What is normal????

I am week 7 post op and TRYING, to integrate food choices into my diet but truly struggling. My capacity is so limited. I know I’m not getting enough fluid daily, even with making protein heavy choices for the little food I can eat, I am not even remotely close to the grams my dr wants. My calories are still hovering between 300-600/day. As you imagine my energy is a battle (energy in = energy out). Textures and flavors have all changed and my tolerance is very clear. My new stomach lets me know with resounding defiance if I have tried something it rejects. So far things on my “nope...not gonna take it list” (even though previously tolerable) includes: cottage cheese, ready to drink protein shakes, yogurt, processed meats, and of course no pasta, bread, rice, etc. Most meals are still liquid, or 2 tablespoons at the most. Soup is one of my few friends. Is this common?

Sometimes it takes a little longer to get used to certain foods again.
But don't worry about your calories, you have plenty of fat to feed your body.
I was at 600 till I was 6 months out.
And calories in, calories out is not true, it is way more than that.
So, take it easy.
Try to find foods that you can eat and stick to that for a while.
Puree the heck out of everything you eat and if necessary, make it thinner.
You could try making some chili and puree that with tomato juice, add a few laughing cow cheese triangles.
Make soups with legumes (beans, lentils) and veggies.

Don't hurry the foods.
Take a step back and look what happens.
You could be going to fast for your stomach.
Introduce new foods one at a time, so you know exactly what doesn't agree with you.
Easy does it.
Good luck!

Normal ?... if you figure it out let me know. The only difference is everything you mentioned I can eat. I can eat pretty much eat anything just not much !! A couple bites and I’m done. I fill full sometimes. But most of the time I eat about 3-4 bites and say that’s enough. I’ve had that ribcage feeling u described I didn’t like it. I’ve tried something new regularly.. I’m just super tired most of the time.. if I ever get my energy level up I think I’ll be okay. I had so many ideas (wants) before I was released to do whatever. HONESTLY I had been able to .. I walk everyday by going to the gym just ain’t happening yet. I go but don’t last long. It actually takes longer to drive there and back then it is the time I’m working out.. I know we both (newbies). And lord knows I got a lot to learn.. I hope u get to where u can tolerate more foods. I don’t really wanna eat .. I do because I know I have too but I’m not hungry I got tired or start feeling weak and I know it’s time !!..

Take care .. Press On ..
Russ

You guys are VERY early on still ... all this will pass VERY soon. :)

I know that's not a very encouraging thing to hear. But you should feel encouraged. One month from now things will be considerably different. Six months out ... you'll be swishing your tail around town so fancy everyone else will have to wear shades. And then a year out -- be careful! :)

I'm almost five years out, and life so completely and wonderfully rocks. :)

Yes as Ann2 says - this will pass.
7 weeks is very early - it really does get better.

It's a big learning curve and everyone is different.
Just keep trying different foods and keep retrying some that didn't agree with you previously.

I had minute amounts of something new until I figured out it was ok - or not. Actually now it's only fresh salmon (canned is fine - go figure!) and apples that don't like me. Somethings that weren't good early on I can now eat no problem.

Hydration is really important - keep sipping water all the time. It soon becomes a habit.

I was lucky to be hitting 400 calories a day at 7 weeks. 20 months out and I average around 900-1000 which suits me just fine.

Hang in there......it really is worth it!

NWLISA, I thought some more about this. Here are some things that worked for me early on. Not sure they'll hit your sweet spot, but ....

1. Non-fat Traditional Refried Beans (they come in a can) nuked with full-fat cheddar cheese and a little sour cream (and salsa if you can tolerate that). Gradually, I added chopped up chicken breast to that mix.

2. I was a big fan of protein drinks (my fave is still GNC Lean Shake 25 Swiss Chocolate, but that's a very personal thing for each of us). A lot of people flee from protein drinks early on. I never did. Five years out, I still like 'em. :)

3. I'd say go ahead and enjoy any soups (especially creamy chicken ones) you can tolerate now. Do you think you could tolerate adding ground up chicken to any of those soups?

4. What about chicken salad -- just plain chicken breast (comes canned, water packed) with mayonnaise and pickle relish, celery, nuts -- whatever your tummy tolerates.

5. Egg salad?

What about eggs? They were, and still are, a favourite of mine and so versatile. Poached, scrambled, omelets with some cheese and whatever else you like inside? I ate a lot of scrambled early on. Steer away from fried though :-)
Frittatas are good as you can add all sorts of things into them.
Fish? White fish poached or baked in tinfoil. I add ginger, soy sauce and garlic (if you like) or lemon slices and dill.
You mention that ready to drink protein drinks are no good - have you tried making them with a protein powder and your choice of milk? Maybe ask for some sample sizes to try different makes/flavours?
What about pureed foods? (Not baby food, that's vile!) There is a company in NZ that specialises in pureed food for bariatric patients (and others who are unable to eat solid foods). I had some of their products and they were really tasty - they actually tasted like they were supposed to. There has got to be a similar company in the US.

