Question:
6 Weeks Post Op.. When does your appetite return?
I am six weeks post op and I hate eating. The thought of eating makes me sick. I have to really work at it to consume 300 calories a day and I eat that because I know I have to eat something. If I had it my way, I wouldn't eat at all. Please tell me this gets better. I am worried about developing other health problems and loosing my muscle. Thanks! — Tami H. (posted on June 29, 2003)
June 29, 2003
I am just a little ahead of you at 7+wks post and also have to work at
eating, but I get about 800-900 calories a day mostly from protein. You
really need to eat because you need to get nutrients in your system to
maintain healthy bones and muscle. Your body cannot sustain itself with
just 300 calories a day and you are setting yourself up for other health
problems. I had trbl early on getting protein in me and am already having
thinning hair because of it. I stepped up my protein with protein drinks
and have seemed to stop the hair loss. I still have to remind myself to
eat. What you are going thru is normal from what I understand; the desire
for food will return as will the appetite with it.
— ChristineB
June 29, 2003
This is funny... I just told my 15 year old daughter just yesterday that I
hate eating. I feel crummy for about an hour after I eat anything. My
heart starts to pound and I feel sick. It can't be dumping because I don't
get the stomach upset, and I'm not eating sugar or excessive fat. But
otherwise I feel fantastic. For me, I look at it this way. My tool is
teaching me discipline and it's teaching me that eating is to live
(primarily) and also for enjoyment, but not to be done in excess. I'm glad
that it's giving me all the side effects. I know that it's teaching me
good habits for later. I do try to eat because I know I need the
nutrition, but I no longer think about food all the time, thank God. Take
care and God bless you... by the way I'm almost 7 weeks post op and down 46
lbs.
— Happy I.
June 29, 2003
I'll be 4 months post-op July 14. I'm just now able to eat. Everyone
assured me my appetite will return and it did. There are still a lot of
foods that I don't care for. I remember eating Cheetos as a meal because I
couldn't stand the thought of anything else. It will get better. Good luck
to you.
— Debbie W.
June 29, 2003
Your appetite will return and when it does, you will want it to go away.
But in the meantime, force yourself to eat. Three hundred calories a day
is no where near enough. You will become ill and you won't lose weight.
At ten weeks post-op, my surgeon told me I HAD to get AT LEAST 1000
calories a day if I wanted to lose. So, find a way to eat - or at least
drink protein shakes that are full of protein and calories.
— Patty_Butler
June 29, 2003
I didn't regain my appetite until about 8 months post-op, and I still never
really get hungry at 15 months out. I called it food aversion, and I HAD
to make myself eat measured amounts on a strict schedule. My advice if
this continues for a long time is to carefully track your protein intake,
find something that sits well and you can tolerate (for me it was string
cheese, cottage cheese, etc.) and eat many small meals throughout the day
to ensure you get in enough protein. I had an easier time forcing myself
to eat softer foods and even today still often find the thought of heavier
solid foods to be revolting. But at least I no longer feel nauseous just
at the thought of eating anything. Most post-ops I talked to seem to get
over this and regain their appetite by 4-6 months out or so...
— Melissa F.
June 29, 2003
I am 14 months post-op, and I have not had an appetite since my Lap RNY. My
weight loss was great at first, but has turned into a crawl.... starvation
mode is a very real issue if you are not hungry and still want to lose. And
if you are not consuming calories and protein your body will burn any lean
muscle you have for energy.
It is a struggle to get in 600 calories/day, when I know I need around
1000. But we have to FORCE IT. The surgeons already did their part, but it
is just a fact that we need to eat more, like it or not. I wish I could
tell you it gets better for everyone- for most people, it does. But for the
rest of us, it is tough. BUT STILL WORTH IT. I wouldn't be alive today if
not for my WLS, so eating when I am not hungry, and the nausea, is WORTH
IT!
I have found that increasing my activity level and eating with other people
who KNOW you are having a hard time (other post-ops) really helps. It makes
me feel like they are my angels, watching that I am not just moving food
around on the plate.
Good luck! - Shelli (-110 Lap RNY)
— kultgirl
June 30, 2003
I went through the exact same thing. It does get better although it is
different for everyone. I am 4 1/2 months post-op and within the past week
or so I just started liking food again and having an appetite. Good luck!!
— dl_roark
June 30, 2003
I remember thinking that at 5 mo out. (ahhh! the good ol days!) Really!
enjoy these times because this is when you lose the most. The appetite does
come back- unfortunately.
— ZZ S.
June 30, 2003
i am jealous of you all, i have never lost mine, well maybe while i was
recoving at home the first week or so, i am always hungry. and i do not
mean head hunger, but i'd say honestly except right after eating, i am
hungry, and i want to eat. i am able to control it, but i wish my appetite
would leave ( and yes i am eating and doing exactly what i should, i have
lost over 80 pounds in 3 months (over 100 if you count the 21 pre op i
lost), but it has been a hard struggle daily)
— janetc00
June 30, 2003
It took me a good 4-5 months before I wanted to eat. I really miss not
wanting food b/c now I munch on food all day and night just like the old
days except now it's alot less, but I ate chips already, a peanut butter
cup, animal crackers, dry cereal and water. Sounds healthy don't it LOL.
I'm so bad now and I have not gained weight, but im not losing either.
Everything will return almost normal within the first 6mo. Good luck to
you!~9mo post-op lost 122#
— Sandy M.
June 30, 2003
Appetite seems to be as varying as total results from WLS. Food still looks
and smells good to me. When I do eat it still tastes good (my tastes did
not change). Do I ever feel hungry? NO! Pre-op I would wake up wondering
what's to eat. Now, it's sometimes late afternoon before I remember I
haven't eaten anything. That is NOT good. The less I eat, the less I lose.
I do crave some things, but I'm never hungy. And yes, I also eat carbs. I
just don't overdo it.
What I have noticed is that although some things still appeal to me the
thought of putting them in my mouth makes me ill. I have stayed away from
sugar and pop. I work at my way of eating every day. I've noticed that when
I eat often I can drop 5-7 lbs in a week. But getting past the forgetting
to eat is harder than I ever anticipated. Who would've thought this would
happen...to me???
Good luck!
— Diane S.
July 1, 2003
I'm the exact way - I had surgery on 5/12/03 - 7 weeks ago and I have to
make myself eat! It's terrible. Like you, most days I only get 190 - 300
calories a day. Email me if you are interested in sharing our experiences!
— Melissa B.
July 7, 2003
It took me about 9 weeks. I then started to eat everything that
wouldn't/didn't make me sick and my appetite came back.
— Patty H.
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