Confession.... no yelling at the cowboy....need advice/support from my group.

Ok girls, here it goes...

I must confess.  I'm having a hard time with food.  It's not that food itself is horrible, it's the fact that I don't want it.  And even when I try to eat, I eat two bites and I'm so full I'm miserable.  I do take in protein, (through shakes, smoothies, etc.)  But when it comes down to it, I'm wondering if I'm hurting myself by not eating and only consuming protein.  Many of you were told that if you're not hungry, then don't eat but keep on drinking.  Well I've followed that with few exceptions.

I've lost complete interest in food.  It was once my best friend and now it's not even on my list of interesting items.  At this point , I'm looking for guidance and support.  I've seen HUGE changes with myself and my body and I'm glad that I did the surgery, but I didn't realize the massive impact it would have on my desire to eat again. 

My  favorite food porn is no longer something I care to even smell.  I knew my tastes would change, however all of my former favorite foods are no longer in my mind all day. (yes, yes, the other things still remain...but back to my issue)....

My true BIG skeleton that I want to admit is that sometimes I can go weeks without food and never think twice about it.  I have been getting all of the required protein by the doc, so can anyone tell me if I'll ever be able to take more than 2 bites of something and not feel sick?  The weight has come off so rapidly and I'm really shocked to see the differences in my clothes, my abs, my face, and the responses from people that I didn't tell I was having the surgery....  They say I look great but are worried about the massive change in me since I left and came back.

Anyone else out there having this issue of lack of desire for food?  Anyone else out there skipping tons of meals?  The one great blessing is there's no extra skin, the one bad curse is my back seems to hurt much easier from so much weight loss.  Anyway, i'm interested in the responses and am looking for answers that can put me on some path that I feel better about instead of the one I'm currently following.

Love you group of folks lots!

T.

Ok, I'm not going to flame you...  Absolutely not, but I'm going to admit that I'm worried about you with good reason.  I went weeks without eating.  I landed myself in the hospital with some severe vitamin deficiencies and periphreal (sp?) neuropathy.  I was so sick, I could have died.  I almost had to have my RNY reversed at 5 mos out of my surgery.  I had never hurt so bad in my whole life.  Please just take heed of my warning of what not eating will do to you.  I am saying this because I care about you and I consider you as one of my friends at this point.  Take care of yourself, T. 

*hugs*

Thomas, I had the sleeve, not the RNY, but they say the eating is the same.  I remember the first time I tried scrambled egg I couldn't take more than two bites.  And, yes, I felt horrible and stuffed.  But it does get better.  Not only did you have surgery to make your stomach smaller, but at this point you haven't tried to put anything in what is left.  Your stomach will get a little bigger, SLOWLY !!  And I really think your desire for food will come back eventually.  BUT FOLLOW THE RULES (which I know is very hard for you ;) )  Start off soft and slow, egg, ff refried beans, cheese, cottage cheese, tuna with mayo or canned chicken with mayo (no relish)   -- you have the list.  And, if you don't, i'll email it to you.  You're worrying me,  Read your info again and be compliant (for once in your life.)    Lynette

No flames here darlin....you need to read and re-read your post.  I think you know the answers your are seeking.

Lynette is correct, you need to attempt food or else you will never be able to eat more than a bite or two.  It is supposed to feel like that in the beginning and it WILL loosen up...I promise you!  I know that Dr. B has allowed you to utilize liquid protein for the past while, however, you are back in your "natural" environment and you need to begin to eat the things available in your environment that you are recommended to have. 

Plan ahead - follow the plan.  It WORKS and you know it but the brain is a little devil and will take whatever path is the one of least resistance.  But you have to start getting into a regular routine with regular food so that in the future you will be able to become **queue music**  COMPLIANT THOMAS **off music**

Hang in there and get out your paperwork and start making attempts.  It is going to seem silly at first but you'll figure it out.  Make sure you are getting your vitamins as well so you have NO chance at deficiencies!!

