Newbie questions and a "gross" question

Can you believe I get to ask newbie questions?  I'm so excited about being approved and surgery is 7/9!

Okay, here goes the stupid questions:
I made a protein shake today with 8oz milk, a trial packet of choc Unjury and some crushed ice in the blender.  It made 3 cups in volume, so a lot of that is air.  Will the air in the shake bother my stomach after surgery, and that would be too much volume at first when I'm taking sips?  How do you or did you make the protein shakes?

Okay here's a "gross" TMI question, but I'm a RN, so there's nothing I can't talk about.
With the small volume of food that you eat, I'm just curious about how often you have a BM?  My info in my book said it could be every 4-5 days?  OMG, so if you went daily, how often now?  Sorry to be gross, just curious.  How many of you take Benefiber or something similar? 

Thanks,

Benefiber was horrible for me. It made me cramp and feel bad and I did not go to the bathroom. My friend says it is because it takes the moisture out of your BM
I do take miralax, esp when I am on liquids. I get constipation easily.

Tamara

Tamara...I'm taking Benefiber 3x day and it's not helping. Others have told me to take Miralax...does it work better?

Benefiber made me more constipated. I hurt. Felt like i needed to go to the bathroom but couldn't. Made my BM too hard.

Miralax is pretty good but it is not going to give you instant relief but it will regulate your BM's. If I need immediate relief I take Milk of Magnesium but take children's dosage. Because our stomachs are so small we do not need adult dosage.

Also don't take Milk of Magnesium all the time because it can cause problems with the band.

Tamara

I found the air from the blender to be too much, volume and the gas it produced.  I bought a plastic shaker with a wire ball inside adn it has worked well.

As far as the BM, I take 1/2 dose of MOM, I can't wait 5 days to go, it caused me pain in the lower abdomen to wait.

Hope this helps!

I wasn't allowed protein shakes until several weeks after I had surgery. I would say just make the shake with less ice to cut down on the volume. It's frothy and thick enough without the additional ice. The air shouldn't bother your stomach, but you may have extra gas, but that can be solved with Gas-X. I just make my shakes with milk and sometimes peanut butter for extra protein and I freeze it to make it into a shake. As far as the poo question goes....I go, at least, once a day. I started taking Benefiber about a month after I had surgery and have been taking it since. It works great and, besides after surgery, I've never been constipated. Only down side is the gas. I'm a lot more gassy, but that is due to the combination of the Benefiber and the surgery. Hope this helps and congrats on your upcoming surgery!! By the way, there's no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it involves your health!!

Hi Kristi...your day is coming sooooo fast!!! I go that day for my 6 week checkup and I can't believe that time has flown by!!!!

Ok, I make my shakes in a tupperware container the night before I want to drink them....I just shake them up...and then let them sit so I don't get extra air.

As far as how much to drink....I was told to drink 2oz every hour. Not sure if your surgeon will have a laid out plan like that...but maybe sip every 15 mins?

Going to the bathroom....my biggest struggle right now!!! I am severly constipated! I'm taking Benefiber 3x a day in my water. I'm drinking about 94oz of liquid a day! I go once ever 5-7 days. It's due to all the protein we eat and I'm not able to eat all solids yet to get some ruffage...can't wait til Thursday!!! At the first sign of constipation for you please take something!!! I'm afraid to go at this point, it hurts so bad!!!

Good luck!!!!

Ask your doc if you can have a few ounces of prune juice daily to help you out. You may need to cut that benefiber back to just once a day. Talk to your doc if you are having issues bad enough to make you afraid to go. It shouldn't hurt to go and we shouldn't be afraid to go.

I have been in your shoes, so I do understand that statement. Please let your doc know what is going on and ask for input on how to make it better for yourself.

Blesings,
Trisha

Congrats on your surgery approval!!  I was banded 5 weeks ago, and I've found NOT mixing the protein shake with ice in a blender cuts down a lot on the burping...not sure if it would 'hurt' the band? Anyway,  I just use the milk, powder, and a hand blender to mix it real quick to cut down on air.  (I'm eating regular food, but still do protein shakes in the morning because they're quick!)  You'll be able to drink pretty normally a couple weeks after surgery, so the volume part shouldn't be to much of a problem.  (It will go through the band pretty easily since it's a liquid.)  That said, I haven't had a fill yet so it might be an issue (with the air) after a fill, and maybe with the volume as well. 

As far as the bathroom issue, I eat veggies and try to drink a packet of the All Bran fiber pink lemonade drink mix per day, and I haven't had any issues.  (It's actually really good for a fiber drink, it's like Crystal Light, and you can get it at Walmart, Target, etc.)  20 calories and 10 grams of fiber per packet.

Good luck!

I know some use the Magic Bullet on here..maybe that limits the air.
As for a BM..I'm usually daily but I'm a coffee drinker and that helps. I'd feel yucky if I only went every 5 days..bloated and all ya know.
Good luck on your surgery..I know you've been so patient and you will be stellar with your band!
Maureen