Question:
Four days post-op and can't eat.

I can't eat the liquid diet and can't stand the taste of protein drinks. My legs are aching off, my back hurts, I'm extremely hungry, I'm very nauseous and I'm thinking this was the worst mistake of my life. HELP!!    — nrupe (posted on December 15, 2007)

December 15, 2007
hi, First what you are going thru is normal. I thought I was going to die the first 10 days. try some tomatoe soup, Cream of chicken soup(strained) that may help. The proteins are a challenge. Try the beneprotein (unflavored) I was at least able to get some of that down but you can make the soup to hot or the protein with become little white balls...LOL. All I can tell you is I am 7 months out and down 105 pounds and it does get better and it will be worth it. Best of Luck.
   — Alvernlaw

December 15, 2007
You are feeling the normal thoughts that many have. Get protein in your body. For those who detest the liquid protein shakes, there is Pro-Stat 64, available on line. I believe CVS pharmacies can order it and have it in one or two days. One ounce is 15 grams of protein. From what I've heard, the wild cherry flavor is the best flavor. Good luck. I'm 19 months past surgery, starting at around 340, down to 202 now. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

December 15, 2007
When you say you "can't" eat the liquid diet, do you mean you physically can not keep the liquids down? If that's the case, you need to call your doctor. If it that you just don't "like" the liquid diet, that's totally normal! You need water to feel better. Sometimes when we get dehydrated we feel nauseated and gross all over. If you have a Lindora near you (I know they are online, too) I bought the Hot Cocoa...and it was my life-saver this past week! Hot and yummy. 15gm of protein per serving. God bless...
   — Lisa S.

December 15, 2007
First, call your doctor and get his advise and assistance now! Get him to call in a prescription for a drug to kill the Nausea. Don't wait until Monday - do it tonight. He needs to help you get some protein in your body as you muscles are telling you they are hungry for protein. Then get up and walk. Laying around in bed will just cause the muscles to ache more. I was in the hospital 4 days when the others went home after two days because I had a lot of pain. The forced more protein in me and I felt better. I had pushed dieting too hard before surgery and was short on protein because I did not take enough just before surgery. It is a shame your doctor did not tell you to try Protein shakes of all brands and type and other items you would be having right after surgery. I could not tell if you had a Lap or RNY. I had an RNY and am very satisfied with a hard boiled egg and some sugar free sweet pickle relish and low fat mayonnaise blended together with a little chicken broth for one of my protein meals. This gave me about 14 grams of protein that I did not have to take with a shake. Be sure to blend in your food processor it for 1-2 minutes to make sure all the pickle relish is dissolved. You got to get protein in your system, regardless of how it taste. I have 30 brands on my shelf and I only like Unjury chocolate with 8 oz of skim milk run in my blender for 2 minutes with 3 ice cubes. It is so good that my 120 lb wife has me make one for her, when I do mine. With the milk this gives me 28 grams of Protein and I could drink 3 a day with no problem. I buy Unjury on line from www.unjury.com but the hospital had it and fixed it for me when I was still hospitalized. I hate skim milk so this is the only way I can get it down, and I actually like it this way. Unjury offers sample packages of all their flavors, but most people love the Chocolate. It may not seem like it is worth it today, but I have seen a lot of sucessful people who look great after a year which gave me the drive to move forward and have the surgery on my 62nd birthday. Good luck and stick to it. You can do it! --Bill Mills
   — William (Bill) wmil

December 15, 2007
Dearest Nancy, Hang in there sweetie. I am 6 weeks out and feeing fine. Everything you said in you letter I said too. I too hate the protien, but you need it so you can heal. Experiment! I hate the bullets (42 g protien), but I can get it down if I mix it with lemonade crystal light. I can also tolerate a product called Nectar-Fuzzy Navel flavor. You mix it with water and it tastes like orange juice with a little pulp. With lots of ice it is pretty good. I got it over the internet on SI03.com. Thats S, I as in Indian, zero 3. With shipping it cost 44.95 for a big tub of it and they delivered it in two days. In the early days I was also hungry. I mixed a little bean dip with my soups. It just gave it a little flavor plus a little protein. I had no trouble tolerating it, but everyone is different. I also melted grated fat free cheddar cheese into my soups.
   — pjennjr

