So my surgery is next week. I have done a lot of research and watching vlogs.. EVERYONE drinks protein shakes post-op. So when I asked my nutritionist about what type of protein shake I should be having.. like what carb content, protein etc. She advised against it as it could cause complications such as heart palpitations.

I think that's weird..... anyone heard about this? Should I just ignore?

Interesting. What evidence/studies do they have? What do they suggest immediately post op to consume insead of protein shakes?

Is the nutritionist aligned with your surgeon? What post op guidelines does your surgeon have if different than the nutritionist? Do you have an option to use another nutritionist/dietician?

So I think this might be a cultural difference. I'm also in the Middle East and the dietician told me I don't need protein shakes. Americans seem all about them. She didn't mention the heart palpitations but she just said they're not really healthy and have a lot of additives.

I haven't had any shakes post-surgery. For the first couple weeks I had a lot of milk, juice, and yogurt. In the pureed stage I had all kinds hummus, baba ghanoush, lentil soup, mashed potatoes with nutritional yeast on top, more yogurt, soft cheeses, and fish. Now I've added in some other things.

I get between 80 and 100g of protein a day and don't use the shakes. You can do it!

I've never heard about heart palpitations from protein shakes.

In the five or six years that I've been on here I've seen a couple of posts about (US) surgeons not wanting people to do protein shakes, but it seems like almost all of them do recommend them. Interesting thought about it being a cultural difference. I suppose that could be....

Post op when my capacity for food was very limited I simply couldn't have got in enough protein without having protein shakes. The other benefit is it's also liquid so helping to the fluid goal. I still, 3 months post op, have 1 protein shake a day. I still can't tolerate lots of types of meat/fish or lentils and the amount of protein in the shake for the number of calories makes it a no-brainer. Up to you, but I couldn't have done the protein requirement without the shakes!

Do your own research but by all means please follow your plan. Hopefully your team can give you guidance on alternatives to protein shakes.

Edited January 26, 20215 yr by GreenTealael