Failing to Eat Properly
4 weeks and 2 days post op
So I'm having real problems getting enough calories and protein into myself. Every day I am nauseated and I take my zofran to manage it, but it doesn't eliminate it altogether. I try to eat but after a few bites I am feeling nauseated and often food gets stuck no matter how much I chew or how soft the food is. Sometimes even protein shakes feel like they get stuck and I have to burp to get them unstuck. I constantly remind myself to take SMALL sips and bites and to chew chew chew.
With all of these problems, I know I'm not eating enough. Today for breakfast I had about 1/8 of a cup of cream of wheat made with milk. Lunch was an ounce of smoked turkey, which initially got stuck but I waited and tried again and chewed it to annihilation so I got it down. Snacks were a 4 oz glass of milk and later a couple of tablespoons of ricotta cheese with marinara sauce. Don't know what I'm going to do for dinner.
I don't know how to calculate how much protein and how many calories I'm getting with such small amounts of food. I sip on water all day to try and keep up with my fluids. I am sure I won't lose weight when I'm consuming so little. I really am frustrated. Any suggestions?
Thanks so very much!
So I'm having real problems getting enough calories and protein into myself. Every day I am nauseated and I take my zofran to manage it, but it doesn't eliminate it altogether. I try to eat but after a few bites I am feeling nauseated and often food gets stuck no matter how much I chew or how soft the food is. Sometimes even protein shakes feel like they get stuck and I have to burp to get them unstuck. I constantly remind myself to take SMALL sips and bites and to chew chew chew.
With all of these problems, I know I'm not eating enough. Today for breakfast I had about 1/8 of a cup of cream of wheat made with milk. Lunch was an ounce of smoked turkey, which initially got stuck but I waited and tried again and chewed it to annihilation so I got it down. Snacks were a 4 oz glass of milk and later a couple of tablespoons of ricotta cheese with marinara sauce. Don't know what I'm going to do for dinner.
I don't know how to calculate how much protein and how many calories I'm getting with such small amounts of food. I sip on water all day to try and keep up with my fluids. I am sure I won't lose weight when I'm consuming so little. I really am frustrated. Any suggestions?
Thanks so very much!
Sparkle Plenty 
have you contacted your surgeon? getting food stuck that easily could be a sign of a stricture
also, try www.myfitnesspal.com for help figuring your protein and such. Though, I would venture to say at this point fluids and staying hydrated needs to be your true concentration.
also, try www.myfitnesspal.com for help figuring your protein and such. Though, I would venture to say at this point fluids and staying hydrated needs to be your true concentration.
Hi sprkl,
Stay with purees, and add only one item at a time to see how you tolerate it. For many, poultry can be hard even at 4 weeks or further out.
If you're having trouble with purees, and liquids at this time, make sure to call your doc asap because like the other poster said, you might have a stricture.
I still drink at least one shake on most days to make sure I get enough protein, and added fluids.
Kat
Stay with purees, and add only one item at a time to see how you tolerate it. For many, poultry can be hard even at 4 weeks or further out.
If you're having trouble with purees, and liquids at this time, make sure to call your doc asap because like the other poster said, you might have a stricture.
I still drink at least one shake on most days to make sure I get enough protein, and added fluids.
Kat
Contact your surgeon and make sure you don't have a stricture. After that, hydration and protein are the most important issues early out.
Go to GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or on-line. Buy some protein drinks that aren't shakes. They are more like a sports drink. Vitalady.com sells single servings of many flavors that you can try before buying an entire tub. There are some that have 40 g of protein for a 20 oz RTD bottle. You may have to try a few before you find one you like. Another option Muscle Milk makes a protein water that is very mild tasting that has 10 g of protein and is grapefruit flavored. They have another flavor too. I think it may be orange or grape. I bought them at GNC.
You can stay on soft foods longer than the dr. says. You just should not advance faster. If you are having trouble advancing to denser foods, don't advance. Poultry is difficult for lots of early post ops. I could not do chicken without it getting stuck/foamies/throwing up for 4 months.
High protein foods that are easier to eat: cottage cheese, greek yogurt, meat balls, refried beans, tuna salad, egg salad. Add protein powder to sf pudding powder before making the pudding. Add protein powder to cottage cheese.
Go to GNC, Vitamin Shoppe or on-line. Buy some protein drinks that aren't shakes. They are more like a sports drink. Vitalady.com sells single servings of many flavors that you can try before buying an entire tub. There are some that have 40 g of protein for a 20 oz RTD bottle. You may have to try a few before you find one you like. Another option Muscle Milk makes a protein water that is very mild tasting that has 10 g of protein and is grapefruit flavored. They have another flavor too. I think it may be orange or grape. I bought them at GNC.
You can stay on soft foods longer than the dr. says. You just should not advance faster. If you are having trouble advancing to denser foods, don't advance. Poultry is difficult for lots of early post ops. I could not do chicken without it getting stuck/foamies/throwing up for 4 months.
High protein foods that are easier to eat: cottage cheese, greek yogurt, meat balls, refried beans, tuna salad, egg salad. Add protein powder to sf pudding powder before making the pudding. Add protein powder to cottage cheese.
Winnie
My pouch was really picky early out (it still is actually....as I sit here two hours after eating supper....still feeling a little stuck!). At any rate, I was not able to take in more than 2 tablespoons at a time in the early weeks. I sipped on protein shakes all day long to get in enough protein (and I HATED them).
I would talk to the doctor about things...but if he tells you things are ok...it migh just mean you are one of the folks that have to take things very slow.
I would talk to the doctor about things...but if he tells you things are ok...it migh just mean you are one of the folks that have to take things very slow.
SW 212 / Goal 130 / Current 130
Not getting enough protein causes nausea. It's a viscious cycle because once you get nauseous, how on earth are you supposed to get down a protein drink? But skip the protein drink and you'll end up even more nauseous.
If you're feeling like everything, even protein shakes, get stuck, you need to call your doc. You may have a stricture.
As someone else suggested, try Isopure or Cytomax ready to drink in the bottles from GNC or Vitamiin Shoppe. They are thin, not milky, and might go down better.
If you're feeling like everything, even protein shakes, get stuck, you need to call your doc. You may have a stricture.
As someone else suggested, try Isopure or Cytomax ready to drink in the bottles from GNC or Vitamiin Shoppe. They are thin, not milky, and might go down better.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
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