Question:
Currently I am getting in about 35 to 40 grams of protein is this enough?

My surgeon never dissussed how much protein intake I should get every day. At current I am taking in about 35 grams of protein and about 400 calories. Is this enough? I am 3 weeks post.    — teresa B. (posted on March 25, 2002)

March 25, 2002
I am 2 weeks post-op and have about the same intake as you... our diet allows us more calories etc in 6 more weeks when the pouch is fully healed.. is that your situation as well? I think it's ok for us to be this low on protein and calories for a few weeks since this is dr./dietitian prescribed and a lot of others have gone through this as well, but it they aren't going to allow you more calories etc soon I would ask the dietitian or my doctor.
   — Allie A.

March 25, 2002
The first few weeks are not critical in terms of how much protein you are taking in, although the more protein you get, the faster you are likely to heal. Once your stomach is fully healed, "conventional wisdom" recommends at minimum of 60 grams of protein per day. For me, particularly with my distal procedure, I operate best at about 100 grams per day. 50 - 60 is the recommendation for "normal" people; knowing that we malabsorb, we need to take in more to counter the malabsorption. -Kate-
   — kateseidel

March 26, 2002
Wow... to me that is low. At two weeks, I was tld to getin a minimum of 75 grams of protien and 64 oz. of water each day. Calories weren't an issue, but my calorie intake is anywhere from 300 to 800 each day. (Depending on what kinds of protien, juices, etc. I drink and eat.) I try to stay around 600 calories because that keeps me losing weight and is more than enough food for me! :) I have to get some of those calories through protien bars, in order to get to 600!! At 3 weeks... 400 calories isn't bad, but try to make as many of them as possible Protien Calories. Don't forget to DRINK< DRINK,DRINK,... and don't count your shakes, milk, juices as your water, either. You cheat yourself that way. Good luck!
   — Sharon H.