9 days post-op and really need some HELP!

I am only 9 days post-op and I am really really close to eating some cottage cheese or tuna and know I shouldn't. This liquid diet is so incredibly hard. I guess it's the "head hunger" I've been reading about. I can't find a protein drink I like. I've spent so much money trying different ones with no luck, they are just horrible. I really feel I don't want to spend another penny on protein mixes. Basically for the past 12 days (seems like A LOT more, LOL!) I've been eating cream of chicken soup, tomato soup, jello and popsicles. AND, I just realized that I shouldn't have been even eating the jello and popsicles because they are not sugar free. I can't eat the Aspartame in sugar free products. I KNOW FOR SURE I am not even getting enough protein with the few things I am able to eat, maybe that is why I am craving cottage cheese and tuna? I need any help and advice from you experienced WLS patients/friends. What do I do??? Peggy

Hi Peggy! I know what you're going through because I was in the same situation during the liquid phase! I have yet to be able to tolerate any protein drinks!!! You should try going to Safeway and in their hot deli area they have soups that are really, really good. You can blend them in your blender and basically drink them. I know they aren't super high in protein but they are really quite good and at least you're getting in some calories along with some protein. The one that I really liked was the Baked Potato one. It's wonderful! And, it reheats REALLY well so you can go buy a big bowl of it and just keep it in the fridge. I never did get in the required amount of protein during that phase. And I even didn't get it all in during the pureed phase either. It wasn't until I got into the soft food phase that I even came close to reaching my protein goals! But, you will be fine ... do the best you can and go get some Safeway soup! Deanna

Deanna, thanks so much for your reply. I am pretty close to a Safeway, so that is what my mission will be tomorrow. Great advice. I can't tell you how good it hears that I am not experiencing these thoughts and feeling alone. I even found myself in tears a couple of times (not sure where that is coming from?) these past couple of days because I've really wanted to eat something substantial. The family is going on normal eating patterns and I feel "left out" and totally feeling sorry for myself. Did you or any other WLS patients go into the next phases earlier than they recommended? At this point, I am thinking if my new stomach tolerates a few pureered things, why not? I know, I know, I need to go read my manual again and be reminded why it's important to stay in each phase as recommended. I tell ya, when I hit the 14 day mark I am going to be much happier with pureed foods............I hope. Peggy

You have my sympathy Peggy! Your food world will open up before you know it, and you won't feel left out at all. I remember feeling most of my feelings about being deprived related to the commercials on T.V. (expecially the pizza ones). The rules were different for me 2 1/2 years ago. My first three weeks were for graduating from mushy to pureed foods. We had lots of suggestions for trying things, and cottage cheese was one of them (so long as we were aware our lactose tolerance could change). At three week post-op visit I was released to try some "real" food, chewed well and tried one at a time. Dr. Hong said with common sense I could pretty much try anything. With all of those protein drinks and pudding and popsicles....by then I was really aching for something savory and/or spicy. Salty! It's O.K. to miss real food and look forward to re-introducing them into your diet. It is coming soon! I say chocolate is the most tolerable protein shake, vanilla hides the protein taste the worst. I did the best with Boost (protein plus) chocolate sold at Rite Aid or anywhere probably. I think you can buy just one can. Supplemented it in a blender with a scoop of Any Whey tasteless protein powder from GNC, a scoop of cottage cheese, a half cup of milk, some ice and blend. This turned into an uber shake worth about 45-50 grams of protein. I only had to sip that broken up into about six times during the day and I knew I had done my protein. Other eating was just for "trying" things. May the time go faster for you!! Patty

Hi Peggy! Oh, I went through the crying phase too! In fact, my husband stayed home for a couple weeks to help me with the kids after my surgery ... we took the kids to Burger King and I had to sit there and watch everyone eat burgers. I burst into tears in the middle of Burger King because it was all so overwhelming to me! Jus****ching everyone eat and smelling it, and realizing what I'd done. It was all very overwhelming to me! I saw that you went through Legacy Good Sam for your surgery ... me too! Is Kelly your nutritionist? When I was in the liquid stage, I was having problems feeling satisfied so I e-mailed Kelly and she told me I could move on to the pureed phase. I think I made it about 11 or 12 days on the liquid stage before I moved on to pureed. The first thing I made was vegetarian refried beans (blended) heated up with some shredded cheese on top. It was the most fanstic tasting thing I have ever had! LOL! Deanna

I'm so glad you are doing well lDeanna! Funny, I have never missed any kind of food. I had my Lap RNY on 8-01. I just don't have much interest in food anymore. I guess I'm a creature of habit, I find something that agrees with me and I'm content to just eat that I took 3 weeks off work, but actually could of returned after 2. But now at 4 weeks I find that I'm just pyhsically exhausted every evening after work. I need about 10 hours of sleep each night! I met with Dr Hong and the diatician this week and they said I'm right on schedule. And the exaustion is pretty typical. My only problem is THAT i'm neauseus almost all the time, I found out very typical for some folks for up to 3 mnths Uggggggggg I hope time passes quickly;)

Peggy: Hi there, I am 8 days post-op and not having too many problems other than little bits of pain. I had my surgery at Kaiser in Clackamas, they put me on 30cc of carnation instant breakfast and 30cc of water every 15 minutes while I am awake, I also had to take a stool softener cause I have;nt had a bowel movement since last Tuesday. But I have no cravings of food what so ever. I can even watch the food channel and it does'nt bother me. Hang in there, it does get better. Take care, Peggy

Hi Peggy, hang in there! I used the whey protein from Walmart in the vanilla flavor and added chopped peaches and yogurt and skim milk in the blender and sipped that with my water. I just plugged away and tried different fruits and yogurts to kill the taste and to add some substance. I'm out 5 weeks now and it does get easier. Just do the soups, campbells cream of chicken and mushroom is pretty good. Call your dietitian and get some pointers too. Just don't give up, you've come this far and things will get better. Nancy

HI I am liz in Canby and I just wanted to let you know that I feel your pain haha. I am ten days out of RNY at OHSU. I eat the protein drinks and no I do not love them but we got this chocolate one from Costco that was pretty okay I hate the UNJURY ones. I also eat a lot of jello and yogurt etc V8 juice we have tried to be creative It is IMPORTANT to get all the protein at this point because we are all healing from the procedure still. I got my staples out today but not stitches. I was too fat to go to Good Sam. I was really impressed with their program and wanted to do it but my BMI was way too high. I am glad I did it at OHSU. LIz From Canby

Hi Peggy, Hang in there.....Oh how I remember wondering, "what in the world could I eat that had some flavor". I have done fine on Protein drinks, don't mind most of them. but my favorite is PROTIDIET that I order from Nashua, which has an advertisement on these boards somewhere. I really like he Tropical Fruit and Grape flavors. It kind of looks like liquid jello, but you mix it with cold water and it tastes like kool-aide. Its been great during these warm months. I pour mine over ice and just sit back and sip...It's been a "god-send" that my friend Dina in Medford told me about. I also am enjoying Advant-Edge ....their protien drink that is a lot like Slim Fast but has more protien in it. I stick w/Chocolate Fudge and it rather tastes like a fudgecycle to me. Good luck and believe all of us when we say, it's only a little while longer and you'll be eating almost anything you want, just a little, little bit of it...lol Terri