Help! I am 1 week post-op and already feel like I am failing. I still feel bloated and heavy from the surgery, I still have some cramping-like pains every time I swallow something, and I haven't been able to stomach any protein this week at all. The bariatric PA says that is normal the first week, but the shakes just wont stay down. What am I doing wrong? Did anyone else have issues like these?

I'm sorry, this sounds miserable. Have you tried any protein waters? They're not as heavy as shakes so you might be able to tolerate them better. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I went through the same thing, it's not really that abnormal... just make sure you're drinking very slowly and follow your doctors orders for proper post-surgical care. Things will get better in time, you're still healing, and your stomach will take a little time to get back to the normal feelings.

Feel better.

So sorry you're having a tough time. Some people really have a thing with the protein game.

Try thinning it down. If you're using powder, try mixing it with more of your mix. Try different protein powders (whey, egg white, soy, etc).

Or if drinking the Premier Protein RTD drinks I'd try to dilute them in things like decaf coffee or with extra Fairlife skim milk--that way you are still getting protein in.

Also with the clear proteins and protein water, try diluting them by 50% too.

Then do what your hospital said and pour 4 1oz pill cups up and drink them every hour on the hour. 1 cup per 15 minutes.

Hope that helps!

Help! I am 1 week post-op and already feel like I am failing. I still feel bloated and heavy from the surgery, I still have some cramping-like pains every time I swallow something, and I haven't been able to stomach any Protein this week at all. The bariatric PA says that is normal the first week, but the shakes just wont stay down. What am I doing wrong? Did anyone else have issues like these?

You sound just like me. I was drinking premier protein and it wasn’t going down. This morning I tried a sample of Unjury with almond milk and it didn’t hurt. I can only drink 2 oz at a time, but it doesn’t hurt. No cramping when swallowing. Yay! I hope you find something that works soon. I feel your pain.

1 minute ago, domi said:

You sound just like me. I was drinking Premier Protein and it wasn’t going down. This morning I tried a sample of Unjury with almond milk and it didn’t hurt. I can only drink 2 oz at a time, but it doesn’t hurt. No cramping when swallowing. Yay! I hope you find something that works soon. I feel your pain.

I also found almond milk to be one of the easiest things to stomach aside from water. My current favorite shake is unsweetened almond milk with vanilla Unjury powder. It's like drinking melted vanilla ice cream. When you're able to handle a slightly thicker mix, chocolate splendor by unjury is also amazing. If that still ends up being too thick for you, try half almond milk and half water. I'm personally not a fan of chocolate protein in water, but gotta do what we gotta do.

One more small shake recommendation that isn't thick at all, try mixing unflavored powder with water and a tsp of orange crystal light... really smooth drink with a good sweetness to it.

Yes plenty of people heal slowly, try to measure your own progress not by how how quickly things go but by how sustainable the changes are

Like the other posters suggested they different kinds until something works

I still can't stomach the shakes (unless in coffee ) and I'm 5 months out.

EVERYONE is different

Safe recovery

VSG 11/17

HW 270

SW 238

CW 185

[emoji91][emoji91][emoji91]

Thanks everyone. I was starting to think something was wrong. Slow and steady.

Thanks everyone for the support and suggestions. I got some unflavored protein powder and added it to my lemon water and havent had any trouble so far today.

Try alternating warm drinks like bone broth with cold drinks, or at least warm first thing in the morning helps relax the muscles in the esophagus and stomach. I could not tolerate thick shakes either and went with ready-made Isopure punch or blue raspberry diluted w crystal light lemonade. Hang in there, this stage feels like forever but you can get through it.

On 4/11/2018 at 12:12 PM, RichCat72 said:

Help! I am 1 week post-op and already feel like I am failing. I still feel bloated and heavy from the surgery, I still have some cramping-like pains every time I swallow something, and I haven't been able to stomach any Protein this week at all. The bariatric PA says that is normal the first week, but the shakes just wont stay down. What am I doing wrong? Did anyone else have issues like these?

You are 1 week from having a very major surgery. everyone heals and recovers at a different pace.

Nothing but water is a Must. everything else is a "as you get better thing"

When you feel better (not if) cause you will get better with time you will add in the protein and then work thru the rest but your PA was right it is all normal cause normal is a huge range and not everyone gets back to food at the same pace.

Relax and work on liquids. dont force anything on a artificial timeline. Every average has people on both sides of that supposed average.

Find your own pace and get comfortable with it.

listen to your PA and try to enjoy the next part of your life.

Dont sweat the small stuff and at 1 week post op if you are not dehydrated it is all small stuff.

drink up and enjoy

good luck

I had the same - I lived on Gatorade and diet cordial until I found a soup I could stomach - I couldn’t do water. Little sips little sips. They told me at the time - don’t worry about diet right now just don’t get dehydrated. Then I moved onto a brand of high protein yogurt and lived on that for awhile until I could do purée. It wasn’t until about a month maybe 5 weeks before I could do protein shakes and get my numbers ideal. It is a big adjustment for you and your stomach. Be kind to yourself, the first few weeks are the hardest but it gets so much better.