Question:
Why do I crave food but nothing tastes good or it hurts to eat it?

I am 2 & 1/2 weeks post-op RNY. I am still on the puree stage of the diet. Why do I still crave things but when I taste it doesn't taste good to me? It's a little frustrating! Honestly, nothing sounds good to me right now. Not only that sometimes when I eat something or even drink anything sometimes it hurts. It feels like I have something stuck in my rib cage. Is this all normal? Is this something that will happen only in the beginning?    — Allison T. (posted on April 28, 2002)

April 28, 2002
hi my friend and yes this is normal i think to still want the food you ate pre op i sure did and still do i also get that same feeling when i eat that it get's stuck .oh my god i hate that feeling i to am new at this i am only 9weeks post op i to still get that feeling but other people say it will get better and it has gotton a little better i just try to eat soups and soft things that don't get stuck i know it get's boring but it's better then that feeling .and as far as the wanting the thing's you used to before the surgery i still crave everything i use to like i say to my husband they fixed my stomach but not my head so what i do that seems to work best is ask GOD to take away the obession of wanting to eat the foods i can't believe it or not it works . try it and good luck feel free to email me back if you have any questions that i can answer for you.
   — KIM B.

April 28, 2002
I get that feeling too! I am 2.5 weeks out. My diet has been changed to soft foods like baked potato, well cooked noodles, etc. But when I tried the noodles I chewed them up really well but still got the stuck feeling. I want to eat them but would much rather stick with yogurt or something that has a more liquid consistancy. I sure hope it gets better soon!
   — Michelle W.

April 28, 2002
I is probably head hunger....you are remembering what you used to like. I have never yet been able to tolerate pasta, but I remember loving mac and cheese. I have a hard time tolerating hambuger but hambugers used to be my favorite food. Go figure. It gets much better, I have found foods that used to rarely eat (but liked) I now eat more of...like salads.
   — Oldsoul

April 28, 2002
Mary is correct, it's head hunger. and yes, you are totaly normal! In the first weeks, I couldn't stand to look at the food on TV ads because they'd be big and greasy and make me feel sick to think about. I am 4.5 months out and you should see the food I throw away because it expires in the fridge! I'll want and eat something one day and the next day I don't want it. So it goes bad in the fridge! It's sort of like I crave something and once I get to eat it, I don't want it again. I've also bought something at the grocery store and after getting it home I think "there is no way I will eat this". It sounded good at the store but later I can't even think about eating it.
   — blank first name B.

April 28, 2002
Hi-I totally agree it is head hunger, but with you still being newly post-op, your pouch is still swollen somewhat also and will be like that until about 6 wks post-op. That maybe why things hurt going down sometimes. I am 6wks post op and I feel the same way about seeing food commercials and thinking how I would love to have me some of that, but if it is right in front of me, I don't want it or maybe can take one or 2 bites. I think my cravings are way bigger than my appetite sometimes. Good luck though. It does get better!
   — Jennifer G.