More Questions!

Hi all!  Things are moving along for me and everyday is a new adventure!  I do have a few issues that I am dealing with and would love some advice on how you all overcame them or deal with them on a daily basis.  First, my vitamins.  I take everything with no problem except my doggone Calcium and Actigall.  YUCK!  I have to crush the calcium of course but it just doesn't get fine enough.  I add it to either Isopure or SF fruit punch and it is still NASTY!  Then comes my Actigall ( to prevent gallstones for the 6 months) !  OH MY....nasty powder I have to sprinkle into pudding or applesauce.  This is just so nasty and I am having a hard time with it.  My chewables, Vit C, Pepcid, and B12 are no biggies but the Calcium and Actigall gives me a fit and I gag and choke it down.  Any suggestions there? Also, when will my feeling of hunger come back?  I should love this stage but instead I find it hard to eat when I'm not hungry.  I make myself eat because I know I need the protein but just wondering when I will FEEL like eating again? One more thing....will I ever be able to eat a TACO again?  LOL  For something different today hubby went and bought me a small chili at Wendys and it was so good.  I smashed it all up and ate about 2 tablespoons of it.  mmm mmm good! I am so trying to keep my big girl panties on and deal with all this but somedays are hard.  I guess perhaps this is the head hunger that people talk about, when you want something so bad but know you can't have it?  This to shall pass and into the future will walk a healthier me. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any/all advice on these vitamins.  

I know there are others who have more experience than me, but I wanted to add my 2 cents worth. For calcium, I take 4 tums ex everyday (2 at 2 times). I love them. They are chewable...and sorta taste like a treat to me. This is also what my nutritionist recommends. My appetitie has started coming back. I think when I started my stage 3 diet and could have different foods, it reappeared. Now it is nothing like before surgery, but I have actually gotten hungry a couple of times.

I agree this is hard some days, just trying to get a schedule of water, food, and vitamins. I guess we'll learn this together.

Keep up the good work, Penny

Hi I am 5 days post op and am not taking my calcium right now but was prior to my surgery and I bought the Caltrate Chewable Calcium and they are fruity flavored just like my multi vitamin so you may want to try them. Can't help you with that actigall I have not been put on that as of yet. I understand about the not feeling hungry. I know how important it is for me to get my 60 grams of protein so for the past four days that has been my priority and I am trying so hard to get the other liquids in but having a rough time and am a long way from 64 ounces. My hope is it will get easier daily. 

The calcium chewables are pretty good in the beginning.  You may want to try & switch to those.  I have no solution for the actigall as I did not have to take it.  As for the hunger issues, definitely try to enjoy the non hunger.  When it comes back you will miss not being hungry.  As for that taco, yes you will be able to have it again (perhaps as a salad without the shell).  For now, try some taco meat with cheese, it might solve that craving.  Just brown up some lowfat meat, add the taco seasoning & cheese and enjoy!!

Good am Susan, I take Caltrate 600+D Chewables (Cherry, Orange & Fruit Punch) They don't taste all that bad and I tend to drink lots of fluids with them after chewing them up. I cannot share experience on Actigall as I've never taken it personally. Head hunger almost alway****s us like a ton of bricks. Being 5+ years out I still don't get hungry often and have to remind myself to eat. Then there are times I do get hungry and I eat but its usually because I've waited too long in between meals. The key there is eating smaller meals more often for me. But, that's something I've tweaked with my nut. Tacos are feasible in the future. Personally I don't care for them unless they are ground turkey, I don't do the lettuce but will have some mater and cheese. I'd suggest you make them at home that way you KNOW what you're putting into it. Btw, I STILL eat Wendy's Chili as a staple in my diet. Also, you might think you want whatever you are craving but trust me it will take you ONCE maybe a few more times of making the mistake of trying it and your body WILL let you know. Nope, so not worth it! All best to you!

Yup the Actigall is yucky. I did the same thing with the applesauce/yogurt but the smallest amount so I could wash the taste down without the med. Then I decided to just open the capsule and put the powder in my mouth. As for the calcium, I used Citrical Creamy bites before they were discontinued. Now I use chewable calcium from Vitamin Shoppe. They are kinda like sweet tarts but right now for me its better then Citrical Petites. I still eat based on the clock because I don't have an appetite. The first few weeks until I got on stage 4 were hard because I hated to eat the mushies. This too shall pass!

Thanks so much for the advice on all the chewable calcium supplements.  Are these the Calcium Citrate kind?  The Doc said it has to be Citrate Calcium.  Just wondering before buying the wrong stuff.  Thanks again!  Susan  :)

There are several different brands/types that are the Citrate.  Basically you will have to shop around for the price/taste that works for you.

LOL at big girl panties...  I always say big girl pants, but no one ever knows what i mean.  :) I was allowed to do the chewable calcium (in the form of tums) for the first month which helped with the taste.  I also looked at Vitamin shoppe and they have one brand of calcium citrate chewables, but you have to chew so many of them and they are huge that I decided to just get the Citracal petites.  For Actigall, I was able to swallow the pill, but only that one pill at a time for a long time.  Now I can do about 2 or 3 pills at once. hunger...I can't remember when it started, but find that if I have dinner too late i start to feel hungry now.  But I'm nearly 6 months out. I was able to eat the taco (inside only) from the pureed food stage.  I waited until about two months out to try a taco shell. :)