Brief Answer: Considerations Detailed Answer: Hello & thank you for submitting your question Your concern for recurrent bowl obstruction is understandable. In this instance, however, it is incredibly difficult to exclude the dairy/lactose-rich & dense protein drink as the cause of your symptoms. These types of drinks often cause fullness & bloating in patients. They can also cause diarrhea or constipation. If you begin to experience worsening of your symptoms and/or early satiation, bloating, abdominal distinction, pain, or change in bowel consistency with other foods, it would be very reasonable to see a physician for a proper physical exam & possible imaging studies. In the meantime, it may be beneficial to reduce the amount of dairy consumed at once. You might eve consider taking supplements to help with lactose digestion if you are especially dedicated to your protein shakes. Always make sure to drink adequate amounts of water. Again, thank you for submitting your question and I hope this provided some insight. Take care, Dr G

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Brief Answer: Follow up Detailed Answer: Hello again, Yes the types of food you describe definitely can set you up for abdominal upset. I suggest for the next couple days, try to eat smaller amounts of food about 4-5 times per day--essentially, try to avoid large meals all at once for the next day or so. Warm water (or herbal caffeine free tea, if you prefer) can also help with these symptoms & help digestion especially after larger meals. Of course, if you experience pain, any worsening of symptoms or the other sensations I previously described, do not hesitate to see your physician. Thanks again, Dr G

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