natalie_christin

I thought I would take a few minutes and see if people might be interested in sharing their favorite hi protein recipes.... I was getting ready to make a grocery list and thought I would get others input first… maybe if we share some recipes/ideas, you could help us all? Sometimes it's nice to try other things and check out other's input.

Ok... Maybe this shouldn't be my new breakfast.. I just calculated all of the numbers.... How it is 618 calories... I don't know... I thought I was doing good finding something that had a good amount of protein in it… – 40 grams...

According to the Unjury people, doctors offices get incentives for recommending or offering certain protein companies. So, I don't know for sure if that's the truth that at the same time I can see it happening… So it really doesn't really matter to me which one my doctor suggests, especially since on nine months postop… My biggest concern was getting something that was good for me in conjunction with something I like. That's why thought I would throw this question out there… I'm not one that really likes Protein shakes per se but I've been finding new uses for the protein powders and is I'm trying to incorporate more protein in my diet because there's only so much chicken one can and there's only so much I can eat period... I've been having trouble eating at all – I'm just not hungry.

I thought I would tell this question out there… My surgeon and his office promotes Chike when it comes to Protein powders... It tasted decent enough – better than some of the protein drinks/powders I've tried before. But after reading some people's post on this site, the company unjury was brought up a lot. When I looked into them, they told me that there were different levels of protein and that certain types of protein were better than others. They told me that their primary ingredient is whey protein isolate... And that's supposed to be the best. Whereas the other Brand (Chike) also has a majority of way protein isolate but their secondary ingredient is whey protein concentrate. I thought I would put the question out to people here… how big of a difference is it really? I have tried both and I can tolerate the Chike a lot better. I bought a container of the unflavored Unjury and no matter what I it with with, all I can taste is powder. The other downside is that with the Unjury, he said that it cannot be heated at all because it separates. My original idea with the unflavored was that I can always add it to food that I was cooking or baking or what have you… But that doesn't seem to be the case. I made some pudding one time and added the Unjury... And I just couldn't eat it… Any thoughts? Is the whey protein concentrate that bad for you? I have a whole tub of the unflavored Unjury now… I have seen you the recipe posts on their website but if anyone else has any suggestions or ideas, I'd appreciate it. I really don't want to waste something that was that expensive. Thanks for the input!

My new breakfast...... Odd thing is I never liked oatmeal but I seem to be doing well with it now. One package of Quaker Protein instant oatmeal One cup of almond milk or 1/2 cup milk & 1/2 cup of Water ( heated up) 1 1/2 scoops of vanilla protein powder (i've been using Chike) 1 tbsp chia seeds Cook in microwave until it thickens- usually about 2 1/2 minutes Additions: I've been adding some chopped up walnuts and little blueberries just to give it a little something but I'm sure you could add whatever you'd like. Gives it some of the good fats, a bit more protein and antioxidants. Being that I have trouble getting my protein, this is been a successful breakfast that I've had twice now. I'm also disabled and cooking, especially in the morning, is not easy for me at all. This is easy and healthy.

I'm never been able to tolerate Tumeric but Ginger is also a natural anti-inflammatory… I guess you could always use one or the other :-) or both!

… I know this is a little bit off-topic but I thought I would share because this was the hardest and still is the hardest thing for me to adjust to – no drinking fluids/water after eating… I was told and hour. I'm so used to drinking water… More like gulping water while I'm heating and it just makes the food go through your body without getting the nutrients from it – or so I was told by the nutritionists

Is it too late to participate?

I guess it depends on the doctor… LOL I was told forever too. From what I was told, regardless of your stage of surgery and healing, the NSAIDs can eat away or breakdown the new stomach. I think it partly has to do with the fact that our body doesn't digest pills as well as a normal stomach does. For example if the pills just sit in the stomach or what's left of the stomach, you can easily develop ulcers and things of that nature.

There are – and there are quite a few compounds to that doctors can make – they break down the medications and put them into a cream form… I've had them breakdown 5 to 6 medications and put it into a compound but just a warning, they don't always work for everybody. At least they never worked for me. It's just a heads up… if your doctors find out to be an option for you, I hope it works :-)

