food and protien intake

I am 5 weeks post op and cannot eat more than 1/2 cup of

food at a time.  I stay full for hours so I am having a hard time getting

the required protein.  By the time I take my morning meds and vits I have no room for food

any advise?

I hear ya.  Eat what you can, and continue pushing fluids.  It's a slow process, but your belly will start to relax and allow you more volume over time. 

There's no way I could have gotten my required protein from food at that point. Protein coffee (made with protein powder) is still absolutely essential part of my day. Have you tried to find shakes that work for you?

At this point, if you can get 30 grams of protein in a day, you are doing good. The rule of thumb among vets is 30/60/90+ 30 grams by 30 days, 60 grams by 60 days, and 90+ grams by 90 days.

Your main focus is hydration.

Your main focus is hydration.

Food is not that important...broths and soups (LIKE egg drop soup) give you fluid AND protein.

It will get better...your sleeve is STILL very swollen.

Liz

Ditto to what has been said previously.

It would help if you lay out what the protein level was that you were trying to hit.

Think about it this way. If you can eat 4 oz meat, pureed or otherwise, you are at 28 grams of protein.

If you get two meals in like that a day you are at 56. Pretty good for 5 weeks out in my opinion.

Don't be too hard on yourself this early out.

Are soft meals (eggs, cottage cheese) any easier to deal with?

Pete

Protein shakes and protein coffee.  

We weren't allowed the 30/60/90 day rule and were told to use protein shakes to get a minimum of 90 grams of protein within the second week post-op. I'm glad that is the rule I followed. 

--gina

I was advised by my surgeon internal healing is complete at 6 weeks. You are doing better than I did, with 1/2 c food at the 5 week point. I remember it was easier to drink warm protein broth, and soups. The heat relaxes things, and cold protein drinks dulls the pain.  At 2 years now, I still use hot and cold to get in a bit more. Even now, I have most of my protein in a drinkable form. Protein fruit drinks are easiest on my tiny tummy. Plain water is important for hydration too. My meds/vits take up all my tummy too for at least an hour. Space them out as much as you can. The early months will pass quickly, changes in your ability to eat, and enjoy foods will improve quickly once healing is a bit more complete. Most say 5-6 weeks post surgery is the turning point.