5 Weeks Post Op Having Hard Time Drinking & Eating

I am 5 weeks 2 days post op gastric sleeve. I am wondering what's wrong with me. It still hurts my stomach when I drink water and when I eat anything other than smooth foods like yogurt, peanut butter or foods cooked a long time like Wendy's chili. I did better in weeks 3-4.  It is getting worse.  Trying my best but I don't eat or drink much most days.  I can get down 1-2 premier protein shakes which is my only saving grace.  Water lands like a brick in my tummy taking only a little drink.  It helps sometimes if I put crystal light in the water rather than drinking it plain.  I try all day and maybe get down 16-24 ounces of water.  

Had my surgery in Mexico so I don't have any surgeon followups. Has anyone else had this problem? I need some assurance that it does get better.

I am 6 weeks and 5 days and a revision.  Some days are better than others.  Play with the temperature of your drinks.  Even though I was cleared for food (I'm still not allowed peanut butter or chili), my dr still wants me to get most of my protein from my shakes.  If the food is hurting than I would suggest focusing on the protein shake.  I also found that I have to drink my shakes earlier in the morning.  I am still only getting in one shake on bad days and maybe 32 oz of water.    By the way, Crystal light helps me as well.  How often are you trying to eat and are you still measuring?  I was told that my stomach can only hold about 6 oz an hour now and after I eat food I shouldn't be "hungry" again for 3-4 hours.  I have 20 minutes to eat.  If I can't fini**** during that time pu**** away or it's grazing.  

Thanks for your reply.  I try to eat 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Just a little bit so I can learn to eat food again. But I'm never hungry. I get in at least one protein shake.  The thing I am worried about is that I am regressing. I was able to eat and drink more (small amount mind you) in week 3 and 4.  Week 5 is when I started having problems.

It may seem like you are going backwards but your body is just adjusting at this point.   Instead of three times a day try every couple of hours- play with the temp of your fluids and maybe try something different like a piece of baked talapia.  foods that I could eat when I first progressed to soft foods I can't handle now.  Try to stick with your plan and your body will eventually catch up

at five weeks no WAY I could have tolerated even a bite of peanut butter or chili.  make sure you are getting in enough fluid, no matter what kind. many people do not like or tolerate plain water so keep experimenting.

there is no reason to advance your diet to even full liquids, let along puree, as quickly as you see others. go at your own speed: slow down!

you will be glad in the long run!

Thanks for your reply.  Peanut butter was on my week 4 post op diet.  Wendy's chili is so soothing to my stomach and I can eat quite a bit of it.  Other things I cannot tolerate.  Like I said in the last reply I was worried because I was retarding. Weeks 3-4 I did fine on all allowed foods. Week 5 is where I'm having the problem eating and drinking.

I have to drink my water groom temp. Doesn't go down as well hen it is ice cold

I wouldn't really recommend peanut butter or Wendy's chili at five weeks out.  Would stick to softer white fish or salmon for a while yet.  Wait another month or so on chicken also.

i would think healing can be different for everyone.  Based on that, try to go slow on advancing your diet.  I think I was three months out before I tried anything that wasn't soft fish.

My surgeon himself advocated peanut butter at my four week follow-up, and I was also allowed chili once I was on purees (which was 12 days out).  Programs from different teams are very different, so don't let everyone scare you off peanut butter and chili just because it wasn't part of their plan.  During my pre-op research, I read in lots of places from lots of sources that a lot of people have problems with plain water.  Adding fruit helps, as does adding flavor with Crystal Light or other sugar free flavor aids.  I've heard a lot of people like the liquid flavor drops like Mio because you can add more or less to taste.  Try different flavors!  I have found Crystal Light lemonade goes down great...but I tried fruit punch last night and it went down like a brick.  Bunches of people have recommended experimenting with temperatures too...cold, room temp, or hot.  Have you tried hot tea?  (I hate tea myself, but it's worth a shot.  People say your tastes change after surgery, but I haven't found that myself, sadly.)  At any rate, experiment.  Once you figure out what is working best, fall back on that on the bad days.  I've been struggling mightily with the liquids too, so I feel your pain.  Good luck to you...I hope it gets better!

Great suggestions!  Thanks for your input!! I do see that surgeons offer different post op eating programs.  Peanut butter is on my list at week 4. I have done very well eating it. It's one of the few things that I can get down with no pain.  Also Wendy's chili helps me get in food protein when I can't stomach anything else.

I will try hot tea and see how I do with that. Also from the suggestions here, I have learned that room temp works better than cold.