Hard time after surgery. Plese help!!!!

I am having such a hard time since my RNY on November 10th. Nothing tastes good and I am nowhere near getting in all of my nutrients in everyday, especially protein. None of the protein shakes I have tried taste good and they take me hours to get down. I am also having extremely bad breath.....even after I brush several time.....is this normal? What can I do about it? Well I am worried I will be malnutritioned soon. I go back to the doctor on Tuesday where I will share my concerns, but figured most of you might know more than the dr. since you have gone through it yourselves. I am faithfull in taking all of my vitamins, but I hate the chewable calcium.....they are huge and taste horrible. Can anyone suggest a good liquid calicim and where I can find it. My book says I should be eating 1-1.5 oz. of protein at a time.....Yeh RIght.....I cant even finish a boiled egg. The only thing I seem to tolerate is string cheese.

Hang in there my friend.  I am 12 weeks out and still brush my teeth and tongue many many times a day and no there is nothing you can do about it.   My solution to protein shakes is that I mix it with strawberry crystal lite with a vanilla protein powder made by eas.  I actually love to drink them in the morning.  Keep trying - it'll happen.  And yes, food doesn't taste all that good right now because everything is changing.  It'll get better, trust me.

Calcium - I take Citrical Petites with Vitamin D.  One in the morning and one at night.   Take your time!!!!!  You have an itty bitty tiny tiny pouchy right now and you need to listen to your tummy and it'll tell you when you've had enough.  Eventually it'll stretch out, but for now, be nice to the pouchy or it'll become a grouchy!!!! 

The doctors will start taking blood tests to make sure you're not malnourished.  Right now you're ok.  Just drink your water, walk, and protein first!  Hang in there and you can always PM me if you have other questions.

Your doing fine girl...not to worry.  # 1 problem or questions on the boards..."I can't get it all my protein or liquid".  We know it, Dr. Coirin knows it.  Just try and do your best...know the signs of dehydrations (in your blue bible) and you should be fine.  Another common issue..."I can't find a protein shake I can stand"!!  We hear it all the time.  I'll try and make it to support group tommorow...I'll bring some of my favorite protein shake with me.  You have to order it on line if you like it.  Most people have to go through a bunch of protein shakes to find one they like.  One thing I would do for protein early on...Since I had to pee in the middle of the night (since I am sip sip sipping away), I would put 2-3oz of cottage cheese on the night stand...have some protein at 2am?  The bad breath is a good thing believe it or not...Ketosis...You are having rapid weightloss!! Your urine might smell stronger too.  Don't want to be gross, just sharing the facts.  Brian

Just wanted to give you a shoutout since you are awake.... I cant sleep.  So how are ya!!!  Jess

Thanks for all the info. Sorry I wasn't able to go to the support group on Monday. These are the last 2 weeks at MJC. I am taking a class on Monday nights. Next week is finals and then my Monday's are free, so I will definitely be there in January. Can't wait to meet all of my OH buddies! See you next month!

OK, you've got mail.  Hang in there
Liz

PS the chewable calcium I use is Bariatric Advantage.  They have them at the pharmacy by Dr. Coirin's office(very pricey).  I also use a liquid calcium citrate.  This one I got at Village Health in McHenry Village...Lifetime Liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate...Natural Blueberry Flavor.  Don't know if you'd like it or not.  I have to force it down a bit, but it's not that bad.  Brian  PSS  When I am in Village Health, I will pick up roasted soynuts, plain sunflower seeds, and plain pumpkin seeds too.  You may have to wait a few weeks before you try those.  Taste everything with the pouch first.  Let it settle, then proceed with chewing to puree.  Things do get better day by day.

For bad breathe try some chlorophyll. it comes in capsules or liquid. It is natures internal deodorant. Works great for me!
There's also several awesome liquid calcium's out there. Like Brian said, just keep trying till you find one you like. You can find several different brands at Vitamin Shoppe on Sisk and Pelandale. (I work there).
 Try and hang in there....I know this sucks big time (like for the first month or two...) but it gets better. Honest!!! I've been there. When I had my surgery, Coates and Coirin kept their people on liquids for a month! I lost a lb a day for the first 30 days, cause all I had was liquids! Talk about malnutrition! But that was the proctcol then. You guys are lucky, you get pureed stuff after a week or two. Anyway, it's all gonna get better from here on out. You are learning to eat again, just like a baby would. So baby yourself and sip, sip, sip, and walk, walk, walk!
 If you have any questions or need any help, I'm a short drive away!

Don't worry.  Believe me, you'll get past this hump and things will get better.  We've all been there.

All I can say is ...what they all said!!
Hang in there is will get better.


HUGS
JOY