Question:
Help!

I am having a really hard time getting enough calories in. I am 9-1/2 weeks postop, and food is not appealing at all. On a good day I can get 500 calories in but most days it ranges between 300 and 400. I drink a half a Real Meal in the morning and mix the other half up at night for a total of 60 grams of protein, plus I follow the protein first rule when eating. I was able to eat eggs early on but cannot tolerate them now. I am finding that many things that went down well early postop do not sit well now or I am just sick of them, like string cheese. I lived off eggs, yogurt, string cheese, and chicken and now with the exception of the string cheese I am having a hard time keeping these things down. Some days I am so nauseated I can only manage saltine crackers, and just a few at a time. I am able to get my water in on most days. I do not drink sodas or caffeine, only water and protein drinks. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I really would just live off my protein drinks and water if I could as I do not enjoy eating! Of course this is a plus, but I do want to be able to eat enough to survive. I had my labs checked a week ago, and all were normal.    — DebT (posted on September 4, 2003)

September 4, 2003
Bless your heart, but it does get better. Have you tried varying the way you cook eggs? Have you tried seafood? Broiled Fish? Shrimp? Crab? I lived on crab for a while when I got sick of eggs. Have you tried cottage cheese with some spices on it? How about varying from string cheese and trying some different flavors? I never could do yogurt. Sounds like you're getting adequate protein if you do half a Real Meal in the morning and evening. How about warm cereals, macaroni and cheese, blenderized soups (Healthy Choice Chicken Noodle was my fav with some black pepper) egg salad. Have you talked to your surgeon about your nausea? Zantac and Benedryl before bed saved me at that stage. I had problems with nasal drainage and between the Zantac and Benedryl, it cleared it up where things could digest. Food didn't get really appealing for me again until I was about 4 mos. out. Hang in there!
   — Cathy S.

September 4, 2003
I'm still preop so what I'm going to add is based on what a friend told me when he was about 3 weeks post op but I think it could help at any time. He used tuna helper and at 3 weeks blended it pretty good before eating. I know we are suppose to watch our carbs and these are usually pretty high in carbs, but if you double or triple (or more) the tuna I would think it would be okay. But, like I said I'm preop and really don't know yet.
   — ssundlee

September 4, 2003
Talk to your doctor. He should be able to give you something to help the nausea. I had trouble with it too until about 12 weeks I think. If you still have trouble keeping things down, maybe you have a stricture. Have you been checked?
   — mom2jtx3

September 4, 2003
You sound exactly like me at that stage. I'm nearly 4 months post op and just now getting to the point where everything doesn't make me want to gag. Sometimes it still does. I think it will pass, but really, I'm enjoying this no appetite stuff. I don't mind drinking a protien shake if nothing else appeals to me, at least I'm getting nutrition that I need. However, you will find that your body will push for more calories the further out you go. I am getting between 750-900 calories a day at this point.
   — Happy I.

September 4, 2003
Hi! Go to my second profile for great food ideas... and ways of getting more real food in... at 18 months post-op I was only getting in 600 calories per day... so, you aren't too far off from what I was doing (I'm pregnant now, or I'd still be doing 600-900 calories per day to lose my last 20 lbs!!). Puddings, mashed potatoes, chili... lots of things to try! Email me after you read the diet section of my profile if I can be of further help, okay! :~) Hugs
   — Sharon m. B.

September 5, 2003
I hate to say this but....DON'T WORRY so much. I think we all tend to worry about just about everything early on. I, personally, was only getting in 2-400 calories a day until about 12 weeks out and only hit 5-600 by six months and have done great, and have had good labs. At first I was worried that the amount I was eating couldn't possibly be enough, but I soon figured out that a girl can only get so much down in a day and unless there were problems that I would just stick with my protien shakes and protien first rule and take things a day at a time. At seven months out, there are still days when I only eat once or twice and others when I eat 4 or 5 times. I figured I had this surgery to be healthy and from what I can tell healthy (and thin) people listen to their body and give it what it needs each day...and so will I. Hope tht helps. Good luck with your weight loss. rny 1/31 - 274/166/145
   — eaamc

September 5, 2003
Folks who want to put on weight (yes, they exist) go for high-calorie food, like peanut butter, cream cheese and avocados. All nutritious, very high caloric intake for a small amount eaten. Good luck!
   — Deborah M.