HELP!!!! Struggling with eating, drinking

I have been having problems since my open Roux-en-Y surgery on October 21, 2005. After months of struggling, and 14 upper endoscopic procedures where the dilations got the opening to 12 mm, I still found that I could not keep solid food down. I finally went to Cleveland Clinic and saw Dr Bipan Chand. He said that he could help me, and make it so I could eat solid food. I had surgery on August 21, 2006. I made it through the surgery at Cleveland Clinic, and the surgeon there found that the Roux limb was all twisted, scarred, attached to my liver and stomach; in other words, a total mess, and a wonder I even got fluids down for the last 10 months. I am now supposedly better, but really struggling with everything. I am having trouble getting in enough to eat and drink every day. I feel like I am sliding backwards...my husband says that I am starting to look bad again, which means like my face is sunken in below my eyes!!!! I have no appetite, and could go for days and never eat. How on earth do people eat enough in one day to sustain themselves? What do they eat? What can I do???? Do you have any answers for me? Please, someone help me......

Lois I am so sorry you have been thru what you have are on the pureed or soft stage sense your last surgery try some tuna or chicken salad also s/f popsicles is good to help get in your fluids I wasn't hungery I ate because I had to I hope things get better for you soon My prayers will be with you Best of luck Michael

Michael: I know that I have heard from you beofre. Thanks for the suggestions. I will try them. I just need to get beyond this point, and back to some kind of life!!!!! Thanks again, Lois

lois, are you on the beginning diet like at first? just like michael asked?i forgot to ask you this. if so, i had a hard time. i tell ya. i used to make potato soup almost everyday and just drink the broth. it filled me up for awhile and it had carrots, potatoes, a little onion, chicken boullion,hambutrger, and water but, mostly milk . it helped me. girl, you worry me. please make sure you e-mail me at home and answer, ok? you know i love ya pal, and i wish the best for you. make sure you aren't getting deydrated. that is how i look when i am. big hug--kath

Kathy: Thanks for answering my plea for help. Where, oh where is your home e-mail address??? I can not find it. Please e-mail me again at [email protected]. Love, Lois

First of all, you have to make it your job to eat, whether you feel like it or not. Go back to pureed if you need to, to get food down. Here are some things I ate: In the morning, plain instant oatmeal made with milk. Couple of ounces of pureed peaches or other fruit packed in juice. Mid morning, 4 ounces of Choice DM (like Ensure for diabetics). You can always used milk (or soy milk or whatever if you don't tolerate milk) and sugar-free instant breakfast. I used to buy the Tyson roasted, boneless, skinless chicken breasts and puree them with Campbell's Soup at hand cream of chicken soup. Have a small can of V-8 juice. The other half of the can of Choice DM in the afternoon. I also had to cook for my family, so I would cook a turkey breast in the crockpot, slice it up for the family, make some gravy and have my turkey pureed with some of the gravy. More pureed fruits and V-8 in the evening (couldn't tolerate pureed vegetables - ugh!) Did the same with roast beef. Sometimes I would have about 4 ounces of low sugar yogurt. In between, I was getting in all the water. I had lots and lots of energy, never lost any hair, and felt good because I was getting in a balanced diet. I felt like all I did was eat, and I sure didn't feel like it, but I still did it! Personally, I see a lot of post ops that get that "protein, protein, protein" thing beaten into their heads and miss out on a lot of other nutrients that just don't come in a pill. By the way, I never could get in all the servings of everything, every day that the dietician recommended, but I tried! So sorry to hear you had so many problems and hope you are able to get vack on track! Sue

Sue: Thank you so much for taking the time to e-mail me with your suggestions. That is exactly what I needed!!! You are right that I need to eat no matter what. That is what my husband keeps telling me, too. It sure is hard to do when you have no appetite at all..... I will just try harder. Love, Lois

I had some major problems after my surgery, although they were not connected in anyway with my bypass. Ulcers were my culprit. I had to force every little bite in my mouth. I lived on soups, yogurt, and baby food when I had to so that I was getting some nutrition in. I agree with Michael, start back at day 1 with your diet and hopefully you will be able to tolerate more food each time you try. I made myself a "TIME TO EAT" chart and noted what I ate at every interval on my chart. Even if it was just a bite of a sugarfree popsickle, it was something. Hang in there and hopefully you will be eating enough soon.