I have two questions that may seem silly to some, but I genuinely need answers to them. I've read information about both these questions on here, but can't find it again to save my life.

We're supposed to take 15-25 minutes to consume our meals because our stomachs begin to empty any time after 30 minutes? Is that correct?

AND here's the one I mostly need an answer to. Somewhere I read that our bodies only absorb a certain amount of grams of Protein at a time. "At a time" what does that mean? For instance, let's say it won't absorb any more than 30g "at a time"....when will my body be to absorb 30 more grams? I'm probably losing my mind, and this is probably something I even dreamed, I don't know! But as you all know, I'm struggling with ANYTHING I consume right now and my surgeon has put me to bed for rest and back to square one...protein, full fluids because I'm extremely weak. So this morning, I decided I was going to down the protein no matter what, so I made a homemade protein "shot". Basically just enough liquid to mix my Tbls of protein to turn it back and gulp it, holding my nose. I hate it I hate it I hate it! I can tolerate it, but if there's a certain amount of protein my body will only absorb at once, I need to know how many grams that is and how often per day. I'm sorry if I make no sense but I'm hoping someone knows what I'm talking about. Thanks!

Gulping down anything is not a good idea. You need to sip slowly or you may end up vomiting everything back up. If you don't like the Protein you are taking why not switch up? There are zillions of them out there. You may get bored only drinking but keep searching until you find one that is at least tolerable.

As for "time" I'm assuming the means each meal. Since we are aiming for 60gms a day that means at least 20gm each meal.

ETA: Are there any support groups offered by your doctor in your area? It might be helpful to drop in to some of them.

ETA 2: How are you doing with your Vitamins & supplements?

Edited November 12, 201411 yr by Blerdgirl

I'm past the point of not being able to "gulp". I can drink normally, and when I say enough liquid to "shoot" I mean its maybe one ounce. I have shopped around and tried many many many different protein sources. I simply can't tolerate any of them. My source of protein isn't in question at this point, my concern was mainly for how long I should be waiting between consumption of it. If I could take it all at once, that'd work so much better for me.

Gulping down anything is not a good idea. You need to sip slowly or you may end up vomiting everything back up. If you don't like the Protein you are taking why not switch up? There are zillions of them out there. You may get bored only drinking but keep searching until you find one that is at least tolerable.

As for "time" I'm assuming the means each meal. Since we are aiming for 60gms a day that means at least 20gm each meal.

ETA: Are there any support groups offered by your doctor in your area? It might be helpful to drop in to some of them.

ETA 2: How are you doing with your Vitamins & supplements?

Yes, my surgeon offers a support group every Tuesday and every Thursday.

My surgeon only has me taking one Multivitamin daily, and one B-complex supplement. I'm taking both each morning with no trouble.

I've never heard anything about taking a certain amount of time to consume protein. It takes me about a half an hour to eat my Greek yogurt. Only takes me about 10 minutes to drink my soup or broth with genepro protein powder, and takes me about 15 minutes to do a protein pudding because of small bites.

I've never heard anything about taking a certain amount of time to consume protein. It takes me about a half an hour to eat my Greek yogurt. Only takes me about 10 minutes to drink my soup or broth with genepro protein powder, and takes me about 15 minutes to do a protein pudding because of small bites.

I was told by my nutritionist that you should spend no longer than 45 mins eating any meal. Your times for what you are eating sound about right. The point is not to spend more than 45 mins eating something like your yogurt because after that your body can't absorb the nutrients until after it has digested what is already in your tummy.

Yes, my surgeon offers a support group every Tuesday and every Thursday.

My surgeon only has me taking one multivitamin daily, and one B-complex supplement. I'm taking both each morning with no trouble.

This is interesting. You are the second person I've come across not on the regular list of Vitamins & nutrients. From everything I have read bariatric patients need a multi Vitamin 2x's a day, Calcium, Vitamin D, & B12 supplements and some may even require extra Iron. It was my understanding that our bodies no longer can absorbs all the nutrients we need and thus require supplements for life.

I'm wonder if this is a new thing. It may be why you are feeling so tired and week.

Here's the discussion with the other person I came across.

Edited November 12, 201411 yr by Blerdgirl

Very interesting that you've been told that bariatric patients can no longer absorb the nutrients we did before. That was the NUMBER ONE reason I chose VSG instead of gastric bypass, because my surgeon told me that VSG patients don't deal with malabsorption like bypass patients. I'll have to speak with him about this on Monday when I see him next.

Edited November 12, 201411 yr by Jennifer Rogers

I checked with my NUT. She said the body not being able to absorb a certain amount of protein at a time is a myth. It may take a little longer to absorb but it will all be absorbed.

There is a thread about Protein absorption titled "changing how I consume protein" in the food and nutrition subforum. I just "bumped" it to the top of the protein, Vitamin and supplements section. It explains the rate of absorption and implications for us.

As for other nutrients, the only one I know that is affected by VSG is B12. Our intestines require intrinsic factor in order to absorb B12. The part of the stomach that produces intrinsic factor is removed, so we need to take either B12 injections or a sublingual tablet that is absorbed through our mucous membranes. As for the other supplements (multi, Vitamin D, Iron, calcium, etc) we can absorb them, but we are eating such small amounts, we can't get as much as our bodies need without supplementation. They know this from decades of research with total and partial gastrectomy patients. Up to 90% develop deficiencies (iron and B12 were the biggest) within 10 years. But not everyone is the same....I had to stop my calcium and iron supplements because my levels were too high at 6 months postop. Regular, annual bloodwork is the best way for you to know what supplements you need or don't need before you develop any health problems.

Edited November 12, 201411 yr by Kindle

I checked with my NUT. She said the body not being able to absorb a certain amount of Protein at a time is a myth. It may take a little longer to absorb but it will all be absorbed.

Interesting. I'll go read the other thread. From what I'm reading it sounds like my doctor errs on the side of caution. There are several things he did as a precaution that I'm seeing many other doc didn't do. I had the IVC filter just in case, and was started on prophylactic doses of colace & prilosec . I was even sent a visiting nurse when they found out I lived alone. I'm not complaining, my surgery was a cake walk and I feel great! I'd rather be safe than sorry.

There is a thread about protein absorption titled "changing how I consume protein" in the food and nutrition subforum. I just "bumped" it to the top of the protein, Vitamin and supplements section. It explains the rate of absorption and implications for us.

I just had my 6 week last week so I won't see the team for another month. I'll have to make a note so I can ask them when I return.

Edited November 12, 201411 yr by Blerdgirl

@@Kindle Can you provide a link? There are thousands of threads and how things show up may vary depending on how someone has their settings set up. I'm not seeing the thread you said you bumped.

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/309465-changing-how-i-consume-my-protein/page-4#entry3662068

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/309465-changing-how-i-consume-my-protein/page-4#entry3662068

I thought you were referring to vitamins & supplements. I'm okay with my proteins, but thanks for the info.