Question:
At 6 weeks post-op I'm not throwing up, but am not able to eat really...
I'm hoping there are others out there who have been through this. I don't feel sick necessarily, but feel as though I'm already full and don't want to eat at all. I don't know if this means I'm not digesting food properly or if I'm just adjusting/healing and paranoid. — Jessica Wyatt Robinson (posted on March 15, 2004)
March 15, 2004
Hi there...Just want to let you know I also went through this. I ate so
little I started to think I was starving myself. Your body is healing and
you need to be gentle to your new tummy. Just remember when you are
full..STOP...As the weeks and months go by it gets better and better. Best
of luck to you.
Sarah start weight 304 now weigh 120.23 2 years out next month.
— sarah C.
March 15, 2004
Jessica, I know how you feel though I am 10 months post-op I remember those
first months vividly. I never was sick, I just didn't feel like eating.
My body wasn't sending out the "I'm hungry" signal. In fact
becuase I didn't feel hungry I had to remind myself to eat in order to get
all my protein in.
Personally I found that eating in those first few months to be a lot of
work and not very enjoyable (like it was pre-op). Just make sure to get
your protein and water in. Focus on these two important aspects of the
recovery. Remember that some days you will be able to eat more than other
days. This is something that will be ongoing. In fact at 10 months out I
couldn't finish a cup of yogurt today becuase I was full, yet it wasn't a
problem yesterday.
Just give yourself time to heal.
Janine
— jmusser
March 15, 2004
Jessica, I posted almost the same question a week ago. I am 7 weeks out
tomorrow and I feel the same way. It seems my taste buds aren't working.
I have no desire to eat and nothing seems to taste right. I am having a
hard time getting my water and protein in and have been lacking energy
which probably is because of this. Everyone tells me it will get better
and your taste buds will come alive and we should be happy for this period
as it is the best time to lose weight fast. I have lost about 43 lbs. so I
am happy about that. Hopefully the both of us will feel like eating again
someday.
— Carlene B.
March 16, 2004
I think most of us went through a period in which we had no desire to eat,
did not feel hungry, and the smell and taste of food was not the same. As
weird as this sounds, enjoy the time when you have no appetite and HAVE to
make yourself eat. If you are like most of us, this will not last forever
and when it does end you will wish it had lasted longer!
— Kristen S.
March 16, 2004
Felt the same way Jessica but as everyone posted it will change gradually.
Eating has a new definition, and you must eat to live now. Breakfast may
mean 1/2 teaspoon of egg salad or applesauce or a few bites of soft cereal.
We Americans think a meal is a covered plate, but that is not true. I am
3 months Post-Op and my lunch is 1-2 slices of cheese, or turkey - followed
later 1-2 hours by 1/2 orange. Sometimes my brain takes over and tries for
more but my stomach pushes it back up, which means I've over eaten. Dinner
is a few leaves of salad and if I have the space a small piece of meat -
sometimes less than 2 oz. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY
— Anna M.
March 17, 2004
at this stage of the game, you wouldn't really be throwing up even if you
have, or are begining to have, a stoma blockage; you would merely be
feeling very full for very long periods of time. At a recent support group
meeting, our surgeon explained that IF you were having problems relating to
scar tissue build up at the stoma you would notice it between the 5th and
11th weeks following surgery. This is a potentialy serious problem and if
it persists, you should contact your surgeons office for an appointment.
There are test that can be done if the surgeon feels it is necessary. But
take my owrd for it, there is a difference between not wanting to eat and
not being able to eat! Be careful and be your own advocate here. Don't
dismiss this if it contnues or becomes worse. Let me know if I can help.
— nancy V.
March 17, 2004
I am just getting over that feeling - I am 11 weeks post-op and was haveing
a VERY difficult time eating, keeping things down, beign very nauseas at
the site and taste of food. I would drink water and get sick to my
stomach. Protein drinks - oh no thanks!! My doc had me take an upper GI to
rule out a stricture or bowel obstruction. That was done a week ago. The
test showed no stricture (thankfully) but it was about 2 weeks since i had
any real food or protein in me so i began to get VERY weak and tired.
Basically - to make a short story long - the doc gave me anti-nausea meds
to take so that i could tolerate eating. Helps ALOT!!!! my strength is
finally back!! So although you feel sick, you have to do what you can to
make yourself eat... I know it is hard, but as hard as that is, you dont
want to wind up back in the hospital from dehydration!! try drinkable
yogurt - dannon makes a yogurt smoothy and yoplait makes a light version of
their drinkable yogurts - its a good way to be able to take your time and
get some nutrients in and protein. Also, try broths made from chicken and
beef, etc. that helped ease the sick feeling as well. Hope this helps!!
Jan - 11 weeks post-op (start 295) now 237
— Jan P.
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