Question:
How can I afford to take all of the post surgery drinks and supplements?
I receive disability and I live on a very fixed income.how on earth do you afford these drinks and supplements? — Janet D. (posted on September 9, 2005)
September 8, 2005
I, too am on disabilty and I can not afford most of the drinks and
supplements. Powered milk has a lot of protien and it can be mixed in
foods. Make sure that you choose and eat foods that are high in protien
first of all. Yogurt is a good source of protien, make sure that it is the
kind with no sugar added and usually under 100 calories. That's what I do.
Sometimes at my support group someone will bring in different samples to
pass out and try. I hope that I have been helpful to you. God bless.
— LilaDove
September 9, 2005
You do not have to drink those drinks and supplements. They are suggested
because it is a very good and easy way for most to get the required
protein. Just remember to read the labels. As stated by the previous
answer, yogurt is one good source. There are also breakfast drinks like
Carnation that sometimes come low in sugar and are affordable. The other
thing you can do is go to the nutrition stores like GNC and ask if they
have any samples you can try. You really do not have to be on the liquid
supplements all that long after surgery. My surgeon actually discourage me
from that and had me focus on yogurt and egg whites. Much luck to you.
— Carole J.
September 9, 2005
Easy, you won't spend as much on FOOD. By the way...in my opinion they ARE
necessary. A serving of yogurt has about 9 grams of protein. A serving of
the powedered protein is 30grams. You figure it out...
— SJP
September 9, 2005
The supplements . . . vitamins, calcium, B12 . . . are an absolute MUST!
You MUST get these! And take them on a regular basis!!! There is no
leeway with these things at all.
The drinks, can be an excellent way of upping your protein. However, many
surgeons do NOT recommend them and prefer you get your protein from food.
The trick is to select high protein as much as possible. Check your labels
on everything! Chicken is not created equal. Chicken breast has (if I
remember right) 2 more grams protein per serving than does thigh. Some
fish is much higher in protein than others. Add gelatin to broth to
increase the protein by a small amount. Make your own broth and get even
more nutrition. Marinate all your meats before cooking to help start the
break down of the protein so that it is easier to absorb. (citrus fruit,
vinegar, oil, alcohol are excellent marinades . . . buttermilk for beef is
good too. I haven't tried it on any other meat yet)
The drinks are extremely expensive. You can often buy food on sale . . .
check the mark down section and the sale section at your local grocery
store. You can also keep an eye out for sales on the protein supplements
or mark down on them. Most markdown items are still good for a period of
time after the expiration date.
Again . . . multi-vitamin/mineral, calcium, B12 . . . all are ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL and you MUST have them. Make sure you get your labs drawn on a
regular basis so that you know you're getting enough.
Good Luck!!! Carmen
— kccjer
September 9, 2005
Janet, there are many discount health food stores, such as The Vitamin
Shoppe, and others that are on the Internet, which offer good bargains on
protein powders and canned drinks. One "HUGE" can of powdered
protein, which can last a month, I have found for as little as $9.99 up to
about $20.00, and an even BIGGER one for around $27.00. It mixes with
water, add a few ice cubes, and maybe some sweetner if not sweet enough,
and it is a good meal. The protein is not all that expensive. Vitamins
are often on sale at the supermarkets, and a bottle for around $3.99 to
$5.99 will last you about 60 days (One-A-Day). The only thing a little
pricier is the B vitamin, but my doc told me to take it twice a week, so
the little bottle which I paid about $12.00 lasts me a couple of months at
that rate. It's all doable. Us WLS folks don't really need that much, but
the protein shakes (the high protein ones) are a must. Good luck to you.
You can do it. Missy (2+ years out, 268/125).
— Missy H.
September 9, 2005
Janet,
You don't need to do protein supplements long. But vitamins are a must!
