Help Please! Third Week Post-Op and Really Struggling

Shaci:  I totally believe you.  Everyone I've spoken to says that doing the sleeve surgery was one of the best decisions of their lives.  They've said that, and they had to go through the liquids phase.  So that makes me think despite how difficult the liquids phase is, it will be worth it in the end.

Thank you very much for the encouragement.

Yes, IMVHO it will be easier to manage a protein shake when it is only one part of your daily intake. 

I transitioned from Bariatric Advantage Chocolate shakes to Unjury Chocolate Splendor shakes.  It was like night and day.   I still  use the Chocolate Splendor and actually look forward to drinking them, whereas I merely endured the BA stuff.  However, ya do what ya gotta do.  :)

I will second Hilary's recommendation to try the Unjury Chicken Soup protein.  Still have those occasionally as well.  You just have to follow the directions carefully about not overheating the water used to make that.

Nancy:

I have tried both the Bariatric Advantage which is okay and less sweet to me than the Oh Yeah! protein shakes, which is a good thing for me.  I am so tired of all the sweet stuff.  The Oh Yeah protein shakes give me the most difficulty even though they are lactose-free.

I will certainly try the Unjury items, and it gives me hope that this will get better when I am able to have some food.  Thank you for the tip on not overheating the water for the soup.

Thank you so much for your reply!!

The Premier Protein chocolate is great.  I do need to water it down a little- a couple of ice cubes about a cup of water and a splash of milk- honestly, it is like Yoo-hoo. No yucky protein taste at all.  I also sometimes add a couple of squirts of Torani salted caramel or coffee SF syrup....yummy....really

Minemake:

You're going to laugh at me, but I hadn't really tried doctoring up the protein much.  You mentioned some great ideas. 

Thank you!!

-Jen

I hear you.  I had my surgery on 3/14 and am still in my liquid phase.

I have gone to the Premier Protein and can agree this is good! 

For a long time I used Jay Robb, but now cannot get it down and ended up throwing it all out!

Broths saved me, sugar free popsicles, crystal lite, carnation instant breakfast, yogurt and sugar free cranberry juice.

Another thing I like is freezing the yogurt into a popsicle, that was good too.

I know it can be trying, you can do it.  just a little longer and the food phase will be here.

Good luck my fellow vertical sleever.

Deborah;

Like you, the broths got me through last week.  But even then I am growing weary of those as well.  I liked your idea of freezing yogurt into popsicles.  I have started eating some Carb Master yogurt (8 grams of protein in just 6 oz), but it's so thick that it takes me forever to eat even half of it. 

So yes, I am trying to do the best I can (and then try even more) to get through these last few days on liquids.  I wish you the best of luck too. 

Thank you for your comments and for the encouragement!

-Jen

yeah, you need to 'doctor up' those protein drinks....have you checked EggFaces shake recipes??  many great ones to choose from.  good luck!

Hi Sophie:  I mentioned this to another poster, but it never really occured to me to try to doctor up the protein drinks.  I was just suffering. 

I haven't tried the EggFaces shake recipies.  I will definitely check into that.

Thank you!

-Jen

You're almost there. Hold on, you can do this.

Try rinsing/gargling with warm sal****er and brushing your teeth with baking soda. See if that cuts through the taste better than toothpaste. Also, have you tried the citrus Listerine mouthwash? For some reason that flavor works better for me than the minty ones.

If you had lost more weight the second week, would you be struggling as hard with the taste and experience now, or would it be easier to tolerate? Just hang in there. The fifteen pounds you lost the first week is extraordinary. I didn't lose any weight that week, none at all.

Listen to me, and listen hard. THE WEIGHT WILL COME OFF.

BUT.

IT MAY NOT COME OFF ON WHATEVER SCHEDULE YOU THINK IT SHOULD.

Two pounds the second week is still weight lost. Your weight may zigzag--you may weigh about the same for a week or longer and then lose for days, and then level out again.  I do that, have done it from the beginning.

Again: YOU CAN DO THIS.

Take deep breaths. Remember, this too shall pass.