Finding foods is hard

[Frostie1975 11]

I'm just short of being 3-months post-op and the last week I have been getting extremely constipated. Anyone else have this problem? Or have had this? Is 3 months to soon to eat things like Cheerios? I am trying to figure out what is causing it. For the most part I don't think I even exceed 600 calories a day and its mostly still soft foods. And I seem to have become intolerant to eggs, yay me.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

At 3 months post op, you should be able to tolerate most foods. I would focus on lean Protein and non starchy veggies. If you have room for other things, you can incorporate a small amount of whole grains and legumes. I would also look for healthy fats such as avocados, whole eggs, nuts, and oils.

[Matt Z 4,138]

26 minutes ago, Frostie1975 said:

I'm just short of being 3-months post-op and the last week I have been getting extremely constipated. Anyone else have this problem? Or have had this? Is 3 months to soon to eat things like Cheerios? I am trying to figure out what is causing it. For the most part I don't think I even exceed 600 calories a day and its mostly still soft foods. And I seem to have become intolerant to eggs, yay me.

At 2 months post op you should have been cleared for ALL foods.
If you are constipated... more than likely you are not drinking enough Water or taking in enough Fiber.

600 calories a day is VERY low for this far out from surgery.

Please follow up with your surgical team and nutritionist for further guidance and instruction.

[MargoCL 677]

I've added high Fiber Snacks back into my diet to help with this.

My new go to - I add it to my daily cottage cheese to increase my Protein and fiber Enlightened Plant Protein Gluten Free Roasted Broad (Fava) Bean snack, Garlic and Onion also Raw Rev Glo Protein Bars, Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt, 1.6 Ounce Bar (Pack of 12) 15g Protein, 2g Sugar, 14g Fiber, Keto-Friendly, Vegan, Plant-Based Protein, Gluten-Free Snack Bar

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071CPQFCH/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PVS5PCE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

or at night I'll indulge in a spoonful of peanut butter. But so far these three things have really helped me.

I'm just 6.5 weeks out and my daily cal range between 600 - 700 depending on if I eat nuts or have Protein Shakes. If not, I really try to get my Proteins in through strictly food. Additionally, I know it's OK to use protein shakes to count towards total fluids, but I do not. My Decaf coffee and protein shakes are counted towards "meals" and not Fluid. I also drink anywhere from 64 to 96 oz of (flavored) Water per day

[Bhageerah 161]

Ok, I know that this will be TMI but just remember you asked! 😂 As others have stated at 3 months out you should be cleared for just about anything. Keep in mind if you are drinking/eating only 600 calories a day your body is will be consuming more than than to run every day. Its the waste that ends up coming out of the other end, so if you are drinking most of that 600 calories then not much is going to come out the back end. I will say that I am usually eating about 16-1800 calories per day and I typically "go" once per day if that. I have actually started taking several things in order to keep things moving. I take several of those per day as well as several psyllium pills. Please refer to your surgeon for the psyllium, some say its ok and some say no, my surgeon said it was fine and I currently take 3-4 pills daily and they simply work. The only concern is making sure that you drink enough Water as the Fiber in the pills tends to absorb water which can be bad if you do not drink enough water when you take them. I am over a year out and even though I eat plenty of salad, fruit and veggies I still have issues. I also drink well over 100oz of water every day so I am getting plenty of hydration.

[djvalade 26]

I suggest using Miralax 2 to 3 times a week to naturally eliminate your Constipation.

[Julie norton 2,850]

Well. Some options seem to to be : Water, fiber, Miralax, stool softeners, enemas, suppositories, overnite mild laxatives, and a nurse or office consultation? Anything that works... as long as it isn’t days and days... THAT can be painful and frustrating. Hoping things move!

[Screwballski 540]

10/05/2018 10:59 AM, Frostie1975 said:

I'm just short of being 3-months post-op and the last week I have been getting extremely constipated. Anyone else have this problem? Or have had this? Is 3 months to soon to eat things like Cheerios? I am trying to figure out what is causing it. For the most part I don't think I even exceed 600 calories a day and its mostly still soft foods. And I seem to have become intolerant to eggs, yay me.

I was still at about 600 calories at 3 months. At almost 5 months, I’m struggling to break 800.
Honestly, there’s probably never a good time for Cheerios. They’re pretty much junk. You really want to start with Protein. If you have room, go to good, healthy carbs. If you have more room and “need” a starch, sweet potatoes or black beans...something along those lines. If Cheerios is the thing you crave, make it an every now and then thing. Plan for it. I mean, unless they have changed since I read the nutritional panel 4-5 years ago.

Does Metamucil work for you or does it cause bloating?  Might try a bit in your Water for Fiber.

I really only go 2-3 times a week.  I eat solid food but can’t take on large volumes so there isn’t much to eliminate, I guess.  But, when I do it’s just normal.  I’m not in discomfort and I don’t feel constipated. 

Do you feel uncomfortable or are you just eliminating much less frequently?

[CyclicalLoser 155]

I am similar in that I am way under on calories at 3 months. I'm perfectly happy with 400-600 calories, and for the most part don't feel bad. My kidneys are a bit angry at me, but the doctor said it's because I'm not drinking enough.