December 15, 2007
Dearest Nancy, Hang in there sweetie. I am 6 weeks out and feeing fine. Everything you said in you letter I said too. I too hate the protien, but you need it so you can heal. Experiment! I hate the bullets (42 g protien), but I can get it down if I mix it with lemonade crystal light. I can also tolerate a product called Nectar-Fuzzy Navel flavor. You mix it with water and it tastes like orange juice with a little pulp. With lots of ice it is pretty good. I got it over the internet on SI03.com. Thats S, I as in Indian, zero 3. With shipping it cost 44.95 for a big tub of it and they delivered it in two days. In the early days I was also hungry. I mixed a little bean dip with my soups. It just gave it a little flavor plus a little protein. I had no trouble tolerating it, but everyone is different. I also melted grated fat free cheddar cheese into my soups. One other thing-sugar free popsicles (three a day were my salvation. The mantra for the first few weeks is to walk and sip and sip and walk. Do it! It will save you. I looked on you site to see which surgery you had, but nothing was there. I had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and I don't have any experience with the other surgeries and what is appropriate, but you will get a lot of help on this site. The people are wonderful. Do you have support at home? I noticed you had no friends on this site. I would love to be your friend. Good luck and hope to hear from you. Pat
   — pjennjr

December 15, 2007
Things will get better.
   — Carlyn M.

December 15, 2007
You are describing my first few days post-op also. I am now 11 day post op and doing much better. Call you doctor for some nausea medicine. I was able to eat something once I received the medicine. I have been eating a lot of scrambled egg with small pieces and small bites. Eggs have 7 grams of protein, so try that. Good Luck, I know what you are going through. I thought it was a mistake too, but things are much better.
   — MissieBey

December 15, 2007
I think you should call your doctor and see what he or she tells you. Have you tried Cookies n cream by Matrix? It's the best tasting protein shake I have ever tasted. It has 23 grams of protein. You can order it online. I have one everyday and I had my surgery 6 months ago. Hope this helps. Kim
   — kbcelliott

December 15, 2007
I was told whey protein is what our bodies will absorb best. Try AnyWhey tasteless protein powder @ GNC. It says it's tasteless but it's only about 90-95% tasteless. You can add it to crystal light, ice tea and hot soups, and it tastes great! Very tolerable--after 2 weeks this was the only powder I could stand. You should call yr doc ASAP as yor muscles hurt because they NEED protein! The hunger is probably head hunger, but it all does get better I promise! I'm 8 1/2 months out and down 129 lbs. Good luck, God bless and welcome to the losing side!
   — crystalsno

December 15, 2007
My surgeon says: The first weeks hydration is way more important than protein. Protein is necessary but it takes time. The 60 grams of protein cant be met immediately after surgery but are a target to hit by the first month or so. So call your surgeon who can give you something for nausea, and sip sip sip, and try not to fret this all takes time......
   — bob-haller

December 16, 2007
Hi Nancy, Something that really helped me was my surgeon offered broths with 22 grams of protien and they were very good. Also jello and hot chocolate with 22 grams of protien.. They were very good, easy to go down.. I can't remember the name of the brand but his website address is baybariatrics.com.. If your interested write them and maybe they can ship some to you... Best of luck
   — gabbyjane

December 17, 2007
I am 4 months post-op. And I know how you feel I was the one left behind when they all went home to. And I have been in and out of the hospital every since. Sounds just like my case. Two weeks post-op I was in for dehydration cause I couldn't keep anything in. One thing I found that I did like was carnation instant breakfast with edys no sugar vanille ice cream it makes a great shake and high in protein. I would even add milk and instant milk and some Ungury protein power so it ended up being very high in protein. You can add some bananna if you can tolerate it just a little though. You do need to keep trying it does get easier. I ended up having to be put on Zegerid I was nauseous all the time I guess I had an ulceration around my pouch I have been taking those since the begining and still taking it. Otherwise I thorw-up everything I eat. But 4 days is nothing, you have a long way to go, just make sure you keep drinking water at all times. I still think it was a mistake for me just because I have had soooo many problems. I have lost 61 pounds but its been very hard. I wish you the best just keep trying and always keep your doctor informed of how you are doing.
   — Cindy A.

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