How many grams of Carbs?

I had my one year appointment with my surgeon and he told me for maintenance I should not eat more than 30 grams of carbs per day.  Does this seem low to anyone else?  I get 15 grams just from the 3 protein shakes a day he wants me to have for life.  So that leaves me 5 grams per meal for the rest of the day.  I was just curious how much everyone else gets in a day, or if you even count them.  His reasoning was that carbs start getting digested in the saliva and will be absorbed in the part of the intestine that is bypassed.  Which makes sence to me, but the amount of carbs just seems really low to me. 
Thanks,
Tori

I don't count them.  Never have.  My dietician actually said there was no need to, just not to eat a lot of the starchy stuff like bread.  I don't worry about milk, beans, fruit, etc.  I'd never be able to stick to 30 a day.  I don't eat meat and rely on beans for lots of my protein, but they are complex carbs and good for you.

Why does he want you on three protein shakes for life?  Won't you be getting enough protein from food most of the time as you get further out?  Seems like that would add a lot of extra calories?

I guess he wants to make sure we get our protien.  But ya I try to eat foods higher in protien like NF cottage cheese, meat, and chili.  I dump off of some fruit like oranges, but berries I do ok on and some melons. 

Well, protein is important, sure.  but it's possible to eat more than 30 grams of carbs and get all your protein.  I mean, one cup of pinto beans has has 15 grams of protein but 45 carbs (and 15 grams of fiber, so I guess that means 30 net carbs).  I don't think that's a bad meal at all but under your doc's guidelines, I would not be able to eat any more carbs at all that day.  That would not be possible.

To me that seems excessive.  I try to shoot for about 75 a day but don't stress one way or the other.  I do know when I've over done it then change things up the next day.

Each of us are different so you will need to figure out what best works for you long term.

to maintain I am eating on a good day 60 but no more than 100. Seems to be working for me :)

 These are the rules I follow: 
No more than 20 grams of Fat per day

Must eat at least 60 grams of Protein a day

No more than 100 grams Carbohydrate per day

No more than 15 grams of Sugar per meal (Sugar is a Carbohydrate)

Stop drinking Water 30 minutes before a meal

Begin drinking Water 30 minutes after a meal

Eat meals no farther than 4-6 hours apart

3-6 Months After Surgery: 600-700 calories

6-9 Months After Surgery: 800-900 calories

9-12 Months After Surgery: 1000 calories

12 Months-up to 24 Months After Surgery: 1200 calories

? Months-On After Surgery: Maintenance calories (BMR & Activity Level)

Doesn't seem reasonable to me.  Veggies, fruit, milk, beans, etc all have carbs.  I try to keep mind below 80 gm a day and stay away from white flour, white sugar, white potatoes, white rice, pasta, junk food and fast food.

We gotta have carbs.  We do need to choose carbs wisely and need to eat protein first.

I wonder if he is including veggies, fruit, yogurt, etc. as countable carbs?

He is counting all of that!!  He also says no dairy, however I do not follow this.  I eat NF cottage cheese and cheese, just in moderation.  Also make my shakes with NF milk.  I eat brown rice if I am gonna have rice and I love chili!  So I eat a lot of beans.  Also only whole grain and seed bread.  I just don't see how I could stick to 30 grams a day.  Really doesn't seem possible!