Hi all,

Here's the backstory...surgery July 21st....moved up food stage to yogurts, crackers, soups and cheeses ect. On my 3week 2day post surgery I woke up and drank a 4oz protein shake with skim milk (I have done this before but it had been about 5 days) and then proceeded to get sooooo sick...nausous all day....started throwing up in the evening and proceeded to throw up stomach acid and bile until I went to ER the next morning. Surgeon has a CT done and says my surgery (sleeve) is perfect but I have inflamation in my instestines and says I need to see a Gastro guy. I was admitted for a 23 hour observation, surgeon says that inflimation means Crohn's. Well, the Gastro guy says he see's this about 5 times a month and that the two camps don't necessarily agree that one can be a precurser to the other at times. Well, the Gastro guy says that 99% of the time it is NOT Crohn's but a bug so I have to be on a drug for a month and then resee him. MY QUESTION: Could my reaction to the protein shake plus skim milk have caused such a allergic reaction to make me begin to get sick and then ultimatley dehydrated with ended me in the hospital for the weekend? I'm a little concerned to try the protein shakes again although I have been told to stay away from too much milk products...kind of tough to do because in my meal progression, much of it is milk based. Anyone out there lactose intolerant after surgery, how did you know? How did you progress from there because even if I am not for the long run...I kind of have to behave that way for now. Thanks for the support and help! Tracy W.

Sorry to hear about your problems. Some people become temporarily lactose intolerant. Can you try some lactose free milk? We have this in the UK http://www.lactofree.co.uk/ and there must be something similar in the US.

You could try yogurt as a lot of people who have problems with lactose do OK with fermented products (that includes cheese too). I'd try just half a small yogurt to see how you go.

I have IBS and I have a relative with crohns, so I sympathize with you.

You could also try your protein drinks with water. If you still have problems it could be the protein powder itself giving you issues. I never did protein drinks as they make too unwell (cramps, bloating, etc).

You should be OK to get your protein from real food now as you're nearly a month out. Just make sure you chew, chew, chew (fish will be easier on your new sleeve if chicken doesn't sit well just yet).

All the best.

I had the same problem almost to the "T" but as for me I did get over the hump of being nausious and throwing up and what not. I too couldn't handle milk products after surgery. But i'm 4 months out now and I can now tolerate lactose products, Milk, yogert, and so forth. I did how ever have to be on an at home iv for about a week to get me on track. And now my life seems and feels like a normal person. Just can't eat as much as everybody else. You'll get there too in do time. Be patient It's all worth it in the end.

Lactose intolerance varies. I developed it after surgery, but I can tolerate Whey-based Protein drinks, yogurt, and semi-hard cheeses, such as light string cheese and the lite babybel cheese.

At first, I did better with the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Protein powder, which is mixed with Water.

Lynda

Well, this just keeps on giving! Now I find out that I can't have any milk products and at my stage of food progression alot of my options are milk based foods...joy...now what am I going to eat? Also I don't feel comfortable with whey protein because I think it is made with some kind of milk? Does anyone know? Any ideas on soy or rice milk choices? HELP!

Thanks, Tracy w.

Well, this just keeps on giving! Now I find out that I can't have any milk products and at my stage of food progression alot of my options are milk based foods...joy...now what am I going to eat? Also I don't feel comfortable with whey Protein because I think it is made with some kind of milk? Does anyone know? Any ideas on soy or rice milk choices? HELP!

Thanks, Tracy w.

i became lactose intolerant for a while and am a vegetarian to boot! I used lactaid or soymilk with whey... whey does not contain lactose... check the can to make sure it does not contain other milk products... at around 3 months my ability to eat dairy returned.

I am lactose intolerant; here are some Protein suggestions for the mushy stage and beyond:

-pureed chicken breast, tuna, deviled ham (watch out for fat content)

-scrambled eggs

-refried Beans, lentils, split pea Soup

-hummus

-tofu (you can put it in any type of sauce, e.g., sautee it then add marinara; or make it like you would egg or tuna salad)

-swiss cheese is lactose free; cheddar is low lactose and you can probably tolerate it if you don't eat too much at one time, great over refried beans.

Also, brands of Lactose free "dairy products" usually only found in health food-type stores (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Mother's Market in So. California)

-Lactaid cottage cheese

-Tofutti cream cheese (delicious) and sour cream

-"Veggie Slices" (it is like american cheese, good for sandwiches later on)

-Lisanti brand almond cheese (I like the mozzarella and it melts when you heat it)

-various brands of soy yogurt (have not actually found one low enough in sugar that I like)

-Arctic Zero (whey protein "ice cream"...it's so-so tasting to me, but I've never been much for ice cream in the first place)

Also try going to a blog called The World According to Egg Face, I have not tried yet, but many people love her wls-friendly recipes.

The protein shake powder I first tried was from Bariatric Advantage. They are very nutritious and lactose free. I would add some Lactaid to make them taste a bit richer; they are not that great mixed with Water only. If you order online, I suggest the banana or chocolate flavors, stay away from strawberry--it tastes like PeptoBismol.

Half of these items I found myself, the others were from other kind people on this forum. I hope it is helpful to you.

Wow Adri and others ....thanks so much! That is a great list of stuff! i just called the GI guy to find out about soy stuff so we will see about that. I'm just shocked that I need to do all this research on my own and that a GI nurse couldn't suggest Lactaid or soy ect...duh??? I guess because I got so sick on the skim milk with a protein shake....my mind will not let me do a protein drink...after ending up in the hospital for the second time in a month...I just don't want any reaction to the protein whey either....are we sure it's not something that could have caused the problem I described above???? Thanks again, Tracy w.

Whey is naturally the major source of lactose. But whey protein isolate can be processed and filtered so it's virtually lactose free. That is why I have no problem with the BA shakes. I think you would have to check the label of any protein powder/drink before you buy it to make sure it's lactose free.