Non-Dary Suggestions

[Annek2014 58]

I need some advice.

I am 14 months out after having RNY. Recently, I got out the hospital 10 days ago after an 8 day stay. I have several health issues going on. Including a complex ovarian cyst that I am seeing an Oncologist about this coming Thursday.

Additionally, I have become borderline if not actually, anorexic. I have been told by my surgeon (threatened in a polite way) to get back to 140. I am 5 ft 4 and currently weigh 119. I was 234 at surgery time. I was down to 113 back in December. Then fluctuated between 113 and 116. Then up to 119 since being admitted to the hospital. I am at the bottom of my BMI.

Anyway, I was admitted via the ER for abdominal pain. I had all kinds of test and exploratory surgery (he did fix a small hernia he found), My intestines are not plump like they should be, for lack of another term. Pretty much they think I have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), possible now lactose intolerant and maybe issues with fruit. The other thing is, contents goes through my digestive track very fast. Which could be causing dumping.??? I am on antibiotic for the SIBO and told not to have fruit or lactose. I am also anemic.

Needless to say, it makes a mess of trying to find something to eat. Trying to gain 20 pounds, stay lowfat, low sugar.

I need suggestions for dairy, like cheese and yogurt. What brands should I look for? We have Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Fresh Thyme etc. where I live. I also have to drink 5 Protein Shakes a day.

For the record, I am seeing the Nutritionist and Counselor at the Surgeons office. I may have to switch to an eating disorder clinic. I realize, it may come to that.

Thank you in advance.

[James Marusek 5,244]

Wow. It sounds like you were hit with everything including the kitchen sink.

I am 33 months post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. About 6 months ago, I decided what my goal weight should be. I had dropped to around 140 pounds but basically the research that I did told me that it is important to have a little extra fat on my body and I concluded 150 pounds (the high side of normal BMI) was optimal. The logic behind this was that when you get seriously sick or experience a major accident, you tend to lose weight and this can imperil your life and survivability. So I am now at 150 pounds and that is my new normal.

After RNY surgery, the part of your stomach that process fats and sugars was cut away and consuming too much of these could quickly lead to dumping syndrome. But after about a year, you intestines realize this deficit and learn to process these food elements. Therefore as you slide into maintenance mode, you can again consume these foods including whole milk, butter, and normal cuts of meat. Anyways at your stage, the low-fat is no longer a requirement.

One of the many pleasure that I found is eating a cheese sandwich. I use Velvetta cheese. I use a very dense white bread. I put the cheese between two slices of bread. Take a frying pan, throw in some real butter and let it melt then throw on the sandwich, until it is well toasted and turn it over and add some more butter and toast the other side. If the cheese doesn't completely melt, I throw it into a microwave and cook it for 15 seconds. It is the most wonderful thing in the world.

After you drop off the antibiotics it will be important for you to reestablish your colonies of good bacteria in your gut. That is what Probiotics are for. Some of the better brands of Probiotics are stored in refrigerated sections.