Question:
I am about 10 weeks post op and having a hard time.

I am having a hard time getting in my food. I get hungry but am only able to eat about four or five bites and then I can't eat anymore. I also can not get in enough water. My skin is so dry that it is flaky and my hair is already starting to fall out in the shower. I am trying hard to get in my food but it feels like it did when I first started on solid foods. Protien shakes really turn me off too. I have lost 54 pounds and my energy is pretty good but I feel like I should be getting in more nutrients. I had this surgery to improve my health and I am scared that I might end up unhealthy at this rate. At four weeks post I could eat twice as much as I can now. I do not have any major pain when I eat but I do have discomfort a lot and I vomit almost daily. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks to all my WLS family!!!!!    — Tonia B. (posted on March 7, 2001)

March 7, 2001
It sounds like your stoma may have narrowed, and it's common at this stage post-op. It happened to me about the same time. Best wishes.
   — [Deactivated Member]

March 7, 2001
I had alot of problems eating. I asked for advice, too. Someone told me to start over with puree, and soft foods. Take super small bites and chew sooo much, your jaw hurts!! It worked for me. I still have problems eating sometimes. Eat several times a day. It seems like the more I eat, the more I lose. I am down to 122#. I never thought I would ever think I was too skinny!!! But, I love my new health. Good Luck, and God Bless You --
   — CohenHeart

March 7, 2001
Tonia...I am 7 weeks postop and I'm having all the same problems....I go between liquid foods and a couple times try to get in solid foods a day. Eating a lot of soup, but then I try to get in at least 1 solid item a day...but by the time I'm working on the FOOD I'm also not getting the water in.....I'm hoping with time we'll get better at all this.
   — Debora H.

May 16, 2001
I have had the same problems from week 2 to week 3, my open rny was done 4-23-01. TALK TO YOUR DR.! I just had an endoscopy today and they found a stricture. They showed me a photo of it and said they should have been able to see through it, but couldn't. They have an attachment on the scope that will stretch it out, that's what they did for me. They put you out, but the whole procedure only takes 5-15 minutes. Then you are in recovery for about an hour from the valium iv or whatever they give you. As soon as I woke up I drank a whole cup of water!!!!!! In small sips of course, but that was the 1st time I felt hydrated in over 1 week. Now it is more than 12 hours later, my throat is sore, no big deal though. I have been eating and drinking what I am supposed to!!! Wooohooooo!!!! I am still concerned that every bite and sip is followed by strong indigestion (you can hear my stomach)but I am waiting a few more days. If I continue to have these problems you better believe I will tell my Dr. They can't help you if you don't tell them. And they if they don't act on your words, speak them louder, don't be afraid to bypass a nurse and demand to speak to your Dr. Your money is paying them, it is more than resonable to be assertive. We must be our own health advocates. Good health everyone :) -Katie
   — KATIE B.

June 17, 2001
I am having the same problem!!! I cannot eat at all now. I had the EGD done to open up my stoma last week - and now it has closed again (I think) because I cannot eat again. I am have the EGD done again this Tuesday - those first few days after it was done - I could eat!!! Now I cannot and feel like crap - nothing stays down unles it is real mush!
   — Surgery 2001