Question:
Is it normal not to be able to think of one food that I will miss post-op?

In the couple of months that I have been researching this, I read about people getting depressed and angry about favorite foods that they will miss after their surgery. Although I certainly love many kinds of foods, I cannot think of a single one that makes me feel that way. The one and only thing I'm worried about losing is not even a food, its my precious morning coffee. And even then I know I'll adapt if necessary. Am I being naive or am I just too early into this whole process to be realistic?    — Donna L. (posted on July 21, 2001)

July 21, 2001
At first it wasnt a big issue, but that changes as your time to surgery grows near. More power to you if it isnt a problem, I wish I were like you.
   — bob-haller

July 21, 2001
Donna, Didn't have any problems missing a certain food, but I was a pot a day coffee drinker before and I worried about not being able to drink coffee after. My surgery (RNY) was 13 weeks ago and for the first 2 months I couldn't drink coffee at all & didn't want it. Now I drink a cup or two a day with no problems at all, even if I add cream. I just finished a large cup from McDonalds a little while ago. Good!!!
   — Randy L.

July 21, 2001
Donna...The closer my surgery date approached, I was eating like I was never gonna eat again....lol. After surgery, the first 6 weeks are kinda rough but you can do it. I don't really crave anything that I cannot have. I am 3 months post-op and I can even have a bit of sugar without getting sick, but I only eat very small amounts of it. I wish you the best. :-)
   — Sandi H.

July 21, 2001
Donna...The closer my surgery date approached, I was eating like I was never gonna eat again....lol. After surgery, the first 6 weeks are kinda rough but you can do it. I don't really crave anything that I cannot have. I am 3 months post-op and I can even have a bit of sugar without getting sick, but I only eat very small amounts of it. I wish you the best. :-)
   — Sandi H.

July 21, 2001
Thanks Donna, you made me smile AND remember my PRE-OP days when I thought I'd be glad to rid myself of the 'evil' foods and quantities of it in my life. Now, at 16 weeks POST-OP, I'm afraid my tune has changed. There is SO much that I'm not able to eat.... things that I took for granted before. A silly hardboiled egg or a bite of baked fish sends me straight to the bathroom to throw up. Did I THINK I'd miss these things, (and MUCH more)? Heck no, but now that they're gone, I miss them like crazy. I am learning to 'enjoy' the foods that I CAN eat.... coco wheats, baked potatoes, soup of every kind, and on a good day some fresh fruit, but those things will NEVER take the place of a filet mignon. Are you being naive? Probably.... but then we all were pre-op. There is NOOOOOO way to really prepare yourself for the life changes that take place after surgery. Those of us on 'THIS SIDE' have just learned to adjust, accept, and embrace each new day and what it brings. I wish you peace and success.
   — Laurie L.

July 21, 2001
I had the exact same experience as the poster Sandi. After about 6 weeks I could eat almost everything - just in much smaller quantities and now the smaller amounts are very satisfying. I am 3 months post-op (down 55 lbs) and went out to a Japanese restaurant for my son's 18th birthday today and ate soup, salad and raw fish with absolutely no problem and I brought plenty home for left overs. I have "sweets" almost everyday but in much lesser quantities than before. I felt the same way you do when I was pre-op. I didnt think there was any food I would miss as long as I was losing weight permanently BUT right after my surgery there were times when I wanted certain foods very badly. Commercials on TV are horrible. I would be sitting there not even hungry and then see a commercial and feel like I had to have that food. I learned to change the channel and that was a great help. It's wonderful that you don't think you will miss foods and that may happen because I found that after surgery my tastes changed but if you do find that you are missing certain foods just remember, eventually you'll probably be able to eat them again but in more manageable quantities and you'll still lose weight. It sounds like you have a wonderful attitude going into your surgery. Best of luck to you. p.s. my surgeon allowed coffee right after surgery but I don't drink it.
   — [Anonymous]

July 21, 2001
I was told this surgical process was easier to deal with if you are not a picky eater. And also not to watch food commercials or read about food post op. Both things worked in my favor. Besides how can one become angry or depressed at the foods that almost killed us and ruined our lives? I think you have a great attitude. Now I can eat almost anything but after a year of practice I still meet the nutritional requirements first. Remember the weight watchers motto"nothing tastes as good as thin" it's true!!Keep repeating that when you have a week spell, it worked for me.
   — Rose A.

July 22, 2001
Donna, I was told before surgery by my surgeon that I would probally "never" be able to eat Beef again because of it swelling in my stomach. That hurt, and hurt bad. My favorite food is Roast Beef with Mashed and gravy. And my favorite snack of all time is Beef Jerky. But I had to soul search hard and find out what was more important to me, my health (normal weight) or eating my favorites I mentioned. I chose the chance at a normal life. Fortunately I do enjoy most foods and figured I would'nt be missing alot. Here I am almost 11 weeks post op, and I can eat anything I like! I am extremly careful though, don't get me wrong. I don't enjoy sugar, but I will have a bite or two (not the whole thing) of a pie, brownie or something sweet. But I do stay away from sugar almost all the time and greatly limit it when I do. I thought I would have a hard time with sweets as that was my weekness. No problem at all with staying away from them! I'm lucky too as tv commericals that use to torment the @#$ out of me don't. I can even watch other people eat when I'm finished eating and it does'nt bother me a bit. I feel so fortunate. There has been one food that I could'nt tolerate, but I tried that about 8 days post op (not wise I know). It was Long John Silver's fish and shrimp. I am going to try it again but this time no dinner, just a baked fish (instead of the regular) and the shrimp (deep fried). I hope I can make this compromise and be able to eat alittle of it. If I can't, well so what. I will tell myself,(lol), I can eat almost everything I want. I can even eat pizza! But I will have to go thin crust from now on. Please don't get the idea I eat all this "junk" all the time. NO! It's rare. But occassionally I will have a treat to convince myself that I don't have to feel bad about losing these foods. That way I know I'm not depriving myself. One thing that bothered me deeply though was the loss of coffee and Orange Juice. I was'nt able to drink coffee until about two days ago. It "finally" tastes good. I have'nt tried the OJ yet, but will soon. I tell you the first 6 weeks NOTHING tasted or SMELLED good. It was a nightmare. But do go into the surgery knowing you will probally lose your favorite foods for all time. Seriously. Because you may. However, if you don't, you will feel so blessed. ;) Good luck to you, but don't count on liking your coffee for awhile. ;) I lived on pop all my life from the time of four. Now I'll have a cup "maybe" week, but could care less about it. And then it's diet with Splenda in to give it a sweet taste and take out half of the fizz. It's water and Fruit 2"0" I like best. But now I'm going to finally go back to my decaff Aldi's brand coffee!! YES! <grinning from ear to ear> :) Ahhhhhh.
   — Danmark

July 22, 2001
Is it normal? I didn't worry or give any thought to foods I might not be able to eat again. Granted, the DS surgery tends to have fewer food restrictions, but I figured I would always be able to eat a few bites of whatever I wanted. Immediately post-op I was sometimes frustrated by the way things tasted (like you, I love coffee, and it just did not taste good until a few months post-op; same with chocolate), or how little of them I could eat, but by 6 months that was pretty much history. - Kate -
   — kateseidel

July 22, 2001
Donna..I can eat anything I want, including my precious double latte with 2 shots suger free carmel every morning...I just can't eat very much of what ever it is I'm eating. kinda of like living life with "sampler eating".
   — Debora H.

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