Question on protien intake

I was just chatting with someone who is three weeks out and has been on protien since home from hospital.  I am not sure who the dr is but, she could not believe that I am going with out protien.  I told her that my dr said 40 grams at six weeks and 60 at 12 weeks.  I asked her how I was supposed to get protien from a clear liquid diet.  I told her that I am doing everything dr has said i can eat except for broth I can not do it I hate it.  All vitamins and pills asked of me and all 64 oz of water.  I guess I am just all worked up about it.  I am sure all of us who have had dr singh have all been through the same diet.  Just putting this out there just to get some input.  I am already emotional now I am second guessing what i am taking in. I was told by this person no wonder why I feel so bad I could end up in hospital?????  THANK YOU FOR READING  Bridgit 

Bridgit, I can tell you that I am on the liquid diet also, as you know I had my surgery 2 days after you.   I am on clear liquids until Wednesday then I introduce pureed, soft foods.   When I go back to the doctor for my post-op on Friday I then get the protein powder - I have been told 60 grams per day, with food and the powder.   Each doctor is different and I am sure you know what the doctor/office told you.   Call them first thing in the morning and they will set your mind at ease.   As I said I am sure you are doing what they asked you to do.   Talk withyou soon!    Michelle...

Our surgeons put us on a liquid diet firctly after the surgery and it is protein shakes only. I don't know what your doctors thinking is that you can be without protein but I wouldn't recommend it. A lack of protein can make you very weak. But i would check into that because a clear liquid diet following surgery doesn't make sense.

Brdgit, Don't worry - your dr is who you should be listening to. If I remember correctly the first week home for me was nothing but clear liquids - no protein, no food, just liquids! (BTW, I hated the broth too!!!) I was so tired I really didn't have anything other than water... I didn't want anything other than water!!! I asked Dr Clarke about getting protein in during that first week & he said that because of the healing process I could only have clear liquids... the protein would come soon enough... not to worry!! After our first follow up (a week after being released) I was able to eat soft foods & then pureed both phases w/ protein powder added.  Everyone's dr has a different program for us to follow so don't worry about what others are doing or what others think you should be doing!! When in doubt call the office!! You will be fine!!! Keep up the great work!! Cece

Hello Bridgit:

So nice speaking with you last night! Every bariatric program is different unfortunately. No doubt you will receive a variety of responses from histrionics of something like ''OH MY GOD you'll just perish away'' to the laid back ''oh you'll be just fine that is what I did". Consider not trying to disagree with either side embrace peoples opinions for that is all they are (mine included) and discover what is best for your wellness! Validate one another I feel can get us much farther than having to be superior/right (not that I don't do this myself at times! but I am workign on letting go of judgments of self/others daily!) and shaming the other person in the process! No one wins that way!

each surgeons/bariatric program has different rationale for their plans. Some have folks on food the day after surgery, and many folks do just fine with that. Many programs have their folks on liquids for 1-2 weeks they want to rest the pouch and not introduce anything that could cause vomiting/injury to pouch/stapleline. The clear liquids also allows for more rapid induction into ketosis/wt loss for many, where food can slow that down as many soft foods are loaded with carbs( hot thinned cereals such as cream of wheat and oatmeal, mashed taters thinned instant mashed, some yogurts, sf/ff puddings).

Some programs do protein shakes, many do not. Some do them for several weeks/months, some for life. It is easy to get frustrated/scare and confused with all of this! In reality ther is no best practice tested/researched to my knowledge! It is an evolving science.

Now I am a Dr. Singh patient over 5 years out and I can say I did fine w/o protein for 2 weeks. I didn't perish, become so sick I landed back in the hospital etc. In fact due to my complication at 4 weeks out necessitating a second surgery to remove adhesions that had wrapped around my Roux Y connection and making a stricture there I was on clear liquids 2 more weeks! Gee wizz and I still didn't die or anything! Dr. Singh and AMC's program is a bariatric center of excellence (as others are and may have you eating food they are neither wrong in fact probably both right for a varity of different reasons!) he has done many hundreds of RNY's and a few hundred lapbands. Dr Rosati as well has doen many hundred RNys and has same postop nutrition planning.

just as preop wt loss may differe in if they want or if they don'ta nd if they do what they do a diet such as WW or medifast...both differeent but neither wrong!

As I said see how you feel, if too week w/o food call clinical nutrition they do tailor plans to the individual as I stated!

We also reviewed hibernation and depression as a adjustment reaction to loss of food etc so I think you are wrapping your brain around that and know you are not alone and no amount of protein would change that now.
One thought came to me there is a clear liquid protein at GNC in a bottle isopure I think, many varieties but expen$ive like $3 a bottle, here is a link to see what it looks like!
http://isopureoutlet.com/inc/sdetail/82

Isopure ready-to-drink bottles... Apple Melon, Grape Frost, Passion Fruit, Orange, Alpine Punch, Pineapple Orange Banana, Mango Peach, and Blue Raspberry - No sugar, No preservatives, No fat, No carbs, No lactose... Just 40 grams of the purest, lightest, healthiest protein with a fresh, clean, fruity taste.

Excellent kool-aide type flavors. Keep a bottle of Isopure in the refrigerator and pour small amounts to sip throughout your day. Many surgeons recommend this product to their patients. Some freeze it in ice cube trays early postop for a sluchie/popsicle!

So moral of my story take what you need and leave the rest, not allowing others to shame you! Bridgit you are doing great! Call me today when you get a chance!