Question:
How can I get in enough protein post-op with the plans my surgeon gave me?

   — Lynn W. (posted on June 26, 2003)

June 26, 2003
From what I read and heard from post-ops in my support group, you are still healing at this stage from the surgery and it will be some time yet before you can actually take in all the protein you'll need. I'm a pre also.
   — JoSyrNY

June 26, 2003
Looking at lunch - 1/2 cup strained cream soup, 1/4 cup sugar free dessert and 11/2 cup yogurt - I don't know that I could get that much in, in the early stage after surgery! Obviously you need to do what your surgeon requires, but I started out with 3-4 ounces of food (pureed) every 2 -3 hours. In fact, I still do snacks as well as small "meals" planned into my day. Keeps my blood sugar more constant. Don't worry about getting the protein in right away - do what you can and worry more about healing up!
   — koogy

June 26, 2003

   — Linda A.

June 26, 2003
I think you're right; the suggested diet plans you list don't provide anywhere near the 64 ounces of protein he's recommending daily (especially Stage Two, where there's almost no protein). Granted, it's tough to get all our protein in during the early weeks as a post-op on any diet plan. Has he explained why you aren't allowed to use a couple of protein shakes a day to help you if you want to do so? Or why you can only eat three times a day? Or whether you would be allowed to use a good protein shake instead of using CIB with skim milk as he suggests (a combo that provides you with more sugar grams than protein grams)? Those are all things that would've troubled me (plus, I hate fish -- what a whiny patient he would've had if he'd had me!).<P>I think we undertake a risk when we deviate from what our docs tell us. I would never disregard good medical advice. But I do think there's a difference between nutritional advice and medical advice. Generally speaking, I think my doc and his nutritionist are pretty good, but there have been times I just do not agree with their nutritional advice on what or how to eat in certain situations. For instance, at a support meeting yesterday, my nutritionist and another patient went round and round on protein shakes -- the patient wanted just a shake for dinner (didn't want to eat dinner with her family because they eat too fast, which causes her to eat too fast). The nutritionist kept saying, you won't re-learn your eating habits if you use shakes. You must eat dinner with your family. The patient said, but I eat food at meals the rest of the day, I just don't want to eat dinner and would rather have a shake at night. The nutrionist kept telling her she wasn't re-learning eating habits that way. I wanted to scream, "She *is* learning a new habit -- you just don't like the particular habit she picked, and you have no good reason why." I don't think the docs or nutritionists mean to make life harder for us, but I do think they can be extraordinarily close-minded about food, and that they continue to trot out advice that didn't work for many of us for decades in the mistaken belief that all such advice will now work after WLS. I don't think so, not for everybody, anyway. I say, just figure out what works for you, and then "Just Do It." :-)
   — Suzy C.

June 26, 2003
Hi... read my profile... towards the bottom. It tells you in detail what I had to do to get in the necessary protein for my body... let me know what you think and if I can answer any questions about it, email me! :~)
   — Sharon M. B.

June 26, 2003
My surgeon didnt push the protein shakes either. EARLY ON hydration is most important, by a month protein becomes more of a issue. I was told that becoming dependent on liquid meals that go right thru us can slow loss. Some disagree but liquids dont give us saiety, because our pouch never really gets full. If you put your life literally in your surgeons hands then I think we should try to do as directed. I would ask the surgeon and dietician.
   — bob-haller

June 27, 2003
My surgeon recommend Pro-Complex. It is a protein supplement and one serving contains 53 grams of protein. It also has alot of vitamins. I used it prior to surgery and after and I have been fine. Julie www.diaryofafatlady.com
   — Julie B.