Optifast intolerance?

I'm feeling pretty rough.  I've been on the Optifast for three days.  I've been having watery BMs and nausea.  I don't know if it's an intolerance or if I have a stomach bug.  I'm supposed to have surgery Tuesday (I'm posting this on Thursday night). 

Any experience with this?  Any suggestions?  Is there a list of side effects for Optifast somewhere?

I would suggest calling your surgeon's office in the morning and see what they have to say...  I don't know much about the Optifast plan except I was on it about 20 years ago.  I didn't have any trouble with it at that time, but it's hard to say what may have changed.  Hopefully it's not a bug...  Wish you all the best with your surgery.

Try calling the nurse in charge of your program. She/he should be able to help you. I know it took me, I think, 6 different protein drinks post-op before I could find one that didn't make feel nauseous or so crampy. Ended up being a powder I found just one local grocery store (Safeway/Vons). I would suppose your program has heard similar stories and can help you out. As you can tell, I'm hoping you're having a lactose intolerant type issue and not a bug. If nothing else, you need to let them know in case they want/need to postpone the surgery a week. Not worth your life to do the surgery sick. Good luck and I hope it's an easy fix. Dawn

 

Same thing happened to me.. apparently it's normal.. I hated optifast it was the worst part of my journey so far

Sounds to me like you may have a whey allergy. I had the same thing and relized it was happening soon after I drank my protein shakes. I was so sick! So I talked to my clinics nurse and dietition and I was able to use prostat liquid.

Echoing above, ask your doctor/nurse.

The watery BMs are probably because you are drinking all of your meals, rather than eating them. The nausea can be caused by really fast ketosis (when you stop burning carbs and start burning your own fat).

But, it could be a milk or lactose intolerance, or something else. Call to be sure

You could definitely have a food allergy to something that is in Optifast--not all programs or proteins work for all people. Do Call the doc and be very careful to stay well hydrated--watery BM's can zap a lot of fluids from your body and going into surgery dehydrated is not good. I've never liked protein powders/shakes and was fortunate my surgeon didn't recommend them after surgery (or before).  But right now I'm on a detox diet and I'm using a rice protein powder that, while a bit grainy (you mix is with unsweetened juice--which I still cut 50% with water) it's palatable and doesn't have anything in it that I'm allergic to. Take care and good luck with surgery. Ann

When I did optifast I had the same reaction it was just too thick and yucky and made me feel sick.  I did it anyway but felt awful.  Who knows why though.  Jess

Have you tried the Optifast soups?  They also have some bars available if you can't tolerate the shakes.  They taste pretty good. 

We renamed OPtifast to Optitrots since most of us at my surgeon's office all felt the same way the first week.  My week 2 on it, it was just the opposite, we were all constipated.  They suggested we add some metamucil to our shakes to help with both ends of the BM issue and it worked very well. I'd consult your clinic and see what they suggest but you are not alone in feeling yucky and having the trots at 3 days after starting it.  It's very normal.