Last week I met with the team, which included the nutritionist, and got his approval literally for cheerios and whole wheat no-added-sugar Cereal. I just tried whole wheat shredded wheat with lots of truvia sweetner, and 50/50 watered down 40-cal almond milk. I waited a while before it was pretty much mush to eat. It went down fine, but didn't taste very good. I tried some double-fiber wheat bread, extra toasted, with a light coating of smart balance light margarine, and a pretty heavy coating of sugar free grape jelly, and it was really good. It does help quite a bit as a "natural" laxative as well.

I'm consuming too much Protein according to my nutritionist, about 100-120g per day. So he's fine with me incorporating some quality (whole wheat) carbs.

[Frustr8 7,886]

An easy way to wiltyour shredded wheat down. Pour boiling Water over it, my mama would let a couple minutes and d4ain, but I wonder if you might get the same results if you poued it on shredded wheat in a colander/drainer?

[Frostie1975 11]

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. Since posting this I have added Weight Control, Low Sugar oatmeal to my Breakfast regimen and it's keeping me cleaned out YAY! Still working on trying other foods, Protein moreso. Had a horrible experience with a blockage 3 weeks ago and thought I was dying so I have become very leery of eating too much of ANYTHING. I go back for my 3-month check up next week so we shall see what they say.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

11 hours ago, CyclicalLoser said:

I am similar in that I am way under on calories at 3 months. I'm perfectly happy with 400-600 calories, and for the most part don't feel bad. My kidneys are a bit angry at me, but the doctor said it's because I'm not drinking enough.

Last week I met with the team, which included the nutritionist, and got his approval literally for cheerios and whole wheat no-added-sugar Cereal. I just tried whole wheat shredded wheat with lots of truvia sweetner, and 50/50 watered down 40-cal almond milk. I waited a while before it was pretty much mush to eat. It went down fine, but didn't taste very good. I tried some double-fiber wheat bread, extra toasted, with a light coating of smart balance light margarine, and a pretty heavy coating of sugar free grape jelly, and it was really good. It does help quite a bit as a "natural" laxative as well.

I'm consuming too much Protein according to my nutritionist, about 100-120g per day. So he's fine with me incorporating some quality (whole wheat) carbs.

Honestly? This sounds like rationalization on your part and it sets my alarm bells ringing. It's exactly the thing I would tell myself when I'm seeking to get a carb fix.

If you are eating 100-120g of Protein a day (too much, way too much IMHO), I would get the hell off any Protein Shakes until I was eating 60-80g/day, I try for 60-74g but I'm 5'4". Then if you have room in your diet, I'd be adding a crap ton of healthy greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocados (rich in magnesium and vits/mins/fiber) that will all help you poo. THEN if you have room still, I'd add nuts/seeds in very measured servings (calorie dense) but more magnesium and fiber. THEN I'd add beans/legumes...

The LAST forkin thing I'd add would be cereal. The LAST thing. They are all part of the "healthy wholesome whole grain recipe" that won me a lifetime invitation to the Obesity Ball...

just sayin...

Edited October 9, 2018 by FluffyChix

[Screwballski 540]

On 10/09/2018 at 12:09, FluffyChix said:

Honestly? This sounds like rationalization on your part and it sets my alarm bells ringing. It's exactly the thing I would tell myself when I'm seeking to get a carb fix.

If you are eating 100-120g of Protein a day (too much, way too much IMHO), I would get the hell off any Protein Shakes until I was eating 60-80g/day, I try for 60-74g but I'm 5'4". Then if you have room in your diet, I'd be adding a crap ton of healthy greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocados (rich in magnesium and vits/mins/fiber) that will all help you poo. THEN if you have room still, I'd add nuts/seeds in very measured servings (calorie dense) but more magnesium and Fiber. THEN I'd add beans/legumes...

The LAST forkin thing I'd add would be Cereal. The LAST thing. They are all part of the "healthy wholesome whole grain recipe" that won me a lifetime invitation to the Obesity Ball...

just sayin...

TRUTH!

[summerset 5,261]

Oops, someone said Jehovah carbs.

[MargoCL 677]

12 hours ago, CyclicalLoser said:

I am similar in that I am way under on calories at 3 months. I'm perfectly happy with 400-600 calories, and for the most part don't feel bad. My kidneys are a bit angry at me, but the doctor said it's because I'm not drinking enough.

Last week I met with the team, which included the nutritionist, and got his approval literally for cheerios and whole wheat no-added-sugar Cereal. I just tried whole wheat shredded wheat with lots of truvia sweetner, and 50/50 watered down 40-cal almond milk. I waited a while before it was pretty much mush to eat. It went down fine, but didn't taste very good. I tried some double-fiber wheat bread, extra toasted, with a light coating of smart balance light margarine, and a pretty heavy coating of sugar free grape jelly, and it was really good. It does help quite a bit as a "natural" laxative as well.

I'm consuming too much Protein according to my nutritionist, about 100-120g per day. So he's fine with me incorporating some quality (whole wheat) carbs.

at 600 calories per day, how are you consuming too much Protein? Just an example - Premier Protein 160 cal, 30g protein - 4 shakes = 640 cals and 120g protein, 3 shakes = 480 cals and 90g protein. I'm very curious to know what your diet entails to meet your protein needs at 600 cals a day, because that's a diet I want to be on.

My daily diet at 7 weeks post averages 600 - 700 cals per day, all natural protein (no shakes) and I meet 60 - 70 gram of protein per day. Your numbers just don't seem to add up.