Need advice on optifast and side effects

Hi, I wrote the other day about having diarrhea and optifast.  Well, I still have it and now even loose.  My husband had to put up diapers for me.  What a mess, literaly.
I called the surgeon and he said if it goes on till Monday to call him back.  Plus I cannot take anything for the diarrhea. No amodiom or anything.

Does or anyone experience this terrible side effect?  Please help.  I cannot even get off the couch or I will have an accident
Please I really need your advice.

thanks
Maggie

Wake up sunshine. What is exactly in the Optifast products that you are using?? Try as I could I can't find a nutritional breakdown or ingredient list anywhere on the internet. 

Stop taking the Optifast???? Sorry but if it walks like a duck. 

HI, thanks for your reply.  I cannot stop taking optifast.  This is part of the surgery.  You have to take optifast 3 weeks before surgery and 3 weeks after.   Here in Ontario it is not a choice, you have to do this.  

 Well from what Dandy emailed me here you go. Most people here consider me a moron but I'll give it a try.

1. Milk protein, well if you are allergic to milk protein this would be a HUGE contributing factor.
2. Sodium Caseinate, is a molecule of sodium hydroxide and casein AND if you are allergic to milk products or are sensitive, it would be a problem.
3. Fructose, how it is processed in the body for some unsuspecting individuals could make IBD symptoms much worse through a certain percentage being malapsorbed.
4. Maltodextrin, depending on the base starch that it is derived from, would cause problems for individuals that are allergic
5. Canola oil, contains more omega 6 oils than omega 3. could cause a cascade of biological events that could lead to inflammatory conditions in the body causing IBD to worsen.
6. Soybean oil is worse than canola oil.
7. Aspartame, no one should consume aspartame. A steady diet is a big no-no.

So yep what you have is not a food but basically a chemical concoction and if you are allergic or have sensitivities to any of the above would cause problems.

In my humble opinion, from a moron's point of view.

 AND a great way to go into a major surgery. Dehydrated, in negative nitrogen balance with no vitamins or minerals left in your body. AND people say I'm a moron. Not you fault, your doctors.

Here's the information that you were looking for Amishjihad.

Ingredients

Caloric Distribution:
 
Protein:   40%  (milk protein, sodium caseinate)

Carbohydrate:   30%  (fructose, maltodextrin)
Fat:   30%  (canola oil, soybean oil)
 

 

 

Nutrition Analysis

 

		340 ml (54 g package mixed with water)
Energy	kcal	225
Protein	g	22.5
Carbohydrate	g	16.8
Fat	g	7.5
Sodium	mg	500
Potassium	mg	750
Percentage of Recommended Daily Intake
Vitamin A	38	%
Vitamin D3	25	%
Vitamin E	25	%
Vitamin C	33	%
Thiamine	33	%
Riboflavin	29	%
Niacin	47	%
Vitamin B6	28	%
Folacin	27	%
Vitamin B12	38	%
Pantothenic Acid	25	%
Calcium	25	%
Phosphorus	25	%
Magnesium	30	%
Iron	25	%
Zinc	33	%
Iodide	25	%
Biotin	0.025	mg
Copper	0.52	mg
Manganese	1.0	mg
Selenium	0.015	mg
Chromium	0.015	mg

 D

Vanilla: total milk protein, fructose, maltodextrin, canola oil, soybean oil, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, sodium caseinate, sodium chloride, potassium phosphate dibasic, artificial flavour, mono and diglycerides, citric acid, magnesium oxide, choline bitartrate, aspartame*, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, copper gluconate, manganese sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, BHA/BHT (to preserve freshness), colour, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin A palmitate, riboflavin, chromium acetate, Vitamin E acetate, folic acid, sodium molybdate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, biotin, Vitamin D3, cyanocobalamin.

*aspartame contains phenylalanine

 D

Chocolate: total milk protein, fructose, maltodextrin, canola oil, cocoa, soybean oil, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sodium chloride, sodium caseinate, potassium phosphate dibasic, citric acid, artificial flavour, mono and diglycerides, magnesium oxide, choline bitartrate, aspartame*, ascorbic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, copper gluconate, manganese sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, BHA/BHT (to preserve freshness), thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin A palmitate, riboflavin, chromium acetate, Vitamin E acetate, folic acid, sodium molybdate, potassium iodide, sodium selenite, biotin, Vitamin D3, cyanocobalamin.

*aspartame contains phenylalanine
 

HI, thanks for your reply.  I cannot stop taking optifast.  This is part of the surgery.  You have to take optifast 3 weeks before surgery and 3 weeks after.   Here in Ontario it is not a choice, you have to do this.  

Call you Dr. and ask if you can eat a low carb, low fat, high protein diet.  The problem I had with optifast is the amount of sugar in it made me hungry enough to eat half of Chicago.

I was able to eat two meals of something like steamed fish or chicken with low carb veggies and one meal of a protien drink that didn't contain sugar.

I lost 10 lbs in two weeks and didn't go crazy doing it.

Do you know if you have any food allergies?  If so, check the list of ingredients I just posted and see if there is anything in there that you are allergic to.

Secondly, while it is true that most if not all WLS surgeons in Ontario require us to take Optifast prior to our surgeries (although you are the first to mention having to take it after)... I have known a few people who just couldn't take the Optifast.  I'm not sure if they had diarrhea, although I had a mild bout of it, but they definitely had side effects.  One was very jittery on it, maybe because of the level of carbohydrates or the aspartame?  Not sure exactly what was causing her distress, but she went on a low fat, low carb, high protein diet prior to surgery and her liver (which is why the make us take Optifast, to reduce the liver) was "perfect"... her surgeon's exact words.

As for me, I could not do 3 or 4 Optifast a day... Blahhhh... so I did one for breakfast, one for lunch and then for supper I would eat lean protein (boneless skinless chicken breasts or fish, even ate steak once) with steamed, boiled or baked low starch vegetables (brocolli, cauliflower, spinach...not carrots or potatoes though!)

Maybe others will chime in and have other suggestions for you.  Hope you feel better soon!