Talked to the dietician...

So I've been struggling to get enough fluids in, and minimal "food". I had a half premier protein today and so far 500 mls of water. After speaking to her I also did a 1/4 cup of broth. She said I need to get in 1.5 litres of water tomorrow (yikes!) plus also much of what's on the diet example...I'll try to post a pic in here. I was pretty clear that this will be a stretch for me and she said to at least get in 500 ml of protein shake and one liquid from each meal section. I am going to give it a shot but was glad to hear from oneatatime that it was a struggle too. Thoughts on how to get to something like this with the menu plan.

When I was early out, I just had 2 premier protein shakes a day, plus all of my water, and it was a full time job to get them in. I had to slowly sip all day long, and stay up late to get in all of the water.

After a few days of that I was able to add in very small portions (medicine cup or expresso cup size) of soup broth, or V8 (just for a change of taste). I could add in small amounts (espresso size cup) of cottage cheese or yogurt by week two, but mostly just relied on the premier protein and water.

Hang in, it will get easier as you go. Just be careful to get your protein and water in. You need the protein to help your insides heal, and you need the water so you won't get dehydrated. Good luck.

Thank you. I was hoping she'd say just focus on the water and protein shakes and that's all because it seems to be reasonable, like what you were able to accomplish. This seems much more but I will keep trucking. Funny about you staying up late, I'm afraid to nap now and lose the hour and a half of sipping time.

Argh. The dietitians are great, but can really instill fear. Seriously, focus on staying hydrated (water) and getting in protein through shakes like Kathy said. Then, when you're ready, add in other sources like yogurt or cottage cheese. Nap when you need to. Sleep is SO imperative to healing.

You got this! Take it easy. Always have water beside you, and keep a shake beside you and sip it throughout the day when you can. For the first couple of days home, I got one in. Then I got two in. And started adding in yogurt and cottage cheese. A quarter of one. And that took an hour. It got better over a couple/few weeks. It's really normal!!

You will set yourself up for failure if you try to tackle everything on the list.

Got my one full shake in today...yayyy! And one litre of water. So feeling good about that. Also was able to shower for the first time. All around feeling so much better! I do think the extra water and protein helped me not feel so blah...the little extra energy felt great. I decided you guys are right add a little at a time and do my best. She kind of scared me when she said I would be dehydrated soon and need to visit er for IV rehydration. How about no...lol. I'm trying though and feeling better with the reassurance here.

Same diet today I manged one protein shake, the oatmeal and I'm at about 3 cups of other liquid now, I figure if I get more each day, then its good. Didn't feel like eating anything after the oatmeal so will try for something lighter tomorrow for breakfast was up for 2 hours from5-7 after an "incident in the night" so my schedule's been really off today, but hoping for better things tomorrow

Good for you! I'm doing yogurt instead for breakfast tomorrow, staying away from the oatmeal as I think it's too heavy for me still and I want to minimize carbs but the yogurt went down okay as a snack the other day so maybe it will feel lighter for you too and allow you to get more water in. Try at least 4 cups tomorrow, dietician told me today if not at least that much new pouch gets a little more swollen making it even harder to get stuff in. Good luck as we ramble through this journey together.

It's my first full day back at home and I'm on a mission to get better at the protein and water. I was so bloated yesterday, that I just couldn't swallow more liquids. I'm better today. I'm just sipping away and doing my best.

I found the first three days I really couldn't get anything in. Yesterday was better, today was much improved. Got some soup, a yogurt and a half of a premier in. Hopefully you find you are able to get more in every day, I think everyone was right about just concentrate on water...the rest will come.

One thing I did in the first week was set my timer on my phone for every 10 minutes and then took 2 sips of my drink. It gets it in quicker without any pain.