post op diet concerns

Fellers, I am 8 days "out" and feeling so good it scares me. This is my daily schedule: 7am Meds with 2-4 oz water 730 4oz protien drink (skim milk with 2 scoops protien powder and instant breakfast 0 cal). 2 multi vitimins and b-12 830 breakfast 1/2 c strained hot cereal 1030 4oz protien drink 1230 lunch 1/4/c strained soup 2 tbs. yogurt and 2 citrical tabs. 230 4oz protien drink 530 dinner 1/4c strained soup. 2 citri-cals tabs. 830 4oz protien drink half hour walk (at least) 64 oz water  My concerns are: How does this compare with other post op diets? citri-cal tablets are like trying to swallow a D cell battery. Is it ok to break them?  Flintstones may be chewable but I think Bam Bam peed in mine. What do y'all do? Taste of "sugar-free"  stuff was bad before and seems worse now. Like a cross between  dimagnesiumphosphate, hydrogenized stearated panthomates and a hint of mint. Thanks in advance brothers.

That seems like a great menu to me.  Just be sure to sip tha****er in between.  Try not to mix any liquids when eating the cereal.  It sure bothered me.  I did and still do the chewable vitamins.

Good Luck,

Kent

Erog, 1.  I didn't have to start calcium until 3 months out.  Yes you can break or cut them into as many pieces as you like  I did thirds once ai started.  Now I use the petities, at 6 months out, I can even take two at a time. 2.  I did my protein drinks 8 oz at a sitting instead of 4 but whatever works for you is great.  I was suppose to wait at least 30 minutes before or after protein to start working the water.  I also used my protein drink to take my vitamins and supplements. 3.  SF stuff for me was good for about two days then they tasted like chemicals and were too nastty to consume.  I stil have Popsicle as I got like 4 boxes after the first ones tasted so good, then they sat and are still sitting.  I have one once in a while. 4.  The chewable Flinstones are rough.  I use a Walgreens multivitamin with iron that is really small and only $3.99 for 100 tablets; dark bottle with a silver and red label.  Onve I discoverd them, the Flinstones bit the dirt.  Sounds like you are doing great.  Enjoy the recovery time and feeling good.  It is good to hear.  Many do but not everyone has an easy recovery so you are blessed or lucky or whoever you want to give the credit too.  Keep up the good work and progress. Joe

Diet looks good to me, I use centrum chewable vitamins, but they really don't taste that good either, but may be worth a try.  I don't know about breaking the citra-cal, but I am pretty sure you should not be swallowing anything bigger than an M&M at this point.   Keep up the good work

This is really a minor observation.  I'm startled that you're using 2 scoops of protein powder.  I know that most of the manufacturers say that 2 scoops make up one serving but one serving usually contains about 46g of protein.  We simply can't fully digest that much.  It doesn't cause you any harm.  Rather, you end up paying double for your protein intake.  You should be taking in 20-26g protein at a time.  Check the label on your protein container.  You may be able to cut your costs.

My doc has his patients use Optisource Chewables made especially for gastric bypass folks. They are a tad expensive (approx. $26 for 30 days--four a day with meals and bedtime) but easy to chew and a bunch of us guys up here in Northern Ca. actually like them. Wallgreen's and Target carry them (Target is cheaper). And get this: Optisource Chewables INCLUDE 100% of RSDA for calcium! Also, my doc says that most of us won't be at risk for low calcium for a couple of years or so and that after a few months post-op Citrical Chewables are okay. The come in lemon, chocolate, and caramel. They have some sugar (4g) but not enough to make me dump. We're also allowed to use Slim-Fast LoCarb Diet protein drinks. Very low sugars, 19g protein per can, etc. Check with your doc or nut to see if some of these are okay for you. Good luck.

Hello erog! Citra-cal also makes a chewable calcium tablet. I just bought them today at Wal-mart. I also use Centrum chewables multi's  from Wal-mart you get 100 for ten bucks. They have been working alot better for me than the flintstoes. I also take and iron suplement. Its good to see you getting in some protien that early. I just could not get any down at all to start. Now I'm drinking about 120 grams a day. Keep up the great work, Derick

I took the OptiSource Chewable Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Post Bariatric Surgery Formula, Citrus, Tablets.  They taste OK and include calcium so you don't need a separate calcium supplement. http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=301120&id=p rod403359&skuid=sku403360