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I didn’t know what to title this. My surgery was April 29th, I ended up in the ER the day after my release from the hospital with pneumonia, critically low potassium and acute UTI. I was also diagnosed with esophageal dysphasia. Because of that my follow up appointments got thrown off course. I had two appointments close together. The second appointment he had me go for a upper gi fluoroscopy and endoscopy. Which found stoma stricture, Schatzki ring, sliding hiatal hernia and ulcers. TBH after the endoscopy I didn’t want to schedule my next follow up appointment. And the doctor hadn’t said when. It should have been 2-3 months post-op but it’s almost 4 1/2 months. I see my surgeon on Thursday and because I need medical transportation it turns into practically an all day affair. I am actually dreading this appointment. He is a great surgeon but my communication skills, especially when I’m fatigued are sorely lacking. I’m at a loss what to say since I feel like I can’t do anything right. While yes my weight has gone down (rather slow) and I think I’ve hit around 53lb loss - I haven’t been able to progress in certain things and have to keep my calories very low otherwise I stall. Due to the esophageal dysphasia I’m not drinking a lot of water. I haven’t attempted purées again and should probably even be into regular foods by now. The most I’ve been able to manage is yogurt mixed with protein powder for breakfast (sometimes a shake) cottage cheese, BariatricPal protein soup (if I have any) juice flavor protein mixes, and sometimes soft boiled egg but I get kind of sick from it so not too often. It’s more an allergy thing with that. My surgeon never really said anything after the endoscopy. I read on the results that he balloon dilated the stricture which it seems to me he did it too much at once and I don’t feel better. The fluoroscopy showed it at 3mm and he dilated 10mm and assumed it was ok because the scope passed? I find it perplexing. And maybe they think the other issues too minor? I don’t. I don’t want to be stuck on proton pump inhibitors. They cause constipation and are not safe long term for things like magnesium, bone density etc. which I have enough bone density loss as is. I told My gastroenterologist about new issues with this of course they said talk to the surgeon and also my PCP. I’ve been having crushing chest pain. And weird strong spasms below my ribs on the left side. Of course I forgot to mention it to my PCP I was too annoyed by her attitude when I caught her up on the surgery and everything after it (she was on maternity leave a few months) well that’s a long story I won’t bore anyone with. My gastroenterologist scheduled me for a colonoscopy the end of this month to rule out possible colitis (a ct scan result said colitis) I was supposed to have had it before my RNY but it didn’t work out that way. I’m not sure how I’ll manage prep. They gave me a prescription for one that is less to drink but I’m allergic to it. Ill have to do clear liquids two days prior to the colonoscopy. Does clear protein count as a clear liquid or do I not have protein? I’ve had colonoscopies before but this is my first after RNY. Also. I have endometriosis and it’s possible he won’t see the problem in the colonoscopy since that won’t show up if it’s on the outside. I worry it won’t answer the problems there. As for endometriosis. I saw my uro/gyn because of hemorrhagic cysts on my one remaining ovary. Which also has endometriosis on it. I guess it’s time to have it out now and I’m scheduled for that October 14th. Which means .............. menopause. But I’m hoping it will ease the endometriosis and pcos symptoms. He had removed my other ovary that was covered with endometriosis during other procedures he was doing at the time. I’m too chicken to ask him about an issue with one of the other procedures he did. Just like my follow up with my bariatric surgeon. I’m at a loss what to say and when I’m exhausted I lose my words. Also doesn’t help that I speak to several people before he enters the room. I feel like they expect me to be cured of all my ailments after surgery, even my pcp had that attitude but with lifelong chronic illness it doesn’t work that way. In fact I knew things likely would get worse for me but this was my last chance at a tool to fight my out of control weight gain. You can only eat so little calories without help of some kind. My surgery wasn’t reliant on comorbidities since my BMI was 40. I have them. But most wont just go away with weight loss. But it doesn’t mean I regret the surgery. (My pcp had the attitude of why did I have it if it didn’t help those things ... well I was already at least 208lbs and BMI 40 (height 5’) like isn’t that enough of a reason? Im sorry I just wrote a very long rant. My memory is so terrible I don’t remember when my last two appointments were and what was discussed at the last one. I don’t think they even mentioned my bloodwork. All I know is that was when he scheduled the tests. Now I’m following up on that. I almost don’t even want to go. I feel like I won’t be able to explain anything. And honestly surgeons just want to hear that you lost a huge amount of weight and that you’re doing great not “it’s complicated. “

