Vegetarian on DS? And questions about gas/diarrhea.

At the pre-op seminar, I asked that very question of my surgeon, Dr. Inman, if I could remain a lacto-ovo vegetarian and get adequate protein in my diet.  The answer was "if you're a vegetarian and you are wanting to continue that lifestyle, then you need to look at another surgery.  Vegetable protein is not as bioavailable to a malabsorptive system as a diet containing meat and whey protein which is derived from an animal source - milk" Ok, milk is a protein source with added wjhey protein isolate for  me, because I'm lactose intolerant.

The goal is to eventually get all your protein needs met from food alone, but with my sleeve holding only 6 to 8 ounces at a time, it's not going to happen.  I also saw a DS compatriot of mine go through protein calorie malnutrition after stopping the shakes after a year.  Her experience taught me the signs, and when my lower legs began to swell, I stepped up the protein shakes, and I will *never* completely let go of my shakes again.