I have a fear of eating...

...since I came out of surgery. Sometimes I go almost an entire day before I eat anything, yet I am obsessed with food, thinking about it al the time and peparing elaborate meals for my boyfriend that I have no intention of eating. I don't know what to make of this, so I was wondering if anyone could help me out with any advice or at least let me know I am not alone. The fear of eating is both out of fear of not losing any weight and fear of getting sick, because everything I put down my throat sits heavy and makes me nautious. I think my weight loss is suffering from this problem. I have lost 40 lbs since my surgery 12/7/04, but have not lost a lb in almost 2 weeks. I am worried that I am screwing up my motabilism. Any words of advice would be greatly appeciated. Thank you.

my surg was only 1 day before yours and fortunately i don't have any fears of eating because nothing bothers me.. i was surprised that nothing at all makes me feel sick since i've read that certain things (or everything) makes alot of people nauseous. i do feel that you should probably be eating more especially proteins. i think about food alot, also. i also, eat whatever i want just alot less than before. as for the weight loss, you will get to a point when you won't lose for a few weeks... what i've read and from what i've experienced it happens to everyone. i've lost about 41 pds so far. i just started back to work 3 weeks ago (that's when i lost the other ten pds) and i joined a gym two nights ago and will go to exercise tonite. my scale hasn't moved in a week and i know it will once i start exercising. about 1 month into my surg the scale didn't move for about 3 weeks (i was depressed). but i goes thru that. i take two tums a day with calcium and a multi childrens vitamin. what do you do?

Well, tums is calcium carbonate from what I understand and is undigestable by Gastric Bypass patients (is that the surgery you had?).I take 2 childrens vitamins in the morning and 2 in the evening, the ones with extra iron in them. I also take a B12 sublingual every morning and crush a calcium citrate pill into a glass of water. After my surgery and for a couple of months after that, nothing made me sick. Now everything does. I have my 3 month appointment with the surgeon in a few weeks, so hopefully he can help me. Congrats on the weight loss and positive attitude. I know I will work thru my issues.

HI. I TAKE TUMS W/CALCIUM CAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO TAKE. I ALSO HEARD THAT B12 IS FOR ENERGY? IS THAT WHAT YOU HEARD? I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD THIS SURG AND SHE GETS B12 SHOTS FOR ENERGY. I HOPE YOU START FEELING BETTER... I KNOW THE NAUSEOUS FEELING ISN'T FUN. SUE

Question...... What is the Tums for? and can you just take regular vitamins like Centrim? I started taking Centrim vitamins about a few weeks ago along with vitamins that suppose to reduce water retention. As far as the food issue, I guess everyone is different. I haven't had the surgery yet but kinda wondering if you can eat whatever you want. I thought maybe I would never see a piece of cheesecake again.

HI, i too am afraid to drink anything of fear of getting or fealing sick. it takes me sometimes 1hr. to just sip 1oz. of water. and it has come down to what i want most if its water,juice, or protein drink and i almost always choose to drink water or juice.don't worry your not alone maybe if u take baby steps as i am ,maybe your new stomach will ajust and allow more in.

Elizabeth, Your story sounds alot like mine...you are not alone; 1 week after surgery, I was cooking for my family. I had alot of anxiety after my first 6 weeks, after I introduced other foods into my diet. I just took it slow, and after a short time, was able to eat some protein. One thing to remember is to get your protein in FIRST. If you don't want to eat, then drink milk or protein shakes. But that is the most important. I think you need to give yourself some time, and don't worry about not losing weight...you are bound to loose it! I had the same anxiety initially...each time I got weighed, I would close my eyes...I just couldn't believe the scales would show less. I think it is just from the past...I always dreaded getting on the scales...it never seem to go down. Now, I'm 10 weeks post surgery today...and I'm no longer afraid to get on the scales...go easy on yourself. We have made life-altering changes...and for the best! Best of luck to you! Jamie

I used to be so scared of eating! When it was time for me to start eating solid foods, even though I really wanted to, I still ate mostly liquids and pureed foods. I was scared I would get sick, I would stretch my pouch, I would pop a staple!, all these worries that never happened. I just started slowly eating soft foods. Now I can pretty much eat anything I want, just very small amounts. Eating doesn't scare me anymore. I know that fried foods give me a stomach ache so I stay away from them and eat small amounts of other foods and I eat really slowly and chew and chew. I've only thrown up once since my surgery and that was when I ate chinese food, which I don't reccommend! I'm sure eating will get much easier for you , just give it some time! *Leighann* 4 months post-op/Down 80 pounds

Liz, I was scared of everything. I was scared to eat, drink, lay flat, pick up anything, move something, breathe too deeply. I spent a good two weeks on egg shells. I was scared everything was going to make me sick and if it didn't make me sick I was going to rip my staples. I had never had any kind of surgery before or even been in a hospital, so I was very cautious. My dietician gave me a chart of everything I was supposed to eat and drink. I just would look at that chart and roll my eyes. How on earth did they expect me to get all that in? I just went slowly and little by little I would be brave enough to try something. Exactly 4 weeks out, my dietician said I could trying raw vegetables. I was dying for a salad. One small bite of tomatoe and I was in some severe pain. Now, I'll be 9 months out next week, I can eat or drink just about anything and it doesn't bother me. Last night I had a mixed drink with my food at a restaurant and it didn't even bother me at all. You just have to keep working on it. Take those baby steps. Realize what your body doesn't like this month, you will probably be able to eat next month, or the month after. It just gets better and better and better. My life just gets easier and easier and eaiser. Just keep working at it little by little, follow your surgeon's and dietician's instructions. Since it is getting warmer, don't risk dehydration without enough fluid. I had mine in August, so I really had to focus on the fluid. Just go slow and realize all though we all walk the same path, some of us just take a little longer to get down it than others. Leland Lap RNY GB 08-04-04 295/283/177/150

Hi Leland, I appreciate the response. I have come a long way since that post (I posted this more than 2 months ago). Eating has become much easier. I don't get sick very often anymore and I have passed the stage where I think about food 24/7 and am terrified that I will fail. It's amazing how food is no longer the number one thing on your mind. I am loving it and am using this short, wonderful period post-op to learn how to cook and eat healthy. I drink at least 100 ounces a day, but I kow that will be a struggle I will have to deal with the rest of my life. Thanks again for your concern and congratulations on your amazing success. Liz