I'm four days post op and i am having trouble getting in calories. I feel full all the time!!

Hi,

I'm having a hard time getting my calories in i don't even thin im getting in 400 right now. It makes me nauseus. I'm worried im not getting in enough and my body will go into starvation mode. I feel head hunger but not for liquid shakes!! I can only sip two ounces at a time. then i have to take a break. Everything else is going well.

I was getting 320 a day, but 60g of protein, my first week + post-op. Then I was able to move up a bit and now, 6 weeks out (tomorrow) I get between 500 and 600 a day. Close to 550 most days.

It helped me to sip the shakes pretty much all day long. So a sip, and a break of 5-7 minutes, then a sip, and a break of 5-7 minutes and just kept on doing that all day. I would drink water as I was able, and I know the first week I was not getting a lot of liquid in, however I a ton of liquid in my from the IVs, so I did not feel dehydrated. I think that helped balance it all out, actually. :)

If a thick shake is troubling, try getting a clear Isopure RTD at your local GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, health store. I had a very bad reaction to one and swore off them, but then I was stuck and needed something and that was all that was available and decided to give it a try and I can tolerate them fine now. I say this so that if you also have a bad initial result, you give it a try again. It is 40g of protein in 20oz of liquid. I drink only drink half at a time. It is a lot less 'filling' feeling to me than a thick shake or smoothie and that is helpful.

I have not had a full shake at all since the day before my surgery 5 days ago. I just don't like sweet tasting food and the shakes are all sweet Yuck!! I'll call my nurse tomorrow to see if there is an alternative i can have. Things are moving quite well other wise i have had two BMS!! and i am walking 15 min everyday. I wish i could go to the second phase diet i can live on that cottage cheese beans, couscous!!

I was struggling to get 200 calories a day at first. My doctor told me not to focus on calories, to focus on protein instead. Now, 9 weeks out, I am finally up to about 600 calories a day. Still struggle with the protein but definitely improved from the beginning. It gets easier.

Thank you for the pep talk!! I needed that. these shakes are just getting to nasty to taste. I am starting to  hate the broth too!! It makes sense to cocentrate on the protein. Wish i could add some mashed beans or something!!

I hated the first month. Even though I was on pureed foods, nothing tasted good to me, I wasn't getting nearly enough protein, couldn't drink enough fluid--I felt okay but was basically a terrible patient. Around three weeks they let me add a scrambled egg and tomato soup with a cracker in it to my diet; that really helped. Next they suggested canned beef stew because it is so soft. Tuna is still my 'go to' food. I just kept adding a little more at a time. Luckily I didn't have issues with any food and it did allow me to bring my protein up. I'm still not up to where my doctor's office wants me to be but I don't think I'm doing too badly. I'm not miserable like I was at first and I'm started to reap the benefit of having the surgery. It really does get easier!

I think ill call my surgeon tomorrow and ask if i can add some purreed beans or eggs omg that sounds yummy!!  I think i will vomit if i have to drink any more protein shakes. I haven't yet but i can only tolerate 2 oz at a time. I'm not an easy patient either i suppose but maybe a little break from the monotony of the whole sweet stuff would be nice oh and broth is just as Yucky!!!

Keep in mind, an egg has only 6g of protein I think...maybe 4, and your stomach is the size of an egg, so you are going to get full VERY quickly. And I can hardly tolerate an egg now and used to LOVE them. Beans took me a long time, too.

Try the clear Isopure. RTD I swear it is better and easier than a shake. I promise!

Don't worry about your calories right away - just make sure you're getting your liquids in. The first few days (weeks) I was only getting 100-200 calories in per day if I was lucky. Not a biggie in the beginning. I was on 3 ounces of liquid per meal x 3 a day. If you're full don't overdo it. Drink what you can and work on getting in what your doc recommends later on. With liquid meals you'll get full alot, and then you have t be drinking your water too and it's a lot to do at first. don't worry about starvation mode- you're already in it. Congrats on knowing head hunger from real hunger already. That's a big deal. Don't worry about quantity. Your body will take stored fat if you're not eating enough - that's the reason we have this surgery. It will all work out eventually - glad everythnig is going well.

Jen 11 yrs post op RNY

Thank you for all the encouragement. It is hard to feel like i should be eating something yet I'm not really hungry. Its hard just to ge****er in. I feel better now. I did retain allot of fluids at the hospital so that may be one reason I'm so full. I 'm feeling a lot less pain and my feet are not swollen any more!!. I walked for 15 min early afternoon. I think I'll do another 15 this evening. I was even able to take a nap on my left side! That felt like Heaven. Over all it has been a good experience for me so far and only`10 more days till i can have eggs and beans. something not sweet!! Thank you all so much for all your support. I love this forum that helps me stay on top of the issues that may arise. God Bless you All:)