You are not failing. You are still in the early stages and it takes awhile to get a new normal. Take a deep breath and try to relax. You can always go back to scrambled eggs and greek yogurt. It took me awhile to be able to eat more then a few bites of solids, but it will happen. Things will feel normal again down the road. The reflux sucks and your Dr. may want to give you a different prescription. I was given 3 different kinds before it was the right one . Good luck

Baked reduced fat ricotta cheese Shredded chicken breast cooked with a lot of broth or marinara in a slow cooker Different flavors of low sugar greek yogurts 10-20 Veggie Straw “chips” if I want something crunchy (not a lot of protein) spiralized sautéed zucchini or yellow squash (not a lot of protein) Reduced fat refried beans with shredded cheddar cheese baked for 10-15 minutes

This actually has what I call a 'small scoop'. It is from a small bag of Genepro unflavored/medical grade protein powder that I THINK i got from BP, but I may have gotten from Amazon. Will have to check. I'll attach pictures showing the scoop next to a Premier Protein shake so you can get an idea of size. A 'scoop' (small scooper) is 7.2 grams which is roughly equal to a little over 2 tsps so you can see that it is a LOT of protein (30 grams) for a small amount of "powder" although I still calculate all of the calories, etc. that come from it. Sometimes I don't need an entire '30 grams' as it is = 58.7 calories. Sometimes I do a 1/2 scoop or roughly..a little of 1 tsp. It all depends on where my calories are at for the day. However, if I am not hitting my protein or need a boost, then I don't worry about the extra 58.7 calories. There were days when I was having an issue getting any 'real food' in and then I added this stuff to diced peaches, yogurt, you name it. However, my calories were very low so the addition of the extra 58.7 calories didn't matter. For 1 scoop if you use entire amount - besides 58.7 calories, there is .3 grams of fat (negligible to me), 0.6 gms of carbs (negligible to me). 0.6 sugars (negligible to me) and 30 gms of protein. Here are the pics of the nutrition info and the baby scooper next to my premier protein drink (I do NOT add anything to the premier protein drinks as they already have 30 grams of protein..lol).

Sorry if this is TMI but did anyone else have diarrhea trying to increase calories? I am not sure if it's the general increase in fat or carbs. I thought I had a handle in trying to stay at this weight or maybe lose 5 pounds over a few months. It was working but now I am back to losing 2 pounds in 5 days. I am 5' 2.5 and now 129. I know I can still lose more and be ok however I have a lot of muscle and excess skin from prior weight gains and loses. I feel like I am getting too skinny. My face looks tired and gaunt, my wrists are so bony. Here's what I eat and I am trying to increase calories but heavy meats fill me up for hours. I have to graze all day to get this in: meals: premier shake and 5 oz of milk (1-2%) 1 egg with 1c sauté spinach using olive oil, 1-2T cheese 4oz. premade chicken salad (130 cal with 3.5f, 13g protein) 1.5 oz ground beef with 1/4 c veggies (green beans or broccoli) 1-2T cheese snacks: 1T peanut butter 1 cup of milk 1/2 c berries (divided up all day long) 1-2 servings (5 oz cups) of low sugar yogurt sometimes the one with nut butter mixed in 1/4 c pumpkin seeds or walnuts lentil crackers, nut thins crackers, or 1 sheet of graham cracker harvest snaps green pea crisps --- it all averages to 25% carbs (80g), 33% protein (97g), 40% fat (44g) for an avg. of 1100 calories I know some of the processed snacks are not the best but I am trying to increase calories and carbs without the volume. I have a hard time getting in water since I always feel like I am eating but I figure the milk and yogurt as snacks helps somewhat with fluids. Any suggestions?

You can freeze premier protein drinks to make ice cream. The World According to Eggface has recipes. I just didn't do "Scooby Snacks". I didn't want to reinforce the habit that was highly responsible for getting me to the Obesity Ball in the first place. To me that's the definition of insanity. So I never "planned" for snacks. But still--I'm human. Snacks DO happen. So when they did I tried to make them protein only, less than 100cals, > or = 10g protein...and rather than call it snacking or grazing, I tried to keep them as mini meals. Six mini meals a day on a schedule and no snacking in between. My mini meals were like @AZhiker's minimeals: Hard Boiled Egg Deviled Egg Turkey Frigo Light Cheese Rollup or a Boar's Head Lacy Swiss and Turkey rollup String cheese Greek yogurt with PB2 powder in it and Walden Farm Syrup Cottage Cheese with a tbsp of applesauce (or now, berries) Protein Drink Tuna Pouches Tuna Salad (made with cottage cheese and hard boiled egg and Greek yogurt and Dijon and dill relish)--also good with canned chicken and salmon. Egg Salad (made the same way as the tuna salad without the dill relish). I tried really hard not to feed the sweet tooth or the inner carb monster with sweet treats or crunchy snacks. But I would use Kraft 2% Deli Deluxe slices and would make cheese crackers to eat the tuna salad and egg salad. Later on down the road when you can have raw veggies, radish and cucumbers are great "crackers".

