Post op protein question

Hi everyone. Each day gets a little better. I am moving around much more easily, and actuall slept most of the night last night. I asked hubby if today was Tues.,he replied yes it is, So I said just four days after surgery, Yes he said that is right, (by this time the poor man is wondering I am sure if his wife has lost her mind) Then I say wow I am doing alot better than I thought I was. For some reason I had it in my mind that it had been longer and that I should be doing better. Ah yes anesthesia and pain meds do mess with ya. Anyhow one of the only problems I am having is getting in enough of the protein and liquids. I managed 15 mg so far today and I am pretty sure I can get in another 15 mg. (I got the clear liquied protein supplement from my docs office****ep trying for a little more each day. I just feel like it is so much to get down. I am wondering is this normal? Does it take a little while to get built up to getting in the right amounts. I just want to do everything I can to have a good out come, and make sure I am following the instructions. So if anyone has any adive please let me know. Thanks. Belinda

Belinda -

Congrats - you are doing great.  Take it slow and easy - remember to continually sip and walk.  If you or your hubby can get out - there is a clear liquid protein in bottles at GNC called ISOPURE.  It is a little expensive - but a 20 oz bottle has 40 gms of protein.  You wont be able to drink it all at once- maybe half in the morning and half at night.

My friend Donna - diluted it with crystal lite and drank 1/4 of the bottle (diluted to 12 oz with water and crystal lite) over the course of a day (4 times).

This was my biggest source of protein in the beginning.  Even today some 15 months out I still drink one a day.

Kim Z

Belinda,
you are doing great

my first week post op I was told not to focus on the protein Yet.  Just sip sip sip and get the clear liquids in.  I mainly did water, broths, etc.  I did buy some samples of Designer whey protein to mix in water but i had a hard time doing more than about 16 oz of those a day.  My doc told me to just do what i could with the protein and to focus more on sipping (i used those little medicine dose cups).  At 1 week i was moved onto purees and protein shakes.

Keep up the good work!

huggs
~Denise

Congrats!

Worry about keeping hydrated and get in as much protein as you can. I think it took me a month at least until I hit my protein goal.

Protein is important for the healing process but dont' eat yourself sick trying to get those grams in right now.

The protein will come in time - concentrate on fluids.  Now, not to say to ignore the protein - but dont' get to upset if you can't get it all in.  Are you on clear liquids only?  I was on clears for one week after surgery and it was near impossible for me to choke down all my protein.  As my food stages progressed, so did the amount of protein I got in daily.

As far as the liquids - if this helps at all - you can take one of the medicine cups that comes with robitussin or whatever....as long as it has "30 ml" marked on it.  If you drink one of those little cups every 15 minutes in the matter of 16 hours (assuming you sleep for 8 hours a day) you will have consumed all 64 ounces.  Also, experiment with different size "bottle openings"  I found drinking out of a glass felt like I was drowning myself and did best with a water bottle (like a Dasani bottle)  I think it was Nan who did best with a Snapple size bottle.

Sip sip sip walk walk walk and definately try for a little more protein each and every day!

Pam

Sounds like you're doing great - everyone already told you about the proteins so I won't go into that - just wanted to let you know I've been thinking about you and happy you're doing so well!!

Kathy