Love ya like a rock star...... Ruth

Hey there kiddo!!!!!Listen up........To start with you need to call Jess  and/or Dr. Broussard. It could be very possible you have a stricture and it needs to be dilated. Some of the things you are describing are normal, but some are not. It is a  must that you call Weight Wise Monday. You could also send this link to Dr. Broussard at [email protected] . It is very common to not be hungry for months. However, you do have to eat more often than every couple of weeks. If you have a stricture it would be hard for you to eat anything and/or keep it down. Everyone reacts differently. Once the sticture is stretched then it gets better. I'm not trying to scare you but if your nutritional status gets too bad they will have to put an IV in your neck and give you TPN. This is just a fancy word for IV nutrition, vitamins, lipids, etc etc. I'm just telling you like it is because you're my friend and I kinda like you. LOL. This will get better but please call Toby and talk with him. It would make us all feel better. In the mean time hang in there and keep trying to get something down. Love ya like you used to love food porn.  PM or call me if you need to.

Rita

All of those were good advice and yes, I know that I need to get over the whole 2 bite syndrome thing.  I'll give Jessica a call in the next couple of days and get to eating mushies again just to try to move things along.  One thing I forgot to mention is I am getting all of my vitamins!  Vitamins and plenty of fluids are two thing that I never have an issue with.  I'll check into the stricture thing too.  After I eat a couple of bites, it's not that I'm in pain per se, it's that I feel horrible or a big sickish kinda feeling haunts me for about 30 minutes.  I do find soup is very easy to eat, the only thing is that the soups I can eat are highly limited....broccoli cheese or miso.....  For other nutritional value, I blend my protein with strawberries and mangos with no sugar added and put it in the freezer and it turns into a weird icecream.

So glad to see some of my favorite people people responding!   I love you ladies!  I'll keep you informed. 

T.

THOMAS WE ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT YOU!! I TOO CAN ONLY EAT A LITTLE AT A TIME BUT I DO EAT 3 TIMES A DAY. PLEASE CALL WEIGHT WISE AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO. KEEP US POSTED AND GET BETTER!!

I tend not to agree with the don't eat if you are not hungry. In the past, if I waited to eat until I was overly hungry I would eat what ever I could grab first, which was not always the best choice. i don't want to fall back into that trap ever again. I make myself eat 3 meals per day, at the usual times, along with everyone else -- either at work or at home. If I am not hungry I may not eat as much, but I still eat. I am only a month out, but little by little it continues to get easier doing it this way. Fluids are still hard, but that has always been a hard thing for me, even before surgery.
Please take care of yourself Thomas!

Hi Thomas - You have gotten great advice so far, please follow Rita's suggestion and do call WW - even if there is nothing wrong going on, they will give some good advice. As far as losing interest in food, I can speak for myself and say that yes, I have lost interest in food, and that has been mainly because food no longer does for me what it used to. Overeating is not an option and in the past that was what I did best, I loved food!! Now, I eat three times a day, sometimes really small quantities, sometimes a little more, depends on the day, but then again, I am almost six months out, I am pretty predictable at this point. I do believe you will regain the desire to eat, it will never be the same as before (then this is why you chose surgery), but until you do, please try to eat those three meals a day, however small they may be; ask Jessica if smaller portions meals throughout the day will work better than trying to take down 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food in one sitting, at least until you feel that you can eat the three meals a day! Don't forget that you had surgery a very short time ago, and things are still changing. And keep in mind that you will not use food like you used to, it will never be  your best friend again,  even years down the road - I know this seems like a huge change and it is, I know how you loved food!

Good job on the vitamins and liquids, but please focus on the eating as well, however easy it may be to go without food, you need the nutrition!

Hugs, Anna

Dang cowboy, I'm sorry you are struggling with this.  I can't speak to exactly what you are going through but just wanted to tell you I'm sorry. It has been frusterating for me because I can only eat a little bit and harldly seems worth it sometimes.  I don't know that I have been hungry yet but I figure my body needs some nutrients and I HATE those friggin shakes so I make myself each 3 times a day and yes I have a snack too.  I eat a cheese stick or almonds many times just to get those protein and nutrients in. Anyway, I don't have much to add but wanted you to know you have a friend thinking of you.