Do you put a whole protein scoop full? Into like your yogurts and food? I have unflavored protein, but the scoop is huge so i havent been using it. I normally get my daily amounts of protein though, but if i could get in even more i wouldn't be opposed to that. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

You could try a couple of canned peach halves (juice, not syrup) in yogurt or cottage cheese. Fresh ripe peaches also work. Just mash them in a protein source like yogurt or cc.

I hear you! I almost bought some of the calcium chews of one brand (can't remember which one) and at last minute I decided to look @ label (just like I check any 'gummy item') and was shocked at the total that taking 3 of those suckers would cost me in carbs! It was just like you said..roughly 20. So, no thank you to those. I will say if I'm having problems one day eating meat (like I made my chicken too dry) or for some reason I'm really nauseated, I do try and work in some yogurt from Kroger - the line is called CARBMASTER, I think. The carbs are reasonable, sugars are low (sugar free technically)...and the protein is ok, but I put a chunk of protein powder into each one if needed (counting the calories from the powder...still less calories for me than most things)..and stir them up. I've easily gotten 15 grams ...maybe even 20 grams of protein from just one yogurt.

I talked to my nutritionist. She has no problems with me fluctuating my protein up and down. She just doesn't want me to suppress it every day. I only need about 45-53g of protein per day to sustain my body at my new weight. So to eat 50-55g or protein one day and raise on other days is perfectly fine. The protein can come from "all sources"--meaning even protein in veggies count! She wants me to focus on getting protein from many sources. Yes, complete proteins are important, but that can come from milk, yogurt, eggs as well as things like quinao/beans/lentils/soy beans (which I got the go ahead to have a serving a day from whole sources (no isolates)) or things like hemp and chia seeds and I'm now allowed a bit of flax seed too. I had a pre-albumin test recently and my pre-albumin was 24. Think 20 is low. But the doc was fine with it being at 24. Some days I get 90g of protein (feast days), but other days I'm more like 50-ish. I usually on days where I do a 20/4 or a 22/2, will do 1 shake (25-30g protein) + 1 meal with 4-5oz of cooked protein (meat/fish/seafood--something very dense protein per ounce--trying for 7g protein/ounce of source (weight). So if I can get 24-30g of protein in a meal + the shake, I'm gold! And right before eating closes for the night, I might still be able to get in 4oz of kefir + 2-3oz protein drink (love strawberries and cream flavor or peaches and cream flavor mixed with low fat kefir). TRE=Time Restricted Eating Ok, maybe @Healthy_life2 will step in and help you with this. She runs marathons! And has a huge routine down that is very specific for her work out schedule. She's awesome sauce!!! Congrats on the triathlon next month!!! Wooooot!!!! I hear ya on the urgency stuff when you cut down via TRE (time restricted eating)--especially during a race! Wow! That would be unpleasant!!

I couldn’t use the premiere protein because they have added iodine (I’m allergic) I had a hard time finding ones I could tolerate. So far I like PEScience Select protein powder, either I mix it with ripple milk, edensoy or in TwoGood yogurt. For RTD (ready to drink) labrada lean body salted caramel is very good it’s 40 grams protein. Boost MAX protein (from the grocery) it’s 30 grams protein. Koia is good for a plant based RTD. I Especially liked Cinnamon horchata. Also BariatricPal has fruit flavor protein mixes and protein shots. I’d highly recommend the protein shots for more immediately after surgery. They have protein hot cocoa and also protein broth or soup. There is also Unjury that makes a broth flavored protein. Being approved for surgery came after my birthday this. Year. This is definitely the best Christmas gift to get. It won’t be easy but it’s worth it. To know you have a fighting chance.

