Is my doctor crazy?

noahsmomm · 07-03-2008, 09:20 AM

I was banded last Friday. Went fine, went home the next day, puked all night, re-admitted for 3 days - with no food or water except by IV. (You don't know hunger hell until that happens) Then sent home for a 2 week liquid diet, then 2 week cream diet. Now - here I am - I feel like I was hit by a train, I am dizzy and weak and faint - I have no nutrition in me whatsoever and cannot fathom living like this another 9 days. Water, broth and jello are not doing anything and I have diarrhea to the point that I am wearing a diaper to work today! Everyone who has worked with my surgeon says he is way more strict than other doctors in the nation, but that he gets results - real true weight loss. I see other posters who are eating after surgery and doing fine - why is my docotor's plan so much better - is starving to death the best plan? Help - I am feeling depressed, scared and depleted.

brown bear · 07-03-2008, 09:27 AM

OK, please consider getting something in you with a lot of protein. IMHO it really helps with energy and hunger levels. If you are not allowed protein shakes yet then maybe you could have Isopure shakes or the whey protein bullets (at Vitamin World they are called whey liquid protein). I believe those would be considered to be clear liquids and they are full of protein. I know I have read other posts where people have said they felt so much better when increasing their protein. I believe diarrhea is part of a liquid diet - don't know what can help that . . . maybe Immodium AD?

Hang in there!

elle · 07-03-2008, 09:28 AM

My doctor puts you on a 2 week thin liquid diet and you can have slim fast mixed with milk or water. Then a two week mushie diet. He recently changed it to 10 days of each. You have to drink everything very slowly. He didn't want you to vomit for 4 weeks. Wanted to make sure that the band gets set up properly. I don't know if your doctor is more strict than others. You have to follow your doctors advice and get thru this month. Sorry that you don't fell well. You will have the most weight loss during this period. Good Luck.

valvinnek · 07-03-2008, 09:29 AM

Sorry for complications. Are you getting in any protien? That will make you feel better. Isopure is pretty good, Nectar (lemonade & tea flavors). Both my dh and I have had the band but in (dh 2 weeks ago)my husband was having trouble with protien and felt kinds weak, our doctor recommended 1 scoop Muscle Milk powder with fat free milk or water, they are so yummy. My dh actually said, that the Muscle Milk was so good he could live on it. I hope this helps & hope you feel better.

dustout · 07-03-2008, 11:09 AM

You NEED protein. You are recovering from SURGERY! Get some healthy protein shakes and sip on those all day. You need nutrients and protein to heal. Living on broth, jello, and water is a recipe for poor healing, feeling like crap, and harming yourself. That's just not healthy at all. Water down the protein drink if you need to, but get those nutrients in! Diarrhea will also dehydrate you and throw your electrolytes off like crazy! Post-op is not the time to lose weight, it is the time to heal. Coming out of surgery healthily is the important thing. There is plenty of time for losing weight after you have healed.

Good luck to your journey and take care of yourself! Be careful with your doctor's suggestions. His diet seems extremely unhealthy. Broth, jello, and water do not have the nutrients you need under normal circumstances, let alone recovering from having holes poked in you! Keep us updated! I hope you get better!

kei1170 · 07-03-2008, 12:23 PM

Seriously! I think your doctor is too strict and you should ignore his rules. Clearly we are the ones who have the experience of the band and not the experience of the surgery performed. Protein is so important during the beginning healing stages - it's what well, helps heal your body!!!

I'm not telling you to eat chicken or solid foods, but Isopure like mentioned or high protein shakes, should be tollerable and allowed! Just take small sips and listen and see how your body reacts...

Good luck ~ I wish you well!

SeattleSweetie · 07-04-2008, 02:55 AM

I would call your doctor and ask him what you should be eating/drinking to get your protein in. You should definitely - DEFINITELY - be getting plenty of protein right now to heal and to help you not have that sick/dizzy feeling, but he may not have made it clear or explained it too well. I would ask him for clarification.

Lunabeane · 07-04-2008, 03:14 AM

Actually, I would listen to your Dr. My Dr. had me on a 7 days of clear liquids before transitioning me to full liquids. I had no protein at all until I moved onto full liquids. As you have had some complications I would adhere to all of his criteria. While others are telling you to get protein your Dr. is the one that is familiar with your anatomy and what is going on with your body. I hope you feel better soon! Just take it one day at a time.

kizzie · 07-04-2008, 05:06 AM

I am with Lunabeane on this one. We can only give advice from our own experiences. My advice is to listen to your doctor. I think as you have had complications it could be dangerous to go with the advice from people who are telling you to take in anything you have been told not to. My doctor was very strict the first two weeks. I had no protein at all and he was totally against the heavy shakes (regardless of milking or watering down). I am so glad I listened to him. I had complications 2 weeks post op, outside of my band with a build up of 'fluid' which became infected. Had not taken his advice my problem would have been worse and would have included my band. This is the reason he made me drink clear fluids only and no protein drinks. In spain we can only get the heavy milk protein shakes. Your doctor may say you can have the clear ones available in the US.

Just keep in contact with him/her and follow their guidelines. Two weeks isn't too long in the grand scheme of things.

Had I listened only to the advice on this site (one person told me at least twice my pain was 'Gas from the surgery..how do people not know this?") I would have been in serious trouble...

Again this is a great SUPPORT network and full of amazing advice from the experiences of others who are so generous to give their time. At the end of the day.. it is your doctor you need to listen to.

take care

Kizzie