Starting to feel better

 I had my drain removed today (one week after VSG). I can now move with more confidence. I know I'll sleep better, since I sleep on stomach and sides and had to build a pillow fort to keep from rolling over onto the incision.

My other whine is how awful the protein drinks are. I dislike all kinds of artificial sweeteners, and always have a awful aftertaste. I have 20 samples from Vitalady and 13 from Nectar folks and so far each is worse that the last. I can get down Costco's premier in chocolate, but am so sick of it. Any ideas?

Thanks for all your kind support

I know exactly what you mean, I had my drain for almost a week. It was astonishing how much better I felt afterwards! Protein drinks....blech....but a necessary evil. Have you tried mixing it with a small amount of SF pudding mix. I actually use a vanilla protein powder and mix it with FF milk, chai tea and a little cinnamon. It's my new Chai Latte since the good stuff is off limits for a while.  With a little creativity you might find something you actually like. Keep up the good work and it will all work out.

Glad you are feeling better!

As for protein drinks, I have found 1, yes ONE out of the many I tried that I actually really like!  I do vanilla protein powder (1 scoop) in 4 oz of skim milk (make a paste) then add 1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa and 8 oz of boiling water.  Tastes like hot chocolate and very yummy! 32 grams of protein each one (27 from protein powder, 4 from the milk and then 1 from the cocoa!)

It's modified from a website some ladies on another forum created so I didn't come up with it myself, but it really is one I totally really like.  If you go on a website with the world according to eggface or something she has a lot of ideas as well. 

Hang in there!  You only have to find one you like!  I am a creature of habit so I don't really need that much variety in that sense, so I hope you are the same. 

I think one of the greatest blessings is to find a protein drink you can tolerate early on.  I have a few that I like now but in the beginning it was just getting them down.  I did a lot of trials once.  Our local bariactic story had high protein chicken broth (15g) and it was ok.  I tried unflavored in regular chick broth.  My wonderful angel sent me a ton of samples and I tried a lot of those.  I did unflavored in matte tea, decaf, just about anything I could find that was allowed but mainly, I just drank it no matter what.  You could try some of the SF syurps in the chocolate you can tolerate.

In terms of sleeping, it took me weeks before I could sleep without any extra pillow support.  But I did seleem better after the drain was out.  Good luck tonight.

I'm sure you feel better without the drain.  I didn't have any drains.

I like the Nectar's.  I mix 1 scoop in a blender bottle with 20 ozs of water and a crystal lite stick.  Shake real good and let the foam settle then add ice.  Keep trying, you will find one you can tolerate.  There are lots of recipes on this website. 

Here is one website that has lots of protein shake recipes.

http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/search/label/protein%20s hakes


Linda

You might try Jay robb protein. I believe it is sweetened with stevia. I didn't like it myself,but is worth a try. It is available at grocery stores and GNC and Vitamin shoppe. At GNC and Vitamin shop you can return opened tubs if you keep your receipt.

I have been using Dr. Mercola's protein www.drmercola.com and teras whey www.teraswhey.com. They are both sweetened with stevia and use natural choc and flavorings. they are whey from cows not given growth hormones,etc. They both tast a world of difference to me than most I have tried. i don't tolerate artificial sweeteners since my surgery.

Good luck!
Holly

thanks Holly,
i never knew u can reyturn open proteins at GNC
ive been drinking "Myofusion" from GNC since way way before my surgery and its delicious but one time they were out so i bought something else ewwwwwwwww but i forced myself to drink it eeeeeek

I also like the Premier Protein from Costco, but get a little sick of the sweetness and thickness, so I pour it over ice with an extra 1/2 cup or so of skim milk.  It thins is out a little and takes away a little of the sweetness.

Beverly

Oh the memories!
I also couldnt stand any of the samples I had gotten. I did find one recipe with yogurt and peaches with the protein powder you made in the blender I could tolerate.
No added sugar carnation instant breakfast was also tolerable.
Everyone is different, so keep on trying.