Yes it can be. I know for a while post op I did not do well with cold fluids. I also could not stand the sweet taste of shakes. One thing that helped me was the Fairlife fat free milk. It has extra protein so it helped me get more in. I would make large lattes with espresso, fairlife milk, a scoop of collagen protein powder, and Splenda. I would make creamed chicken soup with Fairlife milk versus water. Have you tried Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt? I ate that a lot in the beginning. I also enjoyed berry flavored hot green tea. As long as fluids were room temperature or hotter it settled better in my stomach. It took quite a while before I could eat more than a few bites or drink enough fluids. I kept doing my best every day. That is all you can do. I know people will keep telling you that it is crucial to get your protein and fluids in regularly. It took me months before I was doing both consistently. I had good and bad days. What helped me with energy was dissolvable vitamin B12. As long as I was staying hydrated and making the healthiest choices I could I was not too worried about it.

Easy does it NWLISA ;-) This too shall pass.

I still log everything, including changes. I remember only being able to take two sips at a time. In time that changed. Time takes time. It changed gradually.

Early on my choices were limited. I had a ton of complications, hospitalized 4.5 months. I lived on a liquid diet for 6 months. I became creative with purées. I used PatchMD vitamin and mineral patches to stay within norms. I still use them today. They work for me;-)

3+ years out I can take in 1000 calories a day max.

Hi there!
I remember 7 weeks out and thinking....what did I do? I will never eat or enjoy food ever again. I couldn't eat much at all. I struggled to drink anything too. What helped me was blending things and just making purees of everything....and going very slowly. Speed of eating is hard to learn. I had to take a bite then wait a few minutes before I could take another. It seemed crazy to me, but it helped...a lot.
You can get create with the blender. I did a lot of white meat chicken in a can blended with ranch seasoning, a touch of mayo, a dash of hot sauce and considered it buffalo chicken!
You will find your groove. Deviled eggs were good too, but to put it in perspective: it would take me about an hour to eat 1 egg.

As everyone has stated, 7 weeks is still really early. This too shall pass! I remember pureeing the heck out of food. Stick with soft meat like fish, tuna that you can really separate and mix up. Soup was definitely my friend, and I'm not much of an egg person, but a scrambled egg is also an option. Try applesauce and stay hydrated!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Truss

Normal ?... if you figure it out let me know. The only difference is everything you mentioned I can eat. I can eat pretty much eat anything just not much !! A couple bites and I’m done. I fill full sometimes. But most of the time I eat about 3-4 bites and say that’s enough. I’ve had that ribcage feeling u described I didn’t like it. I’ve tried something new regularly.. I’m just super tired most of the time.. if I ever get my energy level up I think I’ll be okay. I had so many ideas (wants) before I was released to do whatever. HONESTLY I had been able to .. I walk everyday by going to the gym just ain’t happening yet. I go but don’t last long. It actually takes longer to drive there and back then it is the time I’m working out.. I know we both (newbies). And lord knows I got a lot to learn.. I hope u get to where u can tolerate more foods. I don’t really wanna eat .. I do because I know I have too but I’m not hungry I got tired or start feeling weak and I know it’s time !!..

Take care .. Press On ..
Russ

---

Absolutely agree. Normal changed forever (well actually many times in life). But yes, I eat even though I am not hungry, and even at 20 months, about 7 ounces of anything is enough....so its just adjusting. You'll find your way. Its a long journey but wel worth it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ann2

NWLISA, I thought some more about this. Here are some things that worked for me early on. Not sure they'll hit your sweet spot, but ....

1. Non-fat Traditional Refried Beans (they come in a can) nuked with full-fat cheddar cheese and a little sour cream (and salsa if you can tolerate that). Gradually, I added chopped up chicken breast to that mix.

2. I was a big fan of protein drinks (my fave is still GNC Lean Shake 25 Swiss Chocolate, but that's a very personal thing for each of us). A lot of people flee from protein drinks early on. I never did. Five years out, I still like 'em. :)

3. I'd say go ahead and enjoy any soups (especially creamy chicken ones) you can tolerate now. Do you think you could tolerate adding ground up chicken to any of those soups?

4. What about chicken salad -- just plain chicken breast (comes canned, water packed) with mayonnaise and pickle relish, celery, nuts -- whatever your tummy tolerates.

5. Egg salad?

---

I loved refried beans just that way. I was still working on site with a client so I'd take some with a side of salad shrimp for lunch.

Hey, Sue ... how are you doing?!

And remember: "'there is no "normal'.
There is only what suits YOU and YOUR needs best."
Yoda, after wsl surgery.