Question:
CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST

IAM PRE OP AND MY DR. ADVISED ME TO BUY SUGAR-FREE INSTANT BREAKFAST. I DID. WHEN I GOT HOME I READ THE LABEL AND REALIZED THERE ARE 7gm OF SUGAR. WILL THIS BOTHER ME POST OP? HOW MUCH IRON DO YOU NEED DAILY POST OP?    — nikki R. (posted on May 13, 2002)

May 13, 2002
I can sympathize, I read the label of Sugar-free Carnation Instant Breakfast and panicked. I checked with my nutritionist and she assured me that it was an acceptable level. And - she was right. I had no problem with it, except that I couldn't WAIT to get to my next stage - solids!! Good luck, Lisa
   — sssuzie1

May 13, 2002
i was told a meal shoudl not have more than 10g of sugar...so with 7...you're cool :-)
   — hdziema

May 13, 2002
The sugar in NSA CIB is lactose, the naturally occurring sugar found in milk. If you look at the label on your milk you will see sugar in that, as well. Some people are lactose intolerant after (or before!) surgery. Unless you have that problem, the lactose shouldn't bother you. It is not a refined sugar and is handled by your body similarly to fructose, the sugar naturally occurring in fruit, which most people tolerate well after surgery.<p>I took a daily vit with 100%RDA of iron and did well. I switched to another brand without iron and had horrible headaches for a week. I started taking iron again and the headaches went away. I haven't had any problems with anemia yet, so I am guessing this is adequate. You may want to ask your dr. Too much iron can be almost as bad as not enough!
   — ctyst

May 13, 2002
I just wanted to say... thank you for asking this question. I bought the sf carnation and the sf hot chocolate 2 days ago and when I looked at it I nearly freaked out. I thought I had wasted my money. So glad to know that I am ok. =)
   — Beffy W.

May 13, 2002
I would NOT do CIB, even the NSA. Even with water, I would consider it a bit rich and worth almost nothing to me nutritionally. With milk, of course, it zoomes up to 19g sugar. All sugar will fatten me up and the source is not important. It absorbs instantly. My doc forbids milk, so this never was an option. Since then, I realize what milk is used for. To fatten up baby people & baby cows, or the elderly. So, I am fine without it. I get the protein from protein supplement, the calcium from calcium supplement. No sugar at all that way.
   — vitalady

May 13, 2002
I started drinking the CIB NSA in the hospital 7 days ago, and I tolerate it fine. One thing to be careful of: 1/2 a serving of CIB and 1/2 a serving of non-fat milk to mix it with equal 9 grams of sugar. I learned yesterday that's all I can tolerate. I dumped for the first time yesterday because I was absolutely starving on this damned liquid diet (I fainted for the first time in my life yesterday from starvation), and I tried a whole serving of CIB. Big mistake. I dumped, and that is not a pleasant feeling. Luckily, it didn't last long (about 20 minutes), but I guess 18 grams of sugar in one meal is too much. Needless to say, I had a bad day yesterday, fainting and dumping within a couple of hours of each other! Anyway, just be careful. Regarding iron: according to Vitalady, if you're a proximal RNY, you need 50 mg of carbonyl iron daily. That amount changes if you're a distal RNY or if you've had another type of surgery.
   — Kristie B.

May 14, 2002
Here's how I use it. I mix 12oz of skim milk, CIB, and POWDERED MILK together. This takes the place of protein drinks and tastes a WHOLE lot better. With this recipe, I can get over 20 grams of protein in one serving. Forget those protein drinks, they are aweful. Try this, it's YUMMY!!!!!
   — Robby E.