Protien Isolate?

2% is really not doing you any favors.  You can go full fat now.  DSer's only absorb 20% of fat intake. In fact, the fat is needed for solid waste elimination (helps keep away constipation)

Since you like chocolate, might I suggest you try Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa powder in your shakes. 

Heavenly!

Also, Walmart has a store brand of lactose-free milk.  Where I live, Lactaid milk is almost $5.00 for a half gallon!

I alternate mixing protein shakes with almond milk and soy milk - I can't stand them with water.  I can't do milk or yogurt yet - too sensitive.  I hope that goes away eventually, but it may not.

I only use Unsweetened Almond Milk or Unsweetened Coconut Milk.  Plain milk has too many carbs.  Heavy cream is too much for me!

Regular whey protein put me back in the hospital from dehydration about two weeks after surgery.  I went into surgery lactose intolerant, so when I came out, I was even more lactose intolerant.  I use whey protein isolate with regular whole milk now, at 4 years out, and I'm just fine.

Forget about Lactaid pills; they didn't do a thing for me then, but the misery if they don't work is not worth the experimentation, IMHO.

This page is very informative on protein http://www.dsfacts.com/protein.html

I came home from surgery VERY lactose intolerant. I used lactaid milk and lactaid pills to help the first year. Unlike Jazzy, they DID help me.

I am still intolerant of regular drinking milk...so I use half & half in it's place in cooking...and in my coffee (mixed with protein).If a recipe calls for milk, I use half & half.

I make my normal shakes with water. My protein coffees tho, it's mixed with full fat creamer.

Whatever you do, if you are still pre-op, remember...your tastes MAY change. The protein you adore right now may taste like bird poop afterward! So don't buy too much of anything. I suggest getting samples from Vitalady and have a bunch of brands/flavors on hand.