Question:
At 6 weeks post-op I'm not throwing up, but am not able to eat really...

I'm hoping there are others out there who have been through this. I don't feel sick necessarily, but feel as though I'm already full and don't want to eat at all. I don't know if this means I'm not digesting food properly or if I'm just adjusting/healing and paranoid.    — Jessica Wyatt Robinson (posted on March 15, 2004)

March 15, 2004
Hi there...Just want to let you know I also went through this. I ate so little I started to think I was starving myself. Your body is healing and you need to be gentle to your new tummy. Just remember when you are full..STOP...As the weeks and months go by it gets better and better. Best of luck to you. Sarah start weight 304 now weigh 120.23 2 years out next month.
   — sarah C.

March 15, 2004
Jessica, I know how you feel though I am 10 months post-op I remember those first months vividly. I never was sick, I just didn't feel like eating. My body wasn't sending out the "I'm hungry" signal. In fact becuase I didn't feel hungry I had to remind myself to eat in order to get all my protein in. Personally I found that eating in those first few months to be a lot of work and not very enjoyable (like it was pre-op). Just make sure to get your protein and water in. Focus on these two important aspects of the recovery. Remember that some days you will be able to eat more than other days. This is something that will be ongoing. In fact at 10 months out I couldn't finish a cup of yogurt today becuase I was full, yet it wasn't a problem yesterday. Just give yourself time to heal. Janine
   — jmusser

March 15, 2004
Jessica, I posted almost the same question a week ago. I am 7 weeks out tomorrow and I feel the same way. It seems my taste buds aren't working. I have no desire to eat and nothing seems to taste