I’m Jelly, i wish I could lose 2lbs a day heck I’d even take 2lbs a week with what I’m eating. I tried something new which was a little more calories and just was pretty much in a crawl, then a stall then went backwards a little, once I dropped calories again it went down 2lbs. My metabolism is a joke. i still have jello cups from pre op. Can’t even use them, for colonoscopy prep. Wrong color. Not sure what I will do for clear for the prep. It’s a PITA to find things I can tolerate. my taste changes baffle me sometimes. Years before I had the surgery I started losing my ability to properly taste food, i could tell salty, sweet, sour only if it was strong. My sense of smell was/is altered diminished and sometimes my nose misinterprets what I smell. Example peach scent smells like cat litter to me ... yet sometimes a smell or “taste” is too overwhelming it nauseates me even when I can’t really tell what the taste or smell is? i ate food Based on texture, crunch or creamy. It’s hard to eat by texture when I’m still stuck on shakes, yogurt (TwoGood mixed with protein powder for breakfast), and cottage cheese (has to be the friendship whipped cottage cheese, 4oz is 90 calories and 16 grams protein, though I prefer California style) with occasional BariatricPal juice protein or shots. My swallowing issues along with taste and smell issues are giving me a strong aversion to food. I tried purée (tuna, chicken) and just couldn’t do it. Soft boiled egg isn’t bad but I’m tempting my allergies with that. Funny I still love the taste of pickle juice (butter pickles) my one vice I couldn’t shake even more than sugar (which I had to fight the sugar demons quite some years ago) is Butter (the real stuff)

I can eat the small Activia Greek yogurt cups but the full-size tubs are TOO MUCH at a time. Precious Pouch must be VERY PETITE to not hold THAT MUCH!

Silk makes a dairy-free yogurt, not sure if it is Almond ( my first guess) or possibly coconut, but I saw it in the yogurt area at my Local Wal-Mart.

I had to give up dairy. I miss yogurt, but feel much better.

I am 7 month post bypass and have been at GW for several weeks. Was feeling great and on top of the world. I have exercised since day one and felt good/strong enough to be challenged by ladies triathlon in a month. (1/4 mile swim, 14 mile bike, 3 mile walk/run.) So I have started training. The power walk is not an issue - I walk that far every day anyway, but I have been working on speeding it up. I started swimming this week, and it is HARD after not having swum in quite a while, but I am doing it. My bike comes next week and I will add that in. My problem is that doing the walk and swim every day has wiped me out. I feel calorie depleted, but cannot eat more than 800- 1,000 max per day.I am keeping up with hydration just fine - that is not a problem. I normally fast in the mornings, but I see I cannot do this and exercise hard in the mornings as well. My tummy is not liking anything fatty anymore. Cheese, meat, peanut butter, nuts, etc are making me feel sick. All that feels good is tea, protein shakes, yogurt, cooked squash. I am maintaining my weight (not losing any pounds, which is fine), but I feel like I am getting thinner. How can I maintain a training schedule and compete in this event, and eat what I need in order to do this? Anyone out there who is really upping their exercise and still feeling good? How are you doing it? What are you eating before, during, and after events???? I need some help here. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak right now. I am feeling a bit down and discouraged.

Lots of people become lactose intolerant after surgery. Use your lactase pills. Yogurt is tolerated by some, since the sugar is already digested. Can you get by with yogurt and lactose free milk? I also think the surgery and dietary changes deal a really big blow to the gut biome environment. Try to re=establish a healthy biome with yogurt, real fermented sauerkraut (in Sprouts), root vegetables, broccoli/cabbage, mushrooms, probiotics. Avoid sugar and processed stuff.

When you deny craving it can make you want them more. Keep healthy options for sweet and salty cravings on hand. Real food stage You can make old favorites in a healthy way. No need to add extra calories and gain weight. Make sure my examples fit your food plan and stay within your weight loss calories/macros for the day. (log your food) Try to satify cravings with real whole foods first. Pizza mushroom cap pizza bites or cauliflower crust pizza – add lots of veggies use the meats allowed on your plan. Limit or omit cheese depending on your plan. turkey meatballs dipped in pizza sauce Hamburgers – Turkey burgers – You can buy butter ball frozen patties for convenience or make your own. I place them on a bed of salad add pickles, tomato and onion. Optional olive oil mayo and mustard. Or a lettuce wrapped burger - Chips – Salty cravings crisp veggies dipped in hummus or any low calorie dip – to cut the calories in hummus I add plain yogurt quest protein chips. They are made from protein powder. The flavor is better if you dip them in salsa. I like the BBQ or nacho. I try not to make these a habit. (processed food) I use them as a snack to kick a craving. beef or chicken Jerkey chicken fajitas no tortilla Sweet – Dannon light n fit Greek yogurt - option freeze to make popsicle Protein bar or shake Small amount of strawberries – option dip in hersheys sugar free cholate syrup

Im on day 3 of the liquid diet and it’s getting easier. The first day was hell, but yesterday and today have been better. I learned to not let the hunger grab hold of you. Have your shakes at the first sign of cravings. Keep snacking on your sugar free yogurts and puddings, pops etc. Drink lots of water. Also I added the plain Greek yogurt and that helps curb the hunger a lot. My first day I was totally miserable, but now I’m managing just fine. I hope it lasts. My surgery is on the 19th and it can’t get here fast enough.

