Getting-used-to-new-me

Thanks! One med IS better than five!

I have to change my user name again. I was "hoping-no-meds". Lately I've been "no-meds-now!" But since I've been recently put back on my BP med, I have to be "only-one-med!" I wasn't surprised by this. Although many of my medical co-morbidities were obesity related, and have gone away since my RNY, I've had BP and heart issues diagnosed since I was 19 years old. And when I was 19 years old, my weight was still in the normal range of the actuarial charts. At least I'm not taking the four other meds, for the four other co-morbidities, right?

It's comforting to hear from all of you on this meat eating. I've had success with a little shrimp and a little white fish, and as I've said before, a little of the (bad) deli meats, like turkey ham. But all have to be cut small to begin with, no more than cubes 1/2 inch per side, and then chewed twenty or thirty times each before swallowed. I'm chicken of chicken! And I've got a beef with beef! I'll keep trying them every so often though, just to see if anythings changed. But mostly I'll keep eating beans and peas and whey protein. Like Greenize said, we're mostly vegetarians now.

I've had that, but didn't know what it was called. Each time I had it, it was because I had to force myself to vomit because I tried chicken once again. The chicken got stuck and the pain was unbearable until I vomited it back up. Even then, it was only a small amount, with the foamies. I'm three months post RNY. But I still can't handle chicken, no matter how small it's cut or how moist it's prepared. The ONLY meats I've been able to handle are the ground and formed deli meats, like turkey ham, cut into small cubes, no more than 1/2 inch per side. So I stick to beans and peas for most of my non-whey proteins. Any advice?

I think LilBoo's right. I know the blood tests before my doctor visits every few months, from now on after surgery, are to check on my calcium and other nutrient levels. In my case they're also still checking my blood for the co-morbidities that made the RNY medically necessary too, like high cholesterol. So far so good! Doing what's recommended by your Doctor and their team is always the best advice now.

I agree. But when you need an emergency back-up, Protein Bars are a good choice. Livestrong recommends Balance Bars, Pure Protein Bars, and Detour Bars. Of those, the Pure Protein ones have the most protein and least calories, carbs and fats. You might also want to check online for protein bar recipes.

Great idea! Count me in too.

And by "bite" you mean level teaspoon, right?

The brand "Pure Protein" has the best protein to calorie ratio I've found. I've seen them at all the chain stores. All of the brands that have the most protein taste like soybeans to me, not good! Another brand that tastes the best to me, but has a worse protein to calorie ratio is the CLIF bar.

I'd like to add the worry stage. For me it goes like this: I'm never hungry or thirsty, even with six half-cup "meals" per day, and two liters (64 ounces) of water per day. I also take the vitamins and minerals the doctor ordered, each day. I worry that I'm not getting the nutrients I need because I'm not hungry or thirsty. Nothing tastes like it used to. My old favorites, including fried foods and sweets, cause terrible nausea, ie. dumping syndrome. Then I find a food that I can eat and I go overboard, which causes pouch pain. Then on to more worry. I know I'm new to this, RNY was 12/10/13. And I have three more blood work/then doctor consults spread over this year. I just hope it gets better.

I'd like that recipe please.

I'm glad to hear that!

If they don't call soon, you could call them again. After all, they're working for you, right?

Don't want to alarm you, but it could also be blood loss. Are you passing mostly black colored stuff? You should call your on-call doctor or nurse.

Oh, and it's 11 gms protein, 90 calories, with 35 calories from fat in each 1/4/cup dry.

Since surgery, I like plain old split pea Soup. I sometimes add a little black pepper and/or liquid smoke for more flavor. Have you tried the vegetarian meat substitute? It's really processed soybeans that are dried and flavored like beef or chicken. When you add hot Water and a lot of imagination it almost tastes like ground beef. It likes to take on the flavor of whatever it's cooked with. It's sometimes called textured vegetable Protein, or TVP. You'll have to watch the salt content, if that's a problem. I've found it branded by Augason Farms at our local Wal-mart stores in their food storage or large food quantity/container aisle.

Same here. It counts as both with my NUT.

Yeah, that's what happens with me. I think I can handle more than 4-6 ounces at a time and then comes the pouch pain reminder! It doesn't matter that those 4-6 ounces are liquid, chewy, or dry, or a combination. If I try to eat more than that at one "meal", I'm gonna regret it!

I meant the couple of times I meant to say I haven't been heard snoring by my wife the couple of times I've slept WITHOUT the c-pap recently.

Obstructive sleep apnea was one of several co-morbidities that made the bariatric surgery medically necessary for me. A c-pap machine was prescribed for me, and it has treated my sleep apnea. It also cured the "roof rattling, raise the dead" snoring that I used to do too! I had my RNY on 12/10/2013. I can now sleep without the c-pap, and not snore at all. I proved this to myself and my wife. She said she didn't hear any snoring out of me the couple of times I've slept with the c-pap recently. But I'm not ready to sleep without it all the time. Maybe later. Maybe not. This I know, almost all of my co-morbidities are completely gone now, since I had the RNY. Some of my co-morbidities, like sleep apnea, and the arthritis in my knees and hips, are MUCH better than before the RNY. So, bariatric surgery has been a good thing for me, all in all.

My co-workers telling me I'm swimming in my clothes and telling me to get new clothes.

Yes I've been taking those three "horse pills" chewable calciums each day for the last two months! So I just ordered their easy to swallow tablets. I'm hoping those tabs work better. Celebrate has an order builder option that gives options based on which surgery you had and how long ago it was. That's so they only sell you what your new system can handle. I like that.

Those chewables and caps and tabs are Celebrate brand.

I have chewables right now: grape flavor calcium--YUCK, and berry multi with iron--OK. I just ordered swallowable caps and tabs of each, with a separate iron tab. Hopefully they'll go down easy.

I really like this topic! Thanks for starting it Kerry! I was a vegan before surgery. But since starting on this program last July, and especially since my RNY surgery on 12/10/13, I've had to increase my protein with whey powders and other dairy (milk, cheese, etc.). I still can't handle eggs, so they're out. I've tried meats, poultry and fish also, since my surgery. I found that I can only tolerate a little white fish. I can't tolerate chicken at all. And beef and turkey ham are only tolerated in VERY tiny amounts. I haven't wanted to try any other animal products. I'm told by others that have had RNY that as time passes you can tolerate more of everything eaten before surgery. But I don't really care about meats. I know I'm only two months from my surgery. I'm hopeful that I'll eventually be able to use less dairy and more legumes for my protein. But I may not be able to do without dairy completely, since I have to get at least 80 grams of protein per day. I don't know that I can eat enough beans, peas, and lentils to do it. I CAN say that split peas and all beans are MORE flavorful and tasty than before surgery! Who knew! I could give up the little fish, beef and turkey ham right now. I feel like I'm rambling now. I hope this rambling has helped you.