Question:
Any new post-ops having to force feed?

I am three weeks and one day out of surgery and am having problems eating. Unlike some of the other posts, I am having difficulty consuming food. I feel no hunger, and am somewhat "afraid" of food. I have only lost one pound in six days. Has anyone else experienced this, and will it go away?    — medwards62 (posted on July 29, 2009)

July 29, 2009
I am three weeks and two days post op. Also have to force myself to eat in the interest of hoping it will increase my energy which is very very low. I am also afraid of eating because I had a bad case of gas for a couple of days, plus I have no appetite. Sometimes the smell of food makes me feel sick.
   — browngathers

July 29, 2009
I am 5 years out. My surgeon told me I have to eat for this surgery to work. SO being only 3 weeks out you are just getting on solid foods, Try everything. But try protein first from food. Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Peanut Butter (lick it off the spoon if you have too) Cheese, meat, etc. Don't do protein shakes. They are the cause of gaining your weight back later on. You can't fail, this is not like a diet. Keep trying everything until you find something you can keep down.Good Luck
   — Kimberly Ten Kate

July 30, 2009
My doctor had me on liquids & thick liquids still for about 2 months. So perhaps that is what you should be doing. If you aren't hungery you really will find it super hard to eat. It is even hard to get the liquids in but stay up on the liquids, sip, sip, sip, about every three hours. The main concern right now is to heal your pouch. You will proceed with "Nutrition" later. Just try to get your protein in you won't get it all this soon in the game. But let your pouch heal. It is still very swollen and not ready for real food, to be honest with you. I think that is why a lot people have problems later down the road with their surgery because the doctor didn't allow adequate time for the pouch to heal. Don't be in a hurry to eat food, I know you aren't hungry. I wasn't either for about 3 months. Once the nerves in your pouch grow back, you will notice a little more hunger each day as you heal. So, drink often and slow. You really need to baby your pouch. If you use a minute timer and set it for every 5 minutes to remind you to sip, that makes it a whole lot easier. Let me know if I can help you further. I have had no problems with my pouch other than not chewing my food enough. I am 3.5 yrs post op with RNY and lost 90 lbs. So that could be why you have only lost 1 pound in 6 days, is the food intake. If you follow these tips, you will do great.
   — Kristy

August 1, 2009
I am only 10 days out and just moved to pureed foods... I am not hungry at all... I schedule my "feedings"... basically we have to eat .... we have to get in enough protein (which is currently my problem only getting in 30 grams a day). I went to my post op appt yesterday and was told that I wouldn't be hungry.... to basically set an alarm when it is time for me to eat... eat what I can and write it down... and not allowed to go to bed till I get in my protein... it is very difficult for me.... but I am trying...
   — wendy-s

August 1, 2009
At GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe they sell these protein liquid bullets that have anywhere from 24 to 45 grams of protein in 2.5 th 3 ounce vials. They taste gross but if you can manage to keep it down(the taste doesn't really last that long) it will help you get in your protein intake so then you can focus on your water intake. I am 2 weeks out and I know if for somereason if I don't feel like eating(which is still very strange to me), I can have one or part of one of these and I will be ok. Good luck to you.Happy losing, Jackie E.
   — fangsmommy

August 2, 2009
It is amazing when you don't ever feel hungery. They tell me this will end but at a year it is still true for me. I eat what I know I need to. The problem later becomes wanting to eat just because since I am not really hungery. The good thing has been just a little of a food I crave is enough.
   — trible