I have been struggling...I am 8days post-op and am struggling to continue with my sipping...and worried that I am not going to get my protein in. I have tried many different proteins and my stomach cannot tolerate any. I am feeling like I want to throw up and was dry heaving this morning. The thought of protein shakes/supplements make my stomach turn. My understanding is that I am suppose to get in 70grams of protein daily. I am lucky if I get in 5grams. I feel like I am failing myself...I am scared of what will happen if I dont follow Dr. Aceves post-op diet. I am losing so much hair..which I knew would happen..but that quickly?....I feel like a crybaby. I just want to curl up in my heating blanket and not get up. Terrible I know....

a lot of people struggle to get their Protein in the beginning. Have you tried the nectar drinks? There is a thread that lists the places you can order samples so you don't get a bunch of stuff you don't like. I hear the Caribbean cooler is really good.

You are not alone. There are a bunch of people who did not like the Protein Drinks and didn't get much protein until they moved to the mushy phase.

Jenn,

force yourself to get up and walk every hour. Baby yourself the rest of the time but keep on sipping...experiment with warm fluids, maybe sipping warm tea will be easier. From what I understand this is the hardest part of recovery but you WILL get through it! I doubt the hair loss this quickly is a result of the surgery...perhaps stress in general? Keep checking in here with us..we want to know how you're doing!

Tracy

Pretty much everyone loses their hair. I have lost half my hair. I get plenty of protein and take all sorts of vitamins. Nothing seems to help, and from what I have read, it's pretty normal to lose your hair when you lose weight.

My surgeon told me to be more concerned about staying hydrated rather than worrying about getting in my Protein in the first couple of weeks.

Keep drinking your liquids, and I highly doubt the hairloss is from surgery this early out. I didn't start losing hair for almost 3 months, and then there's patients that get in all of their protein plus extra protein, and they still lose their hair. It's a side effect of the surgery, and rapid weight loss, and sometimes getting in the protein can't prevent it.

It does get better.

Jenn -

I couldn't do the Protein drinks after my surgery, either, and I didn't worry all that much about getting in my protein, especially while I was still on Clear Liquids -- I just focused on staying hydrated. Don't beat yourself up and you are NOT failing - this is the toughest part of the post-op diet. Drink warm liquids in the morning, that might help with the gagging.

If you're really concerned about getting in your protein, email Gaby at Dr. Aceves office and let her know you're not able to do the protein drinks/shakes and see what she recommends. There are a lot of different protein options. Did you check out the egg drop Soup recipe I posted? It has lots of protein and is really tasty.

I am almost 6 months out and still can't do the protein drinks and now my hair has started to fall out - thank goodness I have a LOT of hair so I'm hoping that it stops falling out before I lose it all.

I am almost 6 months out and still can't do the protein drinks and now my hair has started to fall out - thank goodness I have a LOT of hair so I'm hoping that it stops falling out before I lose it all.

Maybe a dumb question..........why does the hair fall out? lack of protien? I have a shaved head anyway so its not a concern for me.... Im 13 days post op now and im also having a hard time getting the protien in......

Edited November 24, 200916 yr by VegasAngel

Jenn-

Please don't be so hard on yourself! You have a long road ahead of you and it will have some bumps along the way. But you will make it!

concentrate on staying hydrated! Don't put so much focus on the 70 grams of Protein. I had such a hard time too- lots of vomiting, nausea- but it does get better!

The hair loss is probably stress right now-but it's never too early to start a preventative treatment- walmart sells a generic brand of minoxidill- that you use on your hair twice daily- it really helped me, plus I take hair, nails and skin Vitamins from them too, along with my other vitamins.

Breath- relax- and sip-sip-sip! Keep getting plenty of fluids in.

Jenn,

are you still taking the Nexium? Is the nausea connected to acid reflex? I had to increase the nexium to twice a day. When you get to full liquids, try RTD 51 shakes or Oh yeah shakes. IF the protein drinks are too sweet, water them down and add crystal light packets to your taste. I also used egg drop soup and wonton soup (minus the wontons). You will get through this.

Maybe a dumb question..........why does the hair fall out? lack of protien? I have a shaved head anyway so its not a concern for me.... Im 13 days post op now and im also having a hard time getting the protien in......

From what I understand it's from loosing so much weight in such a short time frame -- I also think it is from the anesthesia.

I wouldn't worry about getting in all of your protein until you're on at least mushies - even then I had a difficult time getting in all of my protein. I'm not even sure that now I get in all my protein - I eat healthy and try to stick to 3 meals a day; but I can't eat alot at any meal, so it's still hard to get in all the protein. I believe I'm getting in enough, inasmuch as all my labs came back looking "great" according to my PCP.

Hang in there, it does get easier each day.

thank you everyone.....I cannot tolerate the smell of any protein drink so I just chose not to have any at this point. This solving a lot of my nausea. I find that I run out of energy quickly and become very tired.

I sometimes use a sippy cup or a lidded cup with only a straw so that the smell does not get to me.

That's such a good idea, Norma!

Thank you, so much, for starting this thread and asking this question. I am also 8 days out and in the same boat as you. Just the thought of protien shakes, etc is making me SICK! I am so relieved to read the other responses about focusing on hydration. I can do that!

How are you now?

Yep, me too. Six days postop. Just the scent of protein drinks makes me nauseated. And everything with aspartame (Crystal Light, etc) tastes far too sweet all of a sudden. I am doing natural fruit popsicles, homemade broths, cream soups thinned with skim milk and watered down fruit juices. I'll focus more on protein when I graduate to the pureed phase in two weeks.