Question:
My doctor said that I didn't need to take protein shakes anymore, Should I?

I am 4 weeks out and yesterday I had my 1 month dr. appointment, down 29 pounds. I am afraid of hairloss so I have been taking a protein shake in the mornings. My doctor said that I didn't need to take protein shakes anymore. He said that as long as I was eating eggs, tuna, deli meat, cheese etc. that I should be okay. He said protein first. I have to admit I was alittle surprised. I just ordered a huge supply of Real meals PS. Should I continue or send the shipment back? Should I try a protein bar instead? My major concern is my hair. I don't really like the protein shakes but my hair is my incentive. Thank you in advance!!    — Bea .. (posted on February 8, 2003)

February 8, 2003
Hi Bea, He probably meant that you didn't HAVE to rely solely on the protein shakes anymore, that you can have solids. Probably not that you shouldn't have them. I'm pre-op,(I just got my date of April 1 for surgery.. YES!! ) and have been told that protein shakes can be used as meals.. and as part of my water intake. I would ask him again what he meant. Good Luck. :-)
   — KellyJeanB

February 8, 2003
Hi, Bea. Your's is a GOOD question. I am almost 3 1/2 months out and down 95 lbs. Lately, I have been losing hair by the handfuls. What is so amazing and confusing to me is all the DIFFERENT advice and instructions from all the different doctors. I bet you need (and me too) a dietician to answer your questions. I think there is so little study done on WLS and the after affects and everyone is just speculating as to what makes sense to them. I hate this, as I am a 'black and white' person. I want a DEFINITE answer and solution. It is so hard to get in enough protein because we can eat so little. And I am not hungry between meals and therefore cannot get in MORE protein drinks. I try to have one as my breakfast. I wish I could have one midday, but I am just not able to. If I did, I would not be hungry for dinner. Too bad there are not protein injections. ;) Good luck and if I were you, I'd still do the shakes. Can't hurt.
   — Ginger M.

February 8, 2003
Two things:<P> (1) Protein shakes will not necessarily stop hair loss. If hair loss occurs due to protein deficiency, the shakes will help address that. Only you know if you're getting in enough grams of protein on a daily basis to avoid being protein-deficient. But if you're going to lose hair for some other reason (such as an unavoidable after-effect from anesthesia or surgery, as is true of some folks), the shakes won't make a difference as far as your hair goes. The hair loss is temporary, anyway. And,<P> (2) Your doctor may not appreciate how beneficial protein shakes are. Many of them simply think of the protein shakes in the Boost-Ensure-CIB family, which they recommend to new post-ops who can barely eat anything in those first few weeks. Many docs don't know that there are better shakes out there, that are both high in protein AND low in carbs and sugar. If you like your Real Meals, I'd keep using your Real Meals. I'm 8 months post-op, and one thing I've done compulsively since I was a pre-op was to pay particular attention to posts from long-term post-ops (there are some here, but more on the Yahoo Graduates board) who have learned how to KEEP the weight off once it's lost. (My biggest fear was always regain -- I'm one of those who has lost lots of weight MANY times, only to find it again and then some!). I've been struck by how many long-term posties continue to use protein shakes after goal, and even after many years as post-ops. I still use two shakes a day. I believe in them, and don't intend to quit using mine (Proscore 100 Chocolate). We absorb protein from a good protein shake better than we do from foods, and for some people, protein shakes are an important reminder to keep food control (others even enjoy an appetite-suppressant kind of effect from them). Also, for those of us who aren't HUGE fans of protein foods, it's very easy to slip into the habit of eating more and more carbs, which in many of us trigger head and body hunger if consumed too much. If your doc is a typical bariatric surgeon, he just doesn't obsess about these things like we do, because we LIVE with this surgery in the long run. They don't, and most of them don't even track their long-term patients all that closely (or the patients don't keep in touch with the docs). So, your shakes are not just a way to a couple of "bad hair" months! ;)
   — Suzy C.

February 8, 2003
Ginger has an excellent suggestion, to see a good dietician about your dietary needs. Although many of the docs who perform WLS have different opinions, they may not have much real knowledge about nutrition. That is something that just isn't paid much attention to in their schooling and training. See a registered dietician who can help you make sure that you are getting in what you need. Make sure it is someone who has the RD with their name. Anyone, whether they have any education or training or not, can call themselves a nutritionist.
   — garw

February 8, 2003
I agree with the previous posters who say that you don't *need* to use supplemental protein any more - that you should be able to met your protein needs through food - but you may still want to do the shakes to get additional protein in...JR (open RNY 07/17 -152 lbs)
   — John Rushton

February 8, 2003
My doctor used to recommend only carnation instant breakfast for the first few weeks. This used to be the standard recommendation of most surgeons. After the results of patients being so much better taking protein shakes he is now recommending Real Meals. There are many surgeons out there that will not recommend supplements until you are showing deficiencies. Talk to your nutritionist or dietician. Read my profile and check out some of the links I have at the bottom. The are some medical studies about protein and gastric bypass surgery.
   — Linda A.

February 8, 2003
Suzy C hit the nail right on the head. Keep in mind that your doctor is a surgeon and not a nutritionist and that most of them are not specialists on our post-op diets. I, too, have learned from post-ops further out than I, and I, too am a believer in getting in supplemental protein every day. Keep in mind that we do NOT absorb all the protein we eat in food. How much is absorbed? No one really knows and I have heard estimates as low as 30 percent. Some of the protein shakes out there, those whose primary ingredient is whey protein isolate, absorbs easily into our system. So, while I would continue to eat all that good protein, I would also continue to supplement with a shake or two every day. I supplement with 1 shake and 1 protein bar a day, and eat protein at every meal. As for your hair, sorry, nothing will help. It will run its course, but it pretty much stops after a 3 month loss and it does grow back in, in fact, it grows in pretty nicely! Small price to pay for a new, slim you!
   — Cindy R.

February 8, 2003
Hair loss will either happen or it won't - it has almost nothing to do with protein. (I know b/c I get every drop of protein I need - over 65g/day - and I still lost LOTS of hair).
   — mandajuice