Unintended and unexpected consequences

One of the many issues that happen for gastric bypass patients is malabsorption of nutrients.  This is by design. The whole point of the surgery actually is for malabsorption of calories and fat of the food that we eat.  Well that and making the actual stomach into a small pouch so you feel full with less than 1/2 cup of food.   The side effect to this is that not only are you not absorbing the calories and fat from the small amount of food that is being eaten, but you are also not absorbing as much of the vital nutrients that you need for your body's health.

Since we know we are not going to be able to get all our nutrients from food after bypass, we are required to take multi-vitamins and minerals for the rest of our lives to try and replace what we are not absorbing.  We also get blood work done every few months to make sure that we are doing ok, getting what we need, and are not falling into any danger zones with nutrients. This is just something you know and you sign up for when you have RNY surgery.

So I have not been feeling very well for about a month.  Not like I have been feeling "sick" or anything, just really REALLY tired.  I have felt like I was going through a chronic fatigue episode, one that just was really bad and I was going to have to fight through till it was over.  Well on the 2nd I had my year blood test (ok so it was my 9 month blood test which ended being the year blood test because I kept rescheduling it), and this past Friday the 9th, I got called from the doctor saying my iron was low and I needed to go on prescription supplements.  No big deal, right?  Just adjust the vitamins and supplements and go ...

Well in looking at the results from my blood work, I am not just a little low in my iron, I am DANGEROUSLY low.  And a few other areas are borderline!


Iron  Normal Range = 30 - 180 mcg/dL  My numbers: 31
Iron Saturation  Normal Range = 15-50 %  My Numbers: 7%
Ferritin  Normal Range = 6 - 170 ng/mL  My Numbers: 5

So what does that mean?  Well it obviously means that I have to get my iron up.  My protein levels are also borderline, so that needs to be taken care of ASAP.  It means that I have to make sure I am compliant with vitamins and minerals, no more screwing around and being lazy!

It also means that the consequences of the severe fatigue are going to be around for awhile.  And it is going to be extremely difficult to push through.  I am going to have to work really hard to keep upright, to do my job, to keep the house from falling apart and to keep sane.

Mini Quiche Recipe

Mini Quiche Recipe

5 eggs
1 cup shredded cheese (I've been using Swiss)
6 slices bacon (I've been using Morningstar Farms breakfast strips, which is not really bacon)
sprinkle of black pepper
sprinkle of garlic powder
sprinkle of oregano

Beat the eggs in a bowl.  Cook the bacon and crumble it up, then add that, the shredded cheese, and the pepper, garlic powder and oregano to the eggs and stir it well.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and fill the muffin tin with the egg mixture.  I made six muffin-sized quiches with this recipe.  Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
You can refrigerate leftovers and reheat them in the microwave in just a few seconds.

Disclaimer - I did not make this recipe up.  I found it posted on a Bypass forum and am posting so that I can remember it.  I will be making it tomorrow, so review to follow.

Protein Shakes - take 325

I talked previously about protein shakes and how frustrating it was finding something that wasn't too sweet, now that my taste buds have changed, and that would not make Ms. Pouch feel ooky.  I think in my search, I have tried pretty much every known protein, that is suitable for gastric bypass patients, known to man.  And let me tell you, if you are one that ends up with sensitive taste buds, it will not be an easy process to find something that works.  You will be tempted to give up the search many times.  I know I was, and actually did for a little while, but finding the right protein supplement will really make a difference in the long run.  So stick with it. 

What finally worked for me was thinking outside of the box and what was normal for me.  I was so stuck on trying to find a chocolate protein drink, since that is what I was doing before surgery and I love chocolate, that I pretty much neglected any other options.  It wasn't till it was pointed out that I could get an unflavored protein and add it to some fruit that the light bulb finally went on in my head.

What is currently working for me is using a frozen berry and yogurt mix that Yoplait has available in the frozen food section. 

It is made with greek yogurt, upping the protein content, a big plus!  And is not too sweet.  I use Silk Soy milk now rather than the almond milk I was using in previous shakes, as it has more protein per 8 oz, again upping the protein content.  Also I was getting ooky stomachs with some of the protein shakes I made with almond milk. Whether that was the protein or the almond milk, I never did quite figure out, BUT the soy milk has 5 more grams of protein per 8 ounces, so its the clear winner.  Finally, I add a scoop of unflavored protein.  I have tried three different brands and so far they have all sat fine with Ms. Finicky Pouch.  So since she doesn't seem to be picky with the unflavored (so far) I go with the one that gives me the biggest protein bang. 

This drink can give me anywhere from 35 - 43 grams of protein, depending on the stats of the unflavored protein that I am using.  Since that is nearly half of my minimum protein for the day, having finally found this drink makes me exceptionally happy.

Notes - I don't know if its the content of the yoplait stuff or my blender, (I use a Blendtec blender) but it does blend up very very floofy.  Because of this, it can take me upwards of an hour to an hour and a half to drink the entire thing.  Since it is so high in protein and I have heard that GBP people can't absorb more than 30 grams of protein at one time, I am quite ok with it taking me so long to get through it.  I figure the longer it takes, the more likely I am to actually be absorbing all of the protein.

For people who dump, this is probably not a very good option.  The berries and whatever added stuff that yoplait puts in these pouches make the carb count high and the sugar is a whoping 12 grams.  I don't dump (a good and bad thing) so I am able to tolerate this, and for whatever reason, this does not taste overly sweet to me.  All the protein drinks, shakes, mixes, etc that I tried were so sickly sweet it was like drinking syrup.  This drink is not like that for me. 

Finally, it is VERY pricy, no way around it.  I am paying for the soy milk, the protein powder, and the mixed berries yoplait mix thingy.  It is probably close to $4.00 a drink.  But I figure that if I never blinked an eye at paying that much for coffee ... something that is so nutritionally packed and good for me post surgery really shouldn't bother me to pay that much for it.  (It does, but I am working on it.)

For me, this solution is one that I am not really questioning too much (other than the price).  It's not the best option, but after what was a long, excruciating search to find something that works, is tasty, and doesn't give me ooky stomach, I am going to go with it. 

Protein Shakes ... Oh how you frustrate me

I am 8 weeks Post-op now ... (I can't believe I am 8 weeks post-op!) and am struggling with the issue of protein shakes/supplements.  I have tried over a dozen different protein supplements and they are either all too sweet or if they are not too sweet, then they make me have an ooky stomach.

Ooky stomach is a technical term by the way. 

Many doctors don't want you to be on a protein supplement for long, so this is not necessarily a BAD thing.  however, I feel that a good protein shake just makes life a little easier.  It gives me a good source of quick protein when I am on the go, and when I DO have protein shakes, its much easier to get the full amount in. 

I will admit that I have some ulterior motives as well.  While doing my extensive researching into life after RNY surgery, I came across an amazing blog, The World According To Eggface, that has some amazing recipes.  Among the recipes are ones for protein ice cream and protein bites that I am DYING to make; but without a decent protein supplement that I can tolerate, I can't. 

I haven't given up.  I am going to keep trying, but I have decided to not let it consume my life anymore.  I am eating enough "regular food", that I am doing ok with protein without the supplement.  Not great, but ok.  So I will continue and one of these days I will find something ... I hope!