New GBP and struggling with not being able to eat - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Mamaof2 · 06-18-2008, 06:28 PM

This is my first thread I have ever done. I just joined and also just had my surgery. I had the full slice GBP on June 10th..came home June 12th. I have found that I can't have milk products so I'm very limited with my diet right now. I can only have jello, broth, crystal light, and then my protein drink (I love the unjury brand). I can have decaff coffee or tea and flat soda too but I don't even want to bother with those. They aren't appealing. Otherwise the rest is milk based.

SO I'm really struggling here. I'm already bored with my diet. I have to do this until I'm 3 weeks post-op from the release day from hospital. My nurse at the surgeon’s office said I could try the milk again in a few days but I just got done dealing with diarrhea for 3 days! I don't want to go through that again.

My hubby has been experimenting with different recipes that are healthier and smaller for when I can eat...which is incredibly supportive. However I smell this and long to eat! We have two kids so he isn't teasing me, he is feeding them. I'm finding myself more and more depressed about this. I even said to him tonight that I can't stand this. There really isn't anything he can do though because he does need to feed our kids. We started eating healthier a few weeks prior to surgery, which is great but it smells soooo good!

Can anyone give me ways to deal with this or at least tell me I'm normal?

Thank you in advance for any advice anyone can give!

Sandy

lala46205 · 06-18-2008, 06:48 PM

You Are 100 % Normal..i Am 2 1/2 Weeks Out And Itis Hell...i Have To Cook For My 2 1/2 Year Old And That Sucks..have You Tried Soy Milk??not So Bad..i Was Never A Fan But Now Its Pretty Good..i Havent Even Bothered Trying Milk Yet..well I Start Purees On Friday!! Ayyy..it Is Hell But Just Remember That The Weight Is Going To Come Off And Its All In Your Head...drink All The Time And Try To Keep Up On Protein..gl..and Your Not Alone I Am Soooo There With You..gl

Sue0609 · 06-18-2008, 07:07 PM

Have you tried the lactose-free milk, such as Lactaid brand? My husband is lactose intolerant, so I've always bought it for him. They really work. They also make chewable tablets so you can have other dairy products.

Can you have creamy soup? I'm eating Healthy Choice Cream of Chicken soup.

I know how you feel, by the way. DH and I live near the beach and we went their today. The smell of fried clams was just about killing me. I can't wait to be on mushies so I can make fish chowder (light style).

eli_far77 · 06-18-2008, 07:21 PM

Sandy, hang in there...the first few weeks are *the* hardest. We all have to start out easy with our new pouches...it's like feeding a newborn...you wouldn't feed it regular food, would you? Try to be creative with the soups and add flavorings/seasonings that you like (and that ok to try according to your surgeons recommendations). I remember that when I was early post-op sugar free popscicles helped A LOT.
As far as the milk goes...are you trying the skim milk or 2%? My husband could not tolerate milk at the beginning...so he drank soy milk and that was good for him...then he changed to regular milk.
The smell of food being cooked...I know...almost torture...but I remember just feeling nauseous at the smell of it. You know what I did was watch the Food Network a lot...I know how does this help? I dunno but it did. LOL

Good Luck and hang in there it will get easier.

Corrine · 06-18-2008, 07:33 PM

Try soy milk. They even make a soy yogurt too.

MiladyB · 06-18-2008, 07:38 PM

First of all Sandy what you are going through and feeling is totally normal. We don't call that first week Hell Week for nothing. It's hard, physically and emotionally. So many feelings are being slammed at us, we often feel anger, we are mourning the loss of food, a huge part of what we used for comfort has been yanked out from under us, you are in pain, probably not sleeping real well, you are tired and yes, you are going through HELL right now. Then on top of that the hormones are going crazy, the buyers remorse comes in and then the tears....it's all normal, my dear...not easy but normal.

In regards to the protein a couple suggestions I have is you can buy something called Stacker 2 at Meijers. It will be in the pharmacy area and it has 20 grams of protein in a bottle. There is a lot of volume but at least you can get in some protein. The other thing is that I can get my hands on protein supplements from my surgeon's office that are not milk based. My favorite is a fruit drink made with water. Let me know if you would like me to pick some up.

You can see the products that I can get at this web site Bariatric Diets and Nutrition - SmartForme I can buy them at cost but for right now I'm willing to get my hands on a few for you, don't worry about the cost.

Hang in there my dear. The start is often rough but it does get better. Let me know what I can do to help. I'm literally right down the road from you.

swt_tease · 06-18-2008, 08:36 PM

:::hug:::

It gets better!

If you like Unjury, try the UNFLAVORED kind. I mix it will water, ice, & crystal lite. It's nice to be able to vary the flavor so it doesn't get monotonous.

Good luck!

pebitpeb · 06-18-2008, 09:19 PM

Sandy, So much I can relate to you when you say you are feeling board with the food choices, I went through that initially. I love what the previous posters have shared with you and agree 100% that you are very normal......
Having said this, I want you to look back at life before this moment and remember the important reason you came to this option of surgery. In no time this initial period will have passed by and you will be seeing the wonderful aspects to your new life, food wont be on your mind so much and you'll be able to eat most things you want, at least this is the life I am experiencing one year after the operation.
Hand in there Sandy, lean on your hubby and the group here for your support and try and stay positive and strong.
All the best to you.
Paul

KathyV · 06-18-2008, 09:20 PM

I remember what you are going through and it won't last foreverr. I am 3 months out and I have the reverse problem now. everything I smell is hyper intence(is that a word) and makes me nasious. I also have a hard time sitting and watching people eat. I am almost repolsed by peoples eating habits. I do however like to cook and that is good my family is eating better and better every day. I just can't smell it and watch them eat. I try not to say anything because they remind me that not everyone in the house has had surgery!! I just can't believe how much food people can put down there mouths. God I was one of those!!!
Just thank your lucky stars you have had the surgery and this feeling of hunger all the time will pass. Watch out there is so much good stuff to eat when you reach puree(refried beens) yum

Mamaof2 · 06-19-2008, 11:09 AM

Thank you to all who have replied! It's nice to hear that I'm normal! I really can't wait till I can have some kind of food even if it is baby food...mushy foods...lol. I'm thinking about trying either soy or lactate milk. I sorta want to try regular milk things again but I'm scared to cause dumping. To the person (sorry can't remember your name) who asked what milk I use it's skim milk. I changed to skim 2 weeks before surgery. To the person (again can't remember your name) who asked if I can have cream soups...I can't...not until 3 weeks post-op. I'm having chicken broth...fun fun. My mother had the surgery in 1999 and she said this is normal to go through also. I have talked to her about a lot of what I'm going through but she went through it soooo long ago. So some things she can't remember.

Thanks again!!!

-Sandy