Feeling defeated.

In theory a good idea. Executing makes me nervous, and hurts. Maybe I can say I did, but not really do it.

I am pretty new to this... only 3.5 months out.

If you're eating at only 4 weeks out, what are you eating? At 4 weeks, I was still on pureed foods, and even then I couldn't eat much, at all. It was only in the past 2 weeks that my stoma has let up and I can eat most anything I try (as long as I chew chew chew).

I didn't see if you mentioned anything about protein drinks... can you drink them with no issue? Does your water stay down?

Obviously with all of the phlegm and spitting, you're having issues... but I was just thinking that maybe if you went back to all liquids for a while it might help you feel better while you navigate what might need to be done to help you in the long term.

This surgeon doesn't require a pureed stage. At my 3 week visit he asked me if I had tried fish and veggies yet. At that particular visit I had tried tilapia. Now the smell of seafood makes me gag. According to his diet plan I can eat all meats, mushy veggies, and so on and so forth. I've had chicken a few times, but usually I can only manage 1/2 to 3/4 of a chicken tenderloin. This past weekend I tried ground turkey, really don't want to try it again. Protein drinks are a no go, henceforth me not meeting my goals. I try one in the morning but they make me extra gaggy and slimy then I end up gagging, spitting, and coughing trying to get it down. Then of course I feel awful afterward. Then I go to work and avoid them all together, because nothing turns off your coworkers than someone gagging in the cube next to them.

The only thing I intake that doesn't make me feel ill is water. I thought about just sticking to shakes but its hard getting them down now. At about week 1 1/2 to 2 things just flipped. I did wonderful the first week, I was meeting all my goals. Then came the spitty, slimy mess that is my mouth and shakes became harder. I tried switching switching shakes. I went from the soy/almond milk and powders, to the pre-made Premier shakes, they all make the same mess. 

My doctor released me to a plethora of foods at 6 weeks... I couldn't eat most of them... or if I did, I could eat less than an ounce or else things would get stuck, I'd get the slimies, and eventually throw it all up. Things tasted gross to me too! My tastebuds definitely changed!

I still get things stuck. At 3 months... I still can't eat 3 ounces of a dense protein.

So, maybe you're just not ready inside, even though your doctor has said it's OK to try them? Have you tried different protein drinks? I couldn't do the ones my doc suggested, but I did find that the Premier Protein READY MADE ones were good... NOT the powdered. I also drank the Isopure flavored drinks, they're not replacement meals, but they help with the protein. I also bought the whey protein Isolate powder and added it to my flavored water, it's unflavored, but still changes the flavor just a little

I'm sorry you're going through this... it's a tough time right now for sure.

Keep drinking your water though, because being dehydrated makes things even worse.

Just some suggestions for you, hang in there! Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon!

It does get better. In a few weeks things will settle down.  Right now you and your body are kind of freaked out. Stay hydrated and give yourself some time.  Perhaps try Cocotein or Isopure for some protein? 

It does indeed get better in general.

~Elizabeth

Thanks! I forgot all about the Isopure drinks, I can stomach the tea one, so maybe I'll give those a try. I had some sample Nectaur packets from Syntrax that you mix with water, but those are weird weird weird to my mouth. It's like drinking gelatin or something. lol!

Adkins has a new protein drink with good stats.  It's not a thick shake.  We have them around here at Walmart, so they would be easy to find. 

https://www.atkins.com/products/atkins-lift-protein-bars-dri nks/protein-drinks/lift-berry-flavored-protein-drink

The Adkins lift drinks are fairly tasty and somewhat similar to the Isopure. Walmart carries them back by the pharmacy. Hang in there. It will get better soon.

Wow at your stage I was still on baby foods. I didn't have food I could actually chew for several months and no I never did a protein drink. My chicken was gerber in a jar

Yeah I can eat pretty much anything according to my surgeon. Every surgeon has a different plan. It's weird.