4 weeks post op, I have no appetite and when I eat its only a few bites two to three tablespoons max.  Tonight we went out to dinner I ate 3 sauteed shrimp and was stuffed.  Drinking protein shake is a chore.  Does this get better or will I eat like a mouse forever?

not forever - you'll gradually be able to eat more and more

It will get better.  Gradually you will start to eat more.  By the time you are a year out, you will probably be able to eat more than a cup of food at a time (depending on the type of food). 

Hang in there and do the best you can to get enough protein (right now, if it ain't protein, you shouldn't be eating it).  If you don't get enough protein in, it can make the hair loss worse than it otherwise would be.

Lora

Check your plan.  Most plans gradually increase what you can eat.

"Does this get better or will I eat like a mouse forever?"

-This comment has me worried though. Eating "like a mouse forever" sounds negative.  The whole point of the surgery is to modify the size of your stomach so you will be PHYSICALLY satisfied with LESS food. The question is: "Will you be PSYCHOLOGICALLY/EMOTIONALLY satisfied with less food?" 

Maybe I am reading too much into your statement, but your question "Does this get better or will I eat like a mouse forever?"  seems to indicate you WON'T be.  If this is the case, why did you have WLS?  If this is the case, I would strongly encourage you to seek a COUNSELOR immediately for LONG TERM help because you may not be able to maintain your weight loss because you are using food to fill emotional, mental and social "holes" rather than the physical one (i.e. your stomach).  

As someone who struggled/still struggles with food addictions, I assure you that no amount of food will EVER be "enough" to fill emotional and social holes.  If you attempt to try to use food to do so, you WILL "out-eat" your surgery and regain.

Please take pleasure in your honeymoon, being able to eat dramatically less, and be satisfied. This is the mechanism that is going to get you to lose weight!

I agree and am so glad you brought it up. I don't want to discourage or offend anyone but I was also concerned.  I found the lack of appetite something to be so excited about!  I just worked on drinking a shake and eating protein during that time and looked at it as the greatest gift I have ever been given.  I did regain my "appetite" and ability to eat more but at 11 months out it has gone away again and I am so happy about that.  Maybe this time it is the appetite in my mind that is going away and after doing so much work on that part of the journey I am so pleased. 

There will come a time when you will e be able to eat a full meal again.  You will sometimes look back on these early days and wish you could once again feel stuffed after a few bites.

This is the surgery honeymoon.  You are not hungry, you are full after a few bites, and you will drop weight rapidly.  What you do eat is not getting completely absorbed.  Take advantage to lose as much weight as possible during this time.  Your body will soon recover.

Abso frikking lutely.

Its not that I want to eat a full meal however with a teaspoon in my hand only being able to have 3-5 partial teaspoons of whatever protein or food Im eating and feel OVERLY stuffed seem great to some.  Its not that I want to eat a lot I DONT.  Im use to going out to eat having a salad then a meal, at this point I would be happy with a few bites of a salad and a few bites of a meat.

Please don't take this as snarky -- but "what you are used to" contributed to being 100 lbs overweight.

Enjoy this time.  It doesn't stay this way -- it's your honeymoon.  it will never be this easy again.  USE IT.

I consider "eating like a mouse"a blessing...I am over 7 years post op.. last night we went to dinner.. I had 1 scallop as appetizer. then I was able to eat 3-4 oz of steak, 1 asparagus, and a couple of slices of grilled zucchini.. 

that was dense proteins.. but I can eat lots of slider foods like crackers, nut butters, etc.. 

I still get "unhappy" that I need to stop eating after I get my first signal that I am full..I get upset that I can't have dessert... but I signed up for that.... and I am happy to see a reflection of me in a window... I am happy that I can use the stairs and I have no problem using them, that I can wear heels... etc etc.. trade offs...