Help, I Don't Know What I'm Doing

[peacequeen 434]

I'm a week out and starting full liquids tomorrow. My problem is, I don't know how much I should have..how much is enough? I feel full all the time due to the swelling. I have no regimine I'm following because I just don't know how to do this. I have a pill box with 20 pills I have to take each day and I can hardly get those down, then I have to drink all the Water. Where can I get my Protein in? I thought this was going to be easy for me but it's not! My manual gives examples of idea shakes I could use but doesn't tell me how much I should be taking in and how often. I'm so afraid I'm going to over do it and not even know it.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Can you take your pills with a Protein Shake. It's really difficult to figure out what's happening. Work with taking in some liquid a little at a time. Your tummy is probably swollen from the surgery, so take your time. My surgeons office want us to wait 10 minutes before each bite. I can't do this, so i wait a couple of minutes. The best thing to do would be to call your surgeon and ask about the amount you can consume. It will be very little. Don't stress on it, your tummy will tell you when it's full. Good luck. Happy trails.

[New in 2012 14]

I was feeling the same way. I started using crystal light and mixing unflavored Protein into that. I drink that as my Water, so I'm getting protein all day.

[DebiC 181]

It will get better. There is no standard amount that you need to consume at this early stage. Right now the most important thing is to stay hydrated. Your body can live on the stored Protein for a little while until you are able to consume more.

Some people make up Protein shakes and just sip on them all day. My doctor wanted us to have 3 shakes (or full liquid meals) a day.

These first 4 weeks or so are the hardest. You are trying to change a lifetime of eating habits into completely new habits. So just take it slow. Keep coming to the boards and ask all the questions you want.

Everyone's journey is unique, but you are bound to get some suggestions or advice that you will find helpful.

So for now just worry about getting liquids in. Sip Sip Sip. Water, popscicles, tea, broth. Whatever makes your tummy feel better. Try to get your shakes in, but just make sure you are staying hydrated.

Good luck.

[MeMeMEEE 206]

Remember all liquids count toward your intake so if you drink 16 oz Water, 16 oz Protein, 16 oz of broth, 16 oz of jello/popsicle/juice that equals your 64 oz of Fluid for the day. Can you take one pill ever 3 oz of fluid you drink? That would get your 20 pills down. Hopefully you will be able to stop some pills as you lose weight.

[peacequeen 434]

I have several pills that I can't mix with others, like my thyroid med..vit d will deplete it so I have to take some in the morning and I take all my supplements at night,,whew.it's a chore but I do what I have to do. Yes, I hope with time I can get off of alot of these pills. Thanks for the fb,,I guess I'm doing everything right.

[Rev Me Up! 75]

I was always told to drink as much as possible in the first few weeks. It is more important to fight dehydration. I think the benchmark was about 500 cals per day, but it depends on your doctor.

Just do your best with the flluids and Protein.

BTW - I was also told not to worry about Vitamins until 2 weeks or more out from surgery.

[lessofme2010 25]

I would take just your Rx meds at this point and after you can do more full liquids etc.. then add the supplements..

I don't think I added my Vitamins until I was eating mushies.

I took Levoxyl for my thyroid only each moring.

It gets better each day!! Hang in there!

Julie

[peacequeen 434]

Thanks, everyone.

[Happy Camper 266]

Definitely at your stage you have to take it slow. Others have given you great information. Dehydration is your biggest concern early on. Keep up the fluids, sf pops, I like G-2 which is less sugar. My doc also said not to start Vitamins until week two, priority was fluids and if you have other mds you have to get in. Nothing bigger than tic-tac.

Best to you,

Take care

[Indymom 132]

I literally planned out a daily schedule of when to take my pills, when I needed to drink my Protein and when I needed to eat - because I also had a ton of pills I had to take and couldn't take certain pills with others.

As far as eating, I ate 2 oz per meal, 3 times a day - so I would have 1 oz of applesauce and 1 oz of cottage cheese, or 1 oz cheese stick and 1 oz of SF pudding (these were all foods that were allowed during my first phase). I had to space out my pills by about 5-10 minutes apart, and I take a lot (my colitis meds alone are 8 pills a day!). I also had to be sure to fit in my Protein shakes, and I usually had 2 a day - one first thing in the morning, and one in the evening.

It can be hard in the first months! I felt like I was always putting something in my mouth between my pills, my Water, my Protein and my food . . . . but it is much better now that I don't have to space my pills out so much and don't have to worry about Protein Shakes. Good luck to you!

[Charlotte 23]

I had my sleeve done on the 12th of December. My first week was all Protein shakes and Protein Water, I was told to put protein in everything I drank.

They also said no pills only liquid forms of them LOL couldn't find liquid forms for any of them but the pain pill that melts in your mouth.

It is hard to get everything in so don't feel bad if you can't. My dr office wants 80-100oz of liquid a day and 90gm of protein I am lucky if I drink that much

each of us are different but don't beat your self up if you can't get it all in.

I found that the protein liquid drinks helped and then I found GNC had these little bottels of protein called Protein Shots they are wonderful for getting in that needed protein.

Sip and sip and sip and sip some more is what worked for me getting the liquid in but it took a while. 2oz at a time at first.

You should call your Doctors office and ask how much they want you to take in of each protein and Water, I would also ask about the medication.

Good luck on your journey and Happy losing.

[peacequeen 434]

Thanks everyone, my husband found the literature that had all the info I needed on it. It was along with my discharge papers.