Well said ! My surgery was just one day before you and I was hoping to be down more than I was on my 3 week visit this week however I was so happy to be able to start cottage cheese and pureed veggies yesterday ! I love farina and yogurt but I have been hungry and I am tiring of it. With the new foods yesterday and today I am feeling content. Decided to only weigh on Wednesdays and Sundays

the first couple of years post-op I focused on turkey and vegetables and just had a tablespoon or two of everything else. I also brought pumpkin yogurt to eat (several yogurt companies make it this time of year) while everyone else was eating pumpkin pie. I've since found some crustless protein pumpkin pie recipes that aren't bad - although I haven't had them for Thanksgiving yet.

I added carbs to slow weight loss down but purposely choose food that is not something I used to like or that was super tempting. So I will eat a half to one sheet of a plain graham cracker. I knew I needed the carbs and a little more fiber. If I ate a bagel I think that would be a slippery slope for me. I also will occasionally eat a 1/4 cup of cereal on top of yogurt. It was 85 calories (granola type of cereal). That is besides adding nuts and nut butters, cooking my egg in olive oil, adding butter to veggies etc. I can't increase calories with all healthy foods yet. I still have too much restriction. I too can still lose 15 lbs on the chart and be in the normal BMI but i think for me I would look too sickly. A month ago I was still loosing 2-3 # per week was too quick and was concerned that in 1-2 months I would be getting too close to getting underweight. Besides we are carrying extra skin that the BMI chart doesn't accommodate for so I don't think 115 on me vs someone who has always been thin looks the same. I am more muscular too. Mentally its is frustrating since if I lose 2 pounds over a few days I get panicked that its too fast and I am not in control of it but if I gain 1to 2 pounds then the fear of rebounding creeps in. I have to remind myself that all day long the scale will jump a few pounds but look back at the trend over the last few weeks. Now that I have been able to bounce around and only lost 3 pounds in the past month I feel more in control. I had a thought today that it was like when I was first pregnant; it consumed every thought all day long. Then you kind of get over the newness of it. I think that's mentally where I am. I think it will take awhile of being at a stable weight to forget that we just went thru this major life changing surgery.

I was cold and felt ta little shaky but that may have been stress. Once I woke up today I felt back to normal. It was Okios lemon yogurt. I think I have had that flavor before but maybe I haven't and it was the acidity or flavoring that bothered me. It's so discouraging and it makes me feel like I will never feel "normal" again.

I’m 6 months post RNY. I have only gotten sick twice the first month after surgery from eating too fast. Both time it’s what others call dismiss but for me it a sudden gush of salamis like drooling. Tonight I had 2 ounces of chicken and a cauliflower cheese side. I think I ate at normal speed and all was fine. About an hour later I ate most of a 5 oz yogurt I’ve had before. I was almost done with it after maybe 7-8 minutes and felt full so I stopped and didn’t finish the last bites. It’s been 2 hours of nausea and an ache between my shoulder blades. That’s a common thing I feel if I eat fast or too much. Now it’s been almost 3 hours since the chicken and 2 since the yogurt and I just got the foamies and still feel nauseated but the achy pain is better. Is it normal to feel this bad hours later?

Here's a sample for you that is appropriate for week two. It is about 1/4cup of food per meal. You might not be able to finish your tuna lunch, but you could come back in an hour or so and be able to finish it -- in the early days. Also, don't know if your doc allows you to drink milk. My doc wants us to drink 1-2 glasses of milk per day as part of our plan to get calcium and protein in, but I rarely do it--cuz I don't really like it. You can jazz up yogurt with water drops in different fruit flavors. I like doing plain low fat Greek, cuz then I know exactly how much yogurt I'm getting relative to the additives that they put in it. Also 3oz of swai (pangasius) is a light fish. It is a raw measurement and it shrinks a ton. So this should give you 1/4c of cooked fish (about 1 1/2-2oz cooked). And at first, you will basically only be eating protein and some meat lube (low cal, low carb, low sugar) sauces at each meal.