Discouraged

Hi Everyone, I am 4 1/2 weeks post-op (laproscopic GB) and still feel like crap much of the time. Specifically, I feel nauseated, and have general discomfort in my stomach and lower stomach area. While I am supposed to be eating soft cheeses, eggs, etc.--and when I was given the go-ahead I was eating three times a day-- in the last 10 days or so, I just can't even bear the thought of eating. I literally have to make myself eat something. About the only thing that doesn't bother me is warm soup (I "eat" the broth in Campbell's vegetarian vegetable) and warmed CC chocolate milk. I drink constantly, but that too can be a battle, because it feels uncomfortable once it gets into my new stomach. I have tried to be very vigilant about taking small sips, but sometimes think I'm still taking in too much air. Any tips on how to judge sip size? Honestly, I don't even care about the weight I know I've lost; I'm too consumed by the fact that I just don't feel well. Did anyone else go through this? Did you start feeling better eventually? HOw long did it take? As far as protein, I'm sure I'm not getting enough right now, because I just don't want to eat. Any suggestions, help, shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. I'm just very discouraged that I don't feel as well as I thought I would by now, and when I read about people who feel great, I wonder, How come I don't feel that way? And will I ever feel healthy? Thanks in advance, Heather

Hi Heather, I'm sorry you are not feeling well. As time passes you will start feeling better. I used the small medicine cups to drink my broth so as to make sure I wasn't taking too much at one time. It would take me 15 minutes to finish 1 cup and I would just keep refilling it all day long so I was sipping constantly. Little tiny sips are very important while your pouch is healing. Don't get too discouraged because the results are so worth it! Sandy

Hi Heather First of all, your pouch needs time to heal.... Buy baby cup with sip.. it helped me alot to use this cup to sip and use baby spoon to eat something. I use simply milk, Iso Pure Zero Carb protein ( get that from GN C Store), nectar protein , and keep a bottle of water with you at all times to sip throughout the day. Eat slowly and take your time to eat foods. Make sure foods must be moist as possible. I promise it will getting better each weekly. Don't force yourself to eat in your stoamach because it may stretch the pouch. Keep come back on Ct Mesage board and we are here to support you. Happy Holidays!!! Kathy K

Us RNY's have a very different road to trael than you BG's have to go. Melissa (youngest daughter) has it also, and at 6 months post-op still has on and off troubles. Much more than any of the 3 of the RNY's who are in my house right now have to deal with. There is a GB board on obesityhelp.com which you should look at for help. Many more people who hae the experiences to be able to offer peer help. On the first and 3rd monday's of a month, there is a support group which meets in Hamden at the library. There are the most banders there than any of the groups which I have seen,and you wiill find talking with others very informative. As far as feeling disouraged, you are very normal. The easiest depression medication to get is.................... food. When you cannot eat, and are surrounded with it, it can be miserable. All I can tell you is that with time, everything will fall into place and youwill be fine. Just have to get over the bumps along the way. That's what we are there for. Don't compare your experiences to what you see on the board here. Two reasons. First of all, even if someone has had a bumpy ride along the way, MOST people who have had WLS will in the long run tell you tht it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Second, this board is overrun with RNY patients, and they travel a very different set of experiences than you will. Will you ever feel healthy? Remember, you probably didn't feel healthy when you were pre-op. This is a transition time, and you will get to the point where youwill feel much better. How you feel after 2 or 3 years from now..... you may never feel "healthy", but will be much healthier than you are now by far. Best wishes for a protein filled Christmas. Peter

My Doc suggests we use straws so that we don't gulp too much air or liquid....of course I have seen people argue over straws on the main board..but so much hysterical nonsense gets going there anyway. I can only suggest what most would suggest, preo*****I would get in touch with the Doc and get checked out..maybe get some anti-nausea meds etx. Hope you feel better, Sher'

Heather, I'm sorry to hear that you are stuggling so much. Your body has been through so much and everyone is different. Do the best you can with fluids and if you are concerned, call your Dr. I hope everything gets better soon! Carmen

I assume- because your profile says you had RNY- that by saying laproscopic GB you mean gastric bypass rather than gastric banding...so I'm going to address this as though you have had lap RNY.... it's a slow process to get back to feeling good wqhen you eat. You now, it's a pain...but it's really for the best. It goes a long way toward breaking the destructive relationshiop you have with food and taching you how to eat to live rather than live to eat. You will have times from now for a long while where food is just YUCK- no interest. But, don't get discouraged... what you feel now will get better little by litte. I found some 'safe foods' and just kept on eating those (mine were tuna w/mayo and cheddar cheese) I swear I had tuna and cheddar coming out my ears. Now, I really don't like tuna too much...it reminds me of the days of tuna and cheddar... Anyhow, find some safe foods that are apropriate for the food stage you're in. It's hadr to find the safe food sometimes, because it involves you trying a bite of many diffferent foods and waiting to see if they agree with pouchie. THe most important thing is to find the food tha works for you that is RIGHT for your food stage. If you're on soft foods, you should try to minimize your intake of soups. Your pouch is going to need to adjust to soft foods (and soon regualr foods) so you've got to keep feeding it soft food. Don't worry, at this point, with how much protein you're getting in. Make sure you get your liquids in and eat as best you can. add a protein shake if you can. Some ideas: tuna w/mayo (LOL), canned chicken w/mayo (put it in the food processor to smooth it out. cottage cheese w/ a little SF jam mixed in, ricotta cheese w/spagetti sauce mixed in, wendy's chilli, soft mozzarella, refried beans... be creative... I'm sure you'll find some things that work. One last thing...be sure to speak to your surgeon about how you're feeling and make sure he doesn't have any thoughts. best of luck to you...hang in there. Lisa C

Heather, I'm 10 weeks post op. I still have bad days, sometimes I'll get sick eating the same thing I had eaten the day before without any problems. I still can't tolerate any meat except a little ground turkey or finely ground beef, and that doesn't work every time. Otherwise, I do soups, tuna fish, fresh fish, sugar free pudding, soft egg, etc. Some days I just can't figure out what I've done wrong, and it is frustrating to say the least. I just hit 80 lbs, so I can't knock the results. But I sure hope things get better as time passes. --Steve