The shakes are mainly for the beginning because you can't get enough food
protein in a day to make your minimum requirement. But say in about 6 mos
to a year you can get 60 grams of protein from meals. You must make wise
protein choices with food. 2 oz chicken 14 grs, yogurts 6gr, cottage
cheese with fruit 11 grs. If you figure out a meal plan and stick to it
for protein mins you don't need shake or bar supplements. I still do a
shake a day. Its easier for me because some days I don't feel like eating
so it helps me get to minimum.
— dcox94
September 10, 2005
I know what you are talking about with the fixed income everything is going
up but the income. I do one protein shake a day in the morning I am not a
breakfast eater I use Designer Whey very tasty and afforable around $23 for
40 servings I use it with fat free milk. Then my other choices for protein
are tuna, chicken, fish, deli meats, cheeses, low fat cottage cheese, carb
freedom yogurt, eggs. Read labels many low fat like in the cottage cheese
has a few more grams of protein. You can eat normally just make sure to
get enough protein and it is doable that is why I use the one protein shake
it comes out to 30 grams to start the day. On the vitamins you can
usually find good ones on sale on the B-12 I get a prescription from my
surgeon to give it to myself and cost my $9 for the vial and last for the
whole year with some left over much cheaper than what you buy over the
counter and you know you are getting it in your system and only have to
give an injection once a month. On the calcium remember our absorbtion is
different and they recommend to stick to calicum citrate and get the kind
with vit D it helps with better absorbtion and you can usually find like a
Walmart brand that is cheap. So what it all boils down to is I am spending
about $45 a month on protein and vitamins and spend far less than what I
used to on groceries and junk food and going thru the drive thru's for a
quick bite.
Hope this helps you out...Nancy
— nefish
September 10, 2005
Janet- I also use the Designer Whey from Vit World at the mall...It is the
only one that I could tolerate post op without vomiting. I make a large
container of it and nurse on it all day- just to insure I am getting
adequate protein. It is still hard to digest protein at 8 months out. I add
fresh fruit to it and make it with skim milk.
The cost of your supplements is far less expensive than your pre op
food!!!!!!!!!!!! You will be eating a very small amount of food for the
first year. For example-I still just eat 1/4 of a sandwich for a lunch. I
buy 2 for 1 multi vits at Vit World also. They last forever. The B12
injection is $9.00 for nearly a year's supply. I use fast dissolve TUMS for
calcium suppl. I really think I am getting enough calcium. I eat yogurt and
drink alot of skim milk.
The benefit of the surgery FAR outweighs any amount of money concerns. You
will be so much better off. I have lost 97 lbs- wear 10-12 clothes and I am
on cloud 9!!! I actually feel sexy now! I cut my hair- got a sassy hair cut
and dyed it red!!! Talk about a new me! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Good luck-
think positive!
— Dec16-04
September 10, 2005
Janet,
When you consider the entire food budget, you will probably spend much less
even with the protein because you will not be eating much and not be eating
any junk food (which is expensive) at all! I buy Isopure Dutch Chocolate
protein when it is on sale, and a large jug lasts me a couple of months -
so, even at full price, it is only 25 dollars a month to have. I have a
protein shake every day, with carb control dairy drink. that gives me 60
grams of protein in only six ounces of drink! I also buy large bottles of
vitamins at Sam's club or another wholesale store. The bottle initially
costs under fifteen dollars, and lasts abput three months, so it is less
than five dollars a month! So I have all my protein and supplements for
under thrity dollars a month! I also have not been able to eat more than
two meals a day, and only about two ounces of protein at each meal, so I
need the protein shake. If you get enough protein without the shake, you
do not need the shake. Everyone is different.
But I think you will spend much less on food even with the supplements; I
know I do!
— Novashannon
September 11, 2005
These changes (like buying supplementst etc.) among many others are things
that need to be thought about when considering the surgery. Not only will
you have to invest in some special items for your dietary needs, you will
also have to purchase new clothing as well as other things you may not have
thought about. All of these things need to be considered when making such a
"life altering" decision as this surgery. I am a firm believer
that this surgery is not for everyone. You really need to take all of these
things into account and be sure that your up to ALL of the changes, and
challenges that come with the surgery.
— [Deactivated Member]
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