like to me the weakness you are having is from not enough protien. If you can work on getting more protien in I am sure you will feel better and stronger. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.                                                 Annie

Donna,
Sorry to hear you are having trouble. I love soup and I mix unflavored protein into it and I need to get my butt in gear because Im not doing good with it at all. I also have protein bullets and they are nasty but at least they are down my throat. Like the others say Cottage cheese is good and soft and has a lot of protein good luck sweetie!!

Darcie