Question:
How to maintain nutritional needs as well as process 64 ozs. of fluid a day?

It's not that I can't drink water, I haven't had a problem with anything I have swallowed yet, but, even stopping the sipping 30 minutes before meals, I can't eat what I am supposed to. How are we supposed to get all the nutrition we should if by the time you drink all of the fluid, you have no room for food.    — Derissa B. (posted on September 24, 2004)

September 24, 2004
Protein Drinks. I make a protein drink that has skim milk, protein powder, yogurt and Omega Oil and it has a 40 grams of protein. Soups are good also. I use No Salt Healthly Valley Soup, add powder milk, chopped up veggies (machine chopped) slice a cheese and you are getting 15 grams or more of protein. Your getting liquids and your protein. GMC has a drink called Isopure (bottle has 40 grams of protein). You have to shop around. Ask. Do you belong to a support group. They are very helpful.
   — Linda R.

September 24, 2004
Have you had your surgery yet? I can tell you that in the very beginning it was very hard to get in the required water and the nutritional requirements in a day's time. It did however, get easier. But I agree with the previous poster- definitely do the protein drinks because you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone (so to speak). My program coordinator said we can count our protein drinks & soups towards the water intake.
   — Shrinking-Violet

September 24, 2004
Without question, liquid is the most important but protein drinks kill two birds with one stone so to speak. The protein drinks do count toward your total liquid intake and are especially important when you can't get in enough food and liquid. It does get easier but in the early months, I concentrated on liquids and didn't worry so much about food.
   — scbabe

September 24, 2004
You need to get in your protein FIRST!! Liquids second. Early in the post op period it is very difficult to do both. I stayed with using an 8 ounce glass for my water and Crystal Light. If I tried using one of the 32 or 64 oz containers I was overwhelmed. I just took a swallow or 2 every 5 minutes. Maybe you need to stop drinking an hour before you eat. In the beginning your pouch is swollen and won't hold as much as you think. Keep water by your bed and take a drink or two if you wake during the night. Limit your protein drinks to 30 GMS of protein per drink. Not even an athlete can absorb more than 30 GMS at one time. All over that is wasted.Good luck. Soon you will be a big loser too.
   — dianne E.

September 24, 2004
Liquids will not stay in your pouch, they will pass right thru. You are so new, your pouch may still be swollen. Once it heals completely the swelling will go down and you should have no problem getting in your liquids and food. In my program, I can drink right up till I start eating, no liquids with the meal and then I wait 20-30 minutes to start drinking again. But, as they say, everyone is different and will have different rules.
   — Ali M

September 25, 2004
in the beginning the most important thing to concentrate on is getting in the water and protein drink Do not worry about the amount of food Trust me.... you will soon enough be able to eat more then you should You will not perish from starvation We can live off our stored FAT for a long while so concentrat on the Water the Protein drinks and Walking forget Food Kathy McAlister 11-1-00 268/135/142 TT 4-9-02 redo TT 9-30-04 ( this coming Thur) Good luck you will be fine 5'5 45 at time of surgery 49 now
   — Kathleen M.

September 25, 2004
In the beginning, you just do what you can do. Liquids are very important at this stage to keep you from getting dehydrated and ending up in the hospital (believe me, I know from experience, several times!). Get in what you can. You're volume increases soon enough, and you won't starve in the meantime.
   — mom2jtx3