One Week Post Op Check-up - Protein Question!

I had my one week visit with Dr. Nusbaum last night All is going well, and I have lost Drum Roll LOL 24 pounds!!!! So today, I go to full liquids, which I did not know includes oatmeal, pudding, and yogurt (what kind of yogurt?? he just said no fruit chunks). Here's my question - The protein is already killing me. I get to the bathroom as soon as I get through the drink. I do much better with warm or room temp drinks, and the cold protein shake did a number on me. Is there no protein pill? Is there a better way to do this? Will I have diarrhea for the rest of my life? Thanks, guys. Anna

Hi Anna, It was so nice to meet you & your husband the other day, you look great and were so upbeat for only being a week post-op! I'm so glad you came to the party and we finally were able to meet. Congratulations on your weightloss, continued success!!! I feel bad for you not being able to tolerate the protein, I remember those days like it was yesterday. You can order samples of different proteins online to see what you can tolerate, I'm sure you'll find one you will like. In order to get in the mindset of protein, I always think its a new medicine....and something I need to be healthy. I don't see why you couldn't drink some of the proteins with warm water. I use to take the Champion Nutrition Whey Chocolate warm, like I was drinking a hot chocolate. Maybe that would help your situation. Here is a list from my surgeon's office about full liquids: STAGE 2: FULL LIQUIDS (From hospital release to 3rd week) Includes all liquids from the clear liquid stage and also those you cannot see through. The basic rule of thumb here is that if you can suck it through a straw, you can have it. (You don't have to use a straw, but food should be blended to that consistency.) Full liquids have more consistency to them than clear liquids. Keep on hand: broth, skim milk, tap water, and a blender. Many foods can be blended to a full liquid consistency by adding broth, skim milk, or water and blending until very smooth and liquid. Add foods one at a time, so that you can identify the ones that may bother you. Adding foods should, preferably, be done at home where you will be more comfortable if you have an adverse reaction to some particular food. ALLOWED: (From hospital release to 3rd week) All of stage 1 food **IMPORTANT: Protein drinks should be added go your diet regimen now - work your way up to 3-5 shakes per day, 30g protein each. Do not mix ahead of time. Drink within one hour. Space your shakes at least 2 hours apart. The amount of water in each shake is up to you and your taste. Protein shakes are VERY IMPORTANT to your continued nutritional health. **(See below - "Why Protein Drink Supplementation?") Blenderized homemade or canned soups - broth based or cream soups * Skim milk, low fat milk, buttermilk, half and half Note: Try milk very tentatively. Many people cannot tolerate milk after gastric bypass surgery as many become lactose intolerant. Alba sugar free hot chocolate mix Very thin mashed potatoes * Very thin oatmeal * Very thin cream of wheat * Sugar free fudgsicles Thinned no sugar added yogurt (no fruit pieces) * No sugar added yogurt drinks (NO fruit pieces) * Thinned sugar free pudding * Cottage cheese blenderized with some skim milk to a thin consistency * * REMEMBER: All foods in this stage have to be of a consistency to be able to suck them through a straw. If it won't go through a straw - it is not a full liquid! AVOID: (From hospital release to 3rd week) Orange juice, tomato juice, V-8 juice (These are too acidic for your new pouch at this point. Milkshakes, eggnog, chocolate milk, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk. Any liquid with high sugar content. You should read labels and avoid anything with over 2g of sugar per serving. Hope that helps and I hope too see you at the next mtg in Pitman....or you can e-mail me any questions, hopefully I can help. AGAIN, congratulations! Wendy 278/188/150 3/15/04

Anna, Sometimes people who have WLS get lactose intolerance that they never had before the surgery. This could be your problem. Many protein supplements have lactose in their formulas.... I would try to use a supplement that does not contain lactose and see if the diarrhea clears up. it is very important, also that if you are suffering diarrhea, that you make sure that you are replacing your fluid losses. Dehydration is very common,especially in the summer. There is a protein supplement called Proteinex; it is almost like a cough syrup. You can swallow it like a shot or put it in a beverage....Almost like a pill... I got that from my nurse care manager (as a sample). I'm not sure where it is sold I hated protein supplements...I did use one that was passable to me and that was Isopure. It comes in glass bottles and is clear, almost like Gatorade...It comes in a few flavors like grape, fruitpunch, orange and something callled blue ice (I skipped that one)...But I am not sure if that is lactose free...it's not milk based,. but I don't remember whether it is a whey protein isolate. ( I got it in the organic section of my Shoprite, but I have heard they sell it at Wallgreens) You might also want to try soy protein...I never liked the taste of them, but they are usually lactose free. If you have a history of breat or gynecological cancers in your family, most doctors will tell you to avoid a large soy intake..... The best advice I can give you is keep trying...You'll find something you can work with. Keep up the good work... Kelly

Thank you both for all of the awesome information. I made my shake this morning with less water (actually used decaf iced tea), and I got it down in about 45 minutes. So far, it's staying with me Hopefully, I've crossed the bridge! I may try the next one with a little less water, to see if I can get to the point where I can drink it in about 15 minutes. I'm thinking of going to Disney World for a few days next week, and I know with the Florida heat, not only will the protein be even more crucial, but getting the fluids in will be even more important. Then again, I may just do day trips here so I'm not sweating my butt off (or maybe that's a good thing!!). Thank you again. Wendy - I'm so glad to meet you! If I don't go to FL next week, I'll see you at the meeting!!

Anna: Dr. Nusbaum is my surgeon too - he's the bomb You can definitely drink your protein at room temperature if you want to. It was several months before I could handle even cold well water. I don't know of any protein pill, unfortunately. You won't have diarreah for the rest of your life, I promise Once you get onto more solid foods, that will disappear generally. I found that I could add my protein powder to pudding & cottage cheese once I got on semi-soft stuff. It's not going to set the world's tastebuds on fire, but it helps get things down. Keep up the good work; I found that early on it was more important to simply stay adequately hydrated than to try to get all that protein in. Get in as much as you can and it will become easier in time. You're doing great! P~ http://www.weightlossnj.com - my story

sounds like you are doing great anna!!!! dannon carb and sugar control is what our NUT says is the one to get 24 lbs --- WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!! love ya roberta

wtg anna!!! keep up the good work i suffer with these protein drinks also, ive tried all kinds of mixes. ive been taking a can of slim fast and a scoop of protein powder and mixing it. but cant drink it all at one time. have been dividing between morning and afternoon. i wish there was a pill as well, im getting tired of the bathroom trot also. but at least i feel well otherwise. have fun if u go to disney!!! hugssssssssssss jacki

Sorry you,re having trouble with protein. What are you mixing it with? Don't know if this helps..... I take 'glacieau' vitamin drinks and mix 'unjury' protein mix with a pocket stirrer. I've been doing it at work whenever I get hungry and it seems to be ok. I'm not into milk products. Unjury has sample products you can try. Pam Findlay