A Few very different questions...

I went to my pre-op nutrition class last night and I had to start a strict diet this morning, for 2 weeks I have to drink a protien shake for breakfast and then for lunch and dinner I can eat 3-4oz of lean meat, 1 serving of veggies, and 1 serving of complex carbs. Then 2 weeks before surgery I have to drink 5  (yes 5!!) protein shakes a day and that is it...Can you say YUCK! Actually that is actually my first question..The Protein shake they want me to drink is so nasty , Does the taste ever get any better? I was really doubting myself this morning.. Question 2: What did you all start out with as far as your protien grams a day? I just feel like the number of protien grams I need to get a day is too high. They told me I needed to get 99 grams a day. Does that sound high?  Question 3:  How long were you all told you would be in the hospital? and how long did you actually stay in the hospital? I was told that I would only be in there overnight ..I am having the Gastric Bypass, I would have thought that I would be in the hospital longer that 1 night.

Any comments would greatly be appreciated...

I started doing the protein drinks too. I found the chocolate (unjury brand) to be very good. I found it on the their website. Each serving is 20 grams of protein. I would compare it to Carnation Breakfast Drink mix. It keeps me feeling full. I mix it with slim milk. I have tried the strawberry flavor & couldn't get it down. Vanilla was okay.
I think each doctor has their own recommandations. I would keep trying different brands until you find one you like.
I have surgery scheduled for 7/23.

what protein shake did they tell you to use? and i'm sorry, who's your doctor?  when they told you that you need 99 gr a day, is that pre-op or post-op? immediately post-op there is no way but over time you can achieve that, all my doc has told me lately (and i'm 2.5 yrs out) is that i need a minimum of 60 gr per day. i need to add the caviot that every surgeon and every program is different, follow the instructions that you were given for the best possible outcome. i was told i would be in the hospital anywhere from three to five days - i went in for surgery on a monday morning and was released from the hospital on friday afternoon

The Protein shake they told me to make was 1 - 1.5 cup of skim milk, 1 scoop of protein powder, 1/2 c frozen berries, flax seed oil or I could eat 1/4 c raw almonds or walnuts. They also told me to pour my liquid vitamins in the shake. And with only 1 scoop of protein powder how am I ever going to get 99 grams of protein. They told me that 99 was my number and it would go down as I lost weight .  My doctor is Dr. Westmoreland, whom I adore..I  just do see how this is reasonable.

Go to bariatriceating.com and order some of the samples. You need to find the protein that you like. There are so many out there to choose from that you are sure to find something that you like. Most of us mix our protein with water, ice and Davinci syrups, carb countdown milk, Micellar milk, FF Half & Half, etc. You may have to play with your shake to find what appeals to you.  Also, your tastes are almost guaranteed to change after surgery. What you like now may not be what you like post-op. That is really where the samples come in handy. You can try several products before you plunk down your money for a big jug of something only to find out that you hate it. FYI - if you buy something at GNC and find you don't like it, they will take it back with the receipt. Even if you have opened it. Most of the protein powders have about 20 grams of protein per scoop. If you use skim milk, it has 8 grams of protein per cup. This means that you would get over 99 grams of protein in just 4 shakes per day.  For a pre-op, the shake recipe you have posted would be very filling. For a new post-op...there is no way I could have put away 4 of those shakes in a day. Also, newly post-op, the natural sugars in the milk and the fruit MAY make you dump. Many of us also experience lactose intolerance at least temporarily right after surgery. 

I used soy milk and carb countdown milk as a new post-op. I also mixed small shakes of no more than 1/2 cup liquid to 1/2 - 1 scoop of protein powder. Good luck. I hope you find something you like.

Hey Susan,           I found the following website that has all the books that you mentioned, even "The Real Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery" for about 13.50   http://mailing-list.us/mailing-list-books/isbn0976767287.htm l You may want to check it out!! Shelia

 1st question.  IMO if you don't like the protein shake you are destined to fail.  You have to find something you like or you will not be able to handle so many of them.  You can still add your vitamins, flax, etc.  But as always, check with the doctor, tell him you need other options for protein shakes. 2nd question.  I would think that 99g of protein is to help aid in the healing process, and because it will be a few days/weeks before you are able to get the normal amount in , which is usually 60-80g.  This is to make sure you have a healthy start to your new life. 3rd question.  I was told 4 days, because I lived 150 miles away.  I got to go home in 2, had surgery on Wed went home Friday.  Now I had to have some good drugs to make the 3 hour trip and had to get out and walk several times. I hope this helps you some. Darlene

I never found ANY protein powder that I liked or could keep down. Well, that's not true; I did buy some of those lil tubes of fruit flavored protein which was less repulsive than the rest. I think because it was so much less volume. Immediately after surgery, I was told 50-60 grams/day, but I never got that much in. Heck, i seriously doubt I get that in now. I'll be three years out in October and I still having problems eating very much. But the upside is I've lost  189lbs from my heighest weight before surgery and 169lbs from my weight the day prior to surgery. Anyone who thinks this has been the easy route; however, is nuts. I still throw up at least 2-3x/week and my husband witches and moans he wish I'd never had the surgery. As for me, well with my MS, I'm pretty sure if I hadn't lost alll this weight, I wouldn't be walking. As for your third question, I was an oddball. I stayed in Vandy for 5 days immediately after surgery, then went home. 24 hours later, I was readmitted for failure to keep anything, even liquids, down. I spent 6 more days in Vandy and went home with a feeding tube in my side and had to wean myself off tube feeding to fooods over 8 weeks. I am NOT your usual case and am not telling this to concern you, just was my experience. Best of luck to you. Try www.bariatriceating.com. They have protein products there you can buy in samples. Maybe you'll find one you like. I hope so and good luck with your upcoming surgery. Kelly in Middle TN 383/363.5/194/165 highest/day before surgery/current/goal