Baby Food -Protein & Vitamin Water - from a PreOp

Everyone, I'm here cause I need some advice-I'm getting ready for RNY surgery in 12 days, so I am excited- and preparing and would appreciate your help or advice with the following questions: Someone told me to have baby food handy post surgery - when I went shopping- checked it out & is it just me? Are we talking just plain fruits & fruits & cereal? After I scanned what I would try- becuz you don't know what your pouch will reject- I noticed it was mostly carbs & fruit. So is this to alternate with the protein we should be intaking? I dunno, thats why I'm asking. #2 - What is the deal with protein? Is it because we need something that absorbs better/faster, something in higher grams, or just becuase we're not really hungry & have a small pouch and can't drink it all at once? I get that part..I also want to avoid hair loss as much as I can- and getting protein postop is key..lack of it increases hair loss at 3-4 mos out according to my nutritionist..So if anyone has tried these- please comment. If you can recommend any more- please do- I am sampling these preop :Nectar, Unjury, Isopure, Myoplex (42gms), & someone said s/f Carnation Instant ( thats not a protein really- but I think becuz its s/free as a drink- not protein) .. : One MORE question... #3- Does anyone postop drink the glaceau Vitamin Water? I know I've seen posts about Propel.VW is the bes****er I've ever had - drink 40z daily as is, and its loaded with all natural vitamins, electrolyte, deionized water and crystalline fructose. Is fructose one of the things that causes dumping? I kicked soda, caffeine & carbonated drinks- 7 mos ago and replaced it with this.. They are 20oz bottles - I can imagine taking some unjury- mixing it with this and down goes the protein- except not all at once. Any advice you can provide would be most helpful. Hugs & Thanks! Donna

Hi there, Awww to have that excited feeling of surgery coming. My answers to some of your questions - this is just what I did, everyone has a different experience after surgery, so there may be some people that have different advise. #1 - I never did baby food after surgery (yuck, have you tasted that stuff?). I didn't do much of anything except jello and SF popcicles. My doctor said to worry more about getting liquids in than protein at that point. One thing that I did have (I was about 1 1/2 weeks out) was cream of wheat. I made it very thin with a little butter and splenda and it was heaven (the whole two teaspoons I could eat). #2 - The deal with protein, well, this is two fold, the first is that protein is so dense that it stays in your pouchie for a long time, this is not something that will seem real important until you are further along. Second, my doctor said that protein is something that you cannot get through suppliments. Just about everything that you get from fruits and vegtables you can get through various suppliments. I tried a few of the protein drinks, and they just never worked very well for me. I get all my protein from food. Hair loss - it will happen (I chuckle as I say this), it happens to just about everyone. I used to have the thickest hair, now it is not so thick - but then I also used to have the thickest figure, now it is not so thick - and my hair is growing back now. #3 - I tried some of those "fancy" waters and I didn't like the way they tasted in my mouth after swallowing. It was like I was more thirsty than when I started drinking them. I just stick with regular bottled water (it does have to be dasani, crystal geyser or aquafina though). One other thing, you have a few days until surgery and if you are not trying to walk now, start. When I had my 18 month checkup last friday my surgeon and I talked about that. He told me that I bounced back better than most and we both contribute that to the fact that I walked and walked prior to my surgery. In fact I was up and about around 1.5 hours after surgery. The best advice I can give you is to talk with your doctor, ask him/her everything, even if you think it sounds like a dumb question. I absolutely love my surgeon and I really look forward to my follow up appointments with him. I always have a bunch of questions for him, even now. Best of luck to you Hugs Susan -170

Hi Susan- thanks- your information is valuable. I know every surgeon is different. From what I gather, we can do the mushy foods once we are released and pass the leak test. I just think your body needs time to heal. I bought baby food fruits- all natural no preservatives..no sugar. I have been tasting them now- they taste great & I imagine add a little cream of wheat and its fine. LOL . I love my Vitamin water - I drink it 3x day = 60oz if I throw in some non flava protein that might work- but as you say- experiement now. As far as walking is concerned- I have arthritis in one knee. One day I walked the whole mall 2x front to back- next day my joints ached, but I do challenge and push myself. I also have a "gazelle" glider which puts no stress on your knees, and I like that. Eventually I want to get a treadclimber- I get tired of a treadmill and miss my stairclimbing (knee) I LOVED my stairclimber & could do it for 45 mins at a shot! LOL so you see how a knee injury really hurts! LOL I am positive once I begin losing weight and return to my workouts-my knees will be relieved as well - Thank you so much! Will keep you posted of my progress! Hugs, Donna

Donna, I'd skip the baby-food all together, But that's just me. Go with whatever your specific Doctor's Protocol is And pay particular attention to Only adding one new food at a time. That way if something Does cause you problems It's an easy DX (Diagnosis) to find the culprit. If you have some difficulty early on Getting in your Protein, which is very common Since it's hard to consume enough through your foods- I had great success with- Zero Carb Isopure. Comes in 20 oz Glass bottles, Sometimes called or referenced as Glass Zero Carb Isopure, Or even Isopure Crystal on some websites. Calories - 190, Carbohydrate - 0 g, Protein - 40 g It comes in a number of flavors- Passion Fruit, Apple Melon, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Orange, Pineapple Orange Banana, And Mango Peach. On the Down Side- All of them have an after taste that is a little like Sucking on Old Pennies. My first thought when tasting it for the first time- "Who peed in this?!?" The Upside? Cut it half and half with some Crystal-Lite And the flavor is hidden completely. Don't even try to get it all down at once either, Just have a little, 8 to 10 times a day. You get in more "water" this way and Since your system only processes about 30 gms of Protein at once anyway, Slowly "trickling" it into your system insures you Get the maximum benefit from the protein. If you've got a GNC store nearby, They have it. I'd recommend trying the flavors before you "Stock-Up" on anything. It is cheaper to shop around on the net And order a case, but only after you know that you will use it. I found the Orange, mixed with Crystal-Lite Lemonade Was great and so was the Mango Peach Mixed with Crystal-Lite's Peach Tea. I have had the Vitamin Water and it was OK I still drink the Aqua-Cal (calcium water) But it, like a lot of the flavored waters Tastes too sweet to me But I cut it with plain water and it tastes great And trickles in that Calcium. Have the Greatest Ever on the 15th!! Best Wishes- Dx

Dx!! Hey Thanks so much..U have no idea how many times I've laughed at something in your profile or your posts..c'mon its not everyguy who has so many nurses missing him, that he returned a few more times! ( I read a lot actually) You are very entertaining, I'm sure the EMTs remember you as well. Who DID get the gift basket anyway? Oh yah, the nurses.. ha ha ha. Thanks for the tip on the isopure. I've worked out in the gym on and off the last 2yrs and I really wanna own my membership- know what I mean? I really want to reap the most out of it and plan to- everything in its own good time, before it expires next fall. I've heard that you can add (unflavored) protein to what you drink, you can even have it in a starbucks type drink called Achieve One. I just dont wanna be randomly trying stuff and not keeping it down- thats why I posted on this board- becuz if anyone would know - the guys and ladies on here would. I love mango peach as it is - I have vitamin water that flavor- and they give all the flavors names like: Revive - Endurance - Energy -lemonade -PowerC . All thats in it is vitamins+Water website: www.vitaminwater.com . I do agree- check it out before you stock up. I already have Diet snapple and Propel & sugar free jello. Do you know anything about making a Creamsicle? Orange jello +s/f vanilla pudding ? I cant recall who said it. Thank you for making the time and always being so generous with your advice. You are a very popular guy on the boards! Hugs & blessings! Donna

Donna-- 1-skip the babyfood. You are right--not very much good nutrition in there. Does your doc have a plan? All the doc's plans seem to vary greatly. I was on puree and soft protein for a week and then could move to other light proteins. I remember when cottage cheese felt like gourmet food. 2--I don't how anyone can get in their required amount of protein early out only through food. At the very least you should probably supplement with protein in the beginning. I still do, but that is my choice. Get a bunch of samples from bariatriceating.com or vitalady.com Figure out what you like. What you like before surgery may be very different shortly after surgery. After stomach surgery everything tastes very different. Even crystal light tasted disgustingly sweet. My personal favorites are the IDS vanilla-cinnamon protein (I mix it with my coffee every morning) and syntrax fuzzy navel (I mix that with a scoop of vanilla and crystal light sunrise). But everyone is different. For example--I never like the isopure that other people talk about. 2-water--the best for you is plain old water. I drink propel because I like it Does you vitamin water show sugar grams on the label? I think fructose is a form of sugar--as long as it is a low amount it should be ok. Good luck to you and remember the most important thing is drinking the water and walking in the beginning I found decaf hot tea went down well shortly post op.