I'm in the same boat you are. I was sleeved in September 2013. I didn't find out until after the fact that I would no longer be over to take any anti-inflammatories any longer. I have severe rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, i've had seven spinal surgeries including a cervical spine fusion.... Among other things. I miss my anti-inflammatories I really do… I originally thought that I just had to stop for preop only and found out after the fact that was not the case. Unfortunately my surgeons were not as familiar with my medical needs and circumstances as I thought they were and I would've liked for them to have been. I'm not completely familiar with your condition-I believe it's a type of rheumatism so I can try and offer some of the things I try alternatively have been somewhat helpful.. Homeopathic side – if you've ever going to a chiropractor or physical therapy… They have these incredible hot packs. At least I think they are. Heating pads to me don't really work because they don't get deep. You don't feel the moist heat all the way down to the muscle/bone… Heating pad is just topical. Like I said, physical therapy places have a machine called a hydrocollator. Which is just essentially a metal box that keeps these hot packs really hot all day long. I found out you could actually buy the hot packs online – I get them from Amazon personally… You don't have to have a Hydrocollator – those things are $500-$600. I heat mine up one of two ways – I get the biggest pot I have and heat it up on the stove until it's boiling and I put the hotpack in it long enough for it to heat up or even better, if you have one of those countertop turkey roasters… You know the kind that you bring out around the holidays – I just fill that up with Water and let it heat up with the pad in it. The pads are reusable – all you do is wrapped in plastic or what have you and put them in the freezer when you're not using them. So for me, it makes it Universal – there are times when I need heat and there's times when I need cold... So, when I need the cold I just take them out of the freezer and use them and when I need the heat I heat them up… These are what I am talking about: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EALLTU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RQ25LS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Medication wise – again, I don't know the specifics on your condition but I do have to take certain Biologics for my rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis I just started in on Humira but I've been on quite a few of them (Orazio, Cinzia, and some others I can't remember) and i'm also on a regular regimen of methotrexate. When I have flareups, I go to my doctor and I get an injection of steroids and toradol. Toradol all is in my opinion a great anti-inflammatory – it's something that we can still take as long it's not in the pill form. I've been prescribed a Toradol nasal spray and I get Toradol injections at the doctors office. The reason we can take it this way is, it doesn't get digested through the stomach. I also have liquid prednisone that I can take that I avoid prednisones at all costs if I am able. I'm not a doctor but this is just some things that have helped me. I didn't think that I could go without the anti-inflammatories myself but, I've been able to. It doesn't mean that I don't miss them from time to time but, having the surgery was more important.

Well, I think that they told you that to get you in the practice of eating more slowly but, it's not realistic by any means. I can honestly tell you that at 10 months postop, if I'm hungry – which I'm not most of the time but if I am hungry or I am eating, my body will shut me down and I will have to stop eating. I don't know about everyone else but I just get this point where I know that I cannot take one bite more-if I do, I will get sick… I know that sounds like I eat an awful lot, it's not… I'm talking three bites maybe…four. There are times where I will put my food aside for a few hours and go back and heat it up and try to eat a little bit more. Again, this is typically not because I'm hungry but because I need the protein or the nutrients. Eating slow especially right after surgery is extremely important because your body has to adjust to it's new flow. Everything will be a transition and your taste buds will change your appetite will change and obviously what you'll be able to eat and not eat will change. And after you go from your clear liquids to your protein shakes to fully liquid… Once you're able to start eating sauced up, that'll take adjustment too. It's important to chew a lot and eat slowly. At 3 to 4 weeks postop, I had a great deal of problems keeping anything down and it's due to other medical issues, I was stuck out several days straight without protein drinks or my norm post op food I had to unexpectedly be in the hospital with somebody…... I had to take some very strong pain medicine for other medical conditions and so I ended up "cheating" a bit and had scrambled eggs once and then shredded some turkey very small and have died at one point too. My blood sugar had completely dropped as well and I was trying to take care of somebody in the hospital and I felt like I was going to pass out myself – I felt like I didn't have any option but to eat. I lovingly got chewed out by some people here who tried to warn me about the risks of eating on the stomach that hadn't healed yet… I know that this is more information when you were asking for but it's just a bit of experience I thought I would share. The point of that story though was… Be prepared Good luck… Just remember, just take your time and realize there's going to be adjustments that you have to make that you can't necessarily plan for. Our bodies work in mysterious ways and adjusting ways we don't necessarily expect or understand either. For example, I used to be able to eat spicy stuff just fine but now my taste buds just can't even take the slightest spicy... Everything just taste completely different to me at least…

I think I figured it out... I have psoriatic arthritis... Psoriasis is a part of it..... This sucks...

Honestly, there in nothing to "pop." Not too gross anyone out or anything but, the bombs are completely solid – there's no fluid filled ones that makes sense. I'm wondering if it's something else. I have multiple health conditions… There hasn't been any real changes.

I personally had to go off all anti-inflammatories – over-the-counter and prescription… It kicks my butt but, you have to protect stomach. The only one that unable to take his injection – tordol… That's another one I take for my migraines when it gets really bad.

From my experience, the Vicodin and Percocet actually make my migraines worse… But, I still take Vicodin for other pain issues – I just have to crush it (and this was preop and postop)… Another migraine medicine that I personally take – and obviously depends on your doctor, but I take sumatriptan injections… Good luck :-)

How do you guys deal with Vitamins? I have been really bad about taking mine for at least 6 months and need to get back on track. One of the things that I need to do..... My doctor prescribed prenatal chewable vitamins... I am just not sure how many to take considering the bariatric part... I am also supposed to be taking folic acid because of my methotrexate. The only other thing I take are b12 injections because of another deficiency.. I am trying to get back on track... Have been dealing with a lot and things have gotten away from me.. I have been experiencing some odd symptoms that I haven't dealt with before... I have been bruising a lot and then breaking out on my face- I have never had acne at all... Maybe my hormones are out of wack.

Yeah, I forgot about the Vitamin D.. I am deficient there too.. Calcium is important with vitamin d- taking the two together helps your body process vitamin D.. Thanks for the tips. They are appreciated. Natalie

Thank you both so much for your encouragement. Tomorrow is my divorce hearing.... I am shaking in my boots so to say (not that I wear boots… LOL ) ... I am hoping and praying that once I get this particular obstacle behind me, I'll be able to start to make plans and MoveOn one day at a time… i'm just hoping to go in with my head held high and it's at least show the perception of strength even though I worried or concerned underneath. again, thank you all for your encouragement. It is greatly appreciated and hopefully we can be a sense of encouragement for one another. Blessings, Natalie

I had surgery last September. Even though I have lost some weight, I haven't done as well as I would like. It's been a crazy year – between my husband walking out, going through divorce among other things… I also have quite a few health issues that I can't seem to get out from underneath. I'm trying to best to get back on my feet and even if I can't do as much as I would like to do due to my health, I would still like to accomplish more and try and lose some more. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, support, or anything at this point. I find myself not eating as much as I should and it seems like I lose weight when I eat more. I also know that I'm not getting enough Protein and enough Vitamins. My blood results are coming back and things are way too low. Presurgery I was at approximately 333 and it's at surgery I was at 317 and Last time I weighed myself I was at 248. My goal weight is 180. If I get less than not been great but if not, I'm not going to worry about it. Admittedly, I think that I am dealing with little bit of depression. I'm trying to figure out how to start over again in the multitude of ways. I also want to do whatever it is I can to help my health along and I need to do things that promote my immune system. Due to multiple disabilities, I have trouble with exercising but, I'm trying to find some sort of solution where I could have some activity at least and hopefully that would help. I hope this isn't too much information but… I thought I would try to put myself out there and see if anyone else is going through something similar or if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks so much for your time and have a good day. Natalie

You both are right.. I need a routine... That way, I get in the swing of things.. Eating three times a day and eating enough is an issue.... I just don't care about eating and I am not hungry.. I could go all day every day with not eating or eating once. I don't eat a lot either... One or two bites and I am done. I know what you mean about food though,,, I try and make my family stuff that they like and then I end up with a second meal for me or them too.... By the time I am done cooking, I could care less about eating.. That is if I am up to cooking.... I feel incredibly guilty if I man not feeling up to cooking... My soon to be ex husband used to give me a real hard time about that. He felt that since I didn't work and he did, that I should take care of everything and I did my best with him never pitching in.... At all.... Then he would put me down about my weight.... I was overweight when we met...he knew what he was getting... Lol. He really tried to push me into having the gastric, but with all my medical conditions, I wasn't willing to do something that invasive.. With auto immune disorders and pain disorders, having that surgery really could have a made me worse.... After he left I found out about the sleeve... I didn't know it existed.. I think that others thought I did it because of him... But he had nothing to do in thigh my decision. I had to make the choice for me. Oh... And I know that this isn't much, but... One of the small changes I have made is that I do my darnedest not to use the motorized cart at stores anymore.... Unless I am in incredible unbearable pain, I walk... Small change I know, but it is something. Thank you both for your suggestions and encouragement. I needed it.

You are right... I really need to start some sort of routine... I just feel overwhelmed sometimes and almost as if I don't know what to do. I just need to get over the hump. I have a great deal on my plate.. Not only my stuff but my dads too and other family members. Music helps... I kinda get in a grove when I am listening to music... I have very eclectic tastes.. Just depends on my mood. Please don't worry about rambling.. Lol, I do it too... I appreciate the sharing and honesty.

Do you guys really see a difference with biotin? My understanding was that we didn't really digest the vitamins.....

Almost a year- September 13th... I honestly just use an inexpensive dry shampoo... It's suave.. I used a more expensive one - bed head, but it didn't last very long and it didn't work as well... I wish you luck

I've lost a great deal of hair is well. It really scared the heck out of me. It came even more to life after I went in and had a stylist do something to my hair and she talked me into coloring it – actually… Just highlights but it's something I never did. I warned her about the fact that I had bariatric surgery a few months prior and she told me it was fine my hair was in good condition – let's just say I started crying when she took the foils out – my hair was falling out in clumps… It was on my birthday on top of it. I friended talked me into trying to do something nice for myself and I regretted it – months later I still do. I've had to cut it a couple of times just to try to get the old stuff off but, my hairs not really growing. It has thinned out considerably and is continuing to do so. Honestly don't know what to do to get it back now. It was one of the few things that I liked about myself and now my hair just looks really crappy and brittle. It still falls out every time I wash it and I've tried to back off on Washing it – going many days and even using the dry shampoos... It doesn't help that my vitamin levels are way off. Not sure what to do.