PA says no to protein drinks

Thanks for all the great response. I will go back to doing more protein shakes.  I had tried weaning myself off of them and now  I have low protein numbers so it only makes sense to me. I also hadn't thought about so much dense protein that it would stretch the small stomach. Makes sense- altho I have to admit when I eat one bite too much it all comes back up for me so then I end up losing whatever I just ate and that doesn't happen with my protein drink. 

Don't get me wrong, your DS sleeve is designed to stretch over your first year..enough to  eventually accomodate a small meal.  I can hold about 8 ounces comfortably, depending on the food, so you do need to gradually do a re-feeding process during your first year from very soft to as dense as you can handle.  No way can you get enough in by keeping your slevee at immediate post op size.  Mine was 2.8 oz immediately post op.

Even after 4.5 years, I will occasionally get something that's absorbent or too dense, or both, and with liquid added get too full.  It happens.  Nobody is perfect in this DS life.  Or any life,  really.

i'm not sure who your surgeon is - but a lot of dietitians (and surgeons) still tend to follow the RNY mentality about "liquid calories" too.   When I was a brand new DS'er, I was told to stop drinking protein shakes after a few months out and to actually have NO liquid calories, including soups.   I was told that the food would "wash through my system," and that I would not feel satisfied, be hungry all day, and then consume more calories.    Since that time, my surgeon's practice has amended their stance on this with DS'ers, in the realization that many of us still need to supplement with protein.  Some DS'ers feel that the protein they derive from their shakes is more bioavailable than solid protein.    I tend to get the vast majority of my protein from food, and did so almost exclusively, until about the last month or so, when I had two things happen.  First, my protein levels were consistently coming back low and second, I was scheduled for plastics, and wanted to up my protein to prepare for that.   I started drinking one or two shakes a day, and noticed that the shakes improved my satiety  throughout the day, and reduced my cravings for carbs.   I lost a few pounds of regain as a result.    I haven't had my new protein levels redrawn yet, and I'm curious to see where they are as a result.   I really doubt your shakes will compromise your weight loss!   If you stop losing, then it's time to step back and analyze the situation, but I'd hazard a guess it would be any potential carb consumption that would hinder weight loss, and not a couple of protein shakes.

oh yeah, i was told the same thing.  at my 1 yr visit, one pa in my surgeon's office told me to stop drinking protein shakes.  4 yrs later and 2 different pa's both have said "keep doing what you're doing.  labs are consistently wonderful."   

i haven't seen that 1st pa for years. 

 

there is no way i can get all my daily protein from eating. 

I am of  the *never* completely let go of your protein shakes camp.

Here's why -

I saw a compatriot of mine go through a very hard time with protein calorie malnutrition after letting go of her shakes.

The same thing happened to me last year.  I didn't let them go intentionally, but just got sloppy about getting all my protein in due to major live events..  My surgeon decided after I had gotten off of them before, and went into PCM, that it would be a good idea to keep *some* in my nutriton plan. 

Everyone's body handles the DS differently.  Some need the extra protein and calories, others don't.  I can't eat enough to keep my protein levels up, or my weight stable so I supplement with whey protein isolate shakes. 

The DS is not  "one size fits all,  and neither are DS nutrition plans.

Although I am a RnYer my rerouted intestines are more like a DSer.
I am diligent on my vitamin supplements and I still do one protein powdered drink a day in a 20oz. Blender Bottle with ice and two scoops of the powder.
Mikimi in Israel

I know that I will have to have shakes the rest of my life in order to keep my protein levels up.  Some Drs, PA, Nutritionist are of the opinion that we have to have "dense" protein.  However, this surgery is truly not a "ONE SIZE FITS MOST".  Everyone is different.  We want to keep our sleeve part of the DS active so we need food going into it so it will keep processing.  Not everyone can process meat the way that other's can.  I have one of my friends from another board, it's amazing to me what she eats.    On my work days, I have it 60 grams of protein in by 9am.  Part of it is my greek yogurt w/protein powder, then breakfast food - bacon, eggs, sausage... Then I start on my fruits grazing about an hour later... Then more real food protein another couple of hours... then more fruit or some veggie... then I start on my 3 shakes to drink over about a 4 hr period... So, I average at least 150 grams of protein a day.  I added another shake when my numbers were not good coming out of the hospital using their Beneprotein. IT did not work with my system at all! 

My Dr's are all very happy with my labs.  Thats what counts!

I'm six YEARS out and there is no way I could eat that much protein. I have one 42 gram protein drink a day which helps me keep where I need to be. I never heard that you shouldn't be drinking them, but others may have.

 

Coming up on 2 years from my D.S. surgery this Aug. All along the way I experimented with all kinds of shakes and solid foods to see what would give me the best labs and best weight loss, while satisfying my flavor/taste cravings.  i always felt satisfied with my substitutions for all my fav foods from pre D.S. days. 3 double shakes a day provided 150g protein. Dymatize Elite gave me the most tasty flavors to play around with, adding instant coffee, fresh blended fruits occasionally, and extra flavoring imitating ice cream flavors. Adding heavy cream, without any carbs made them thick and satisfying, adding extra fat. I never felt hungry. One meal a day is always meat and some vegies. snacks are protein oriented like nuts, jerkee or  low carb protein bars. Keeping a gluten free diet has helped me reach my goal weight; and maintain it easily for the past year. Having 2 -3 shakes a day plus some added real solid protein is an easy way to keep my protein labs in super shape. No one has advised me to change my shake/ food choices since all is going great, good labs, lots of energy, and looking and feeling healthy. Since we all have different needs, find what works best for you, and enjoy nutritious foods and shakes all along the way. Remember shakes help with hydration.

 

Oh, your stomach will definitely get larger to the point where with good planning, you can eat 100g of protein.  I've never beenn told not to use drinks, but it took me 8 years to find one I could say didn't suck, and I prefer to eat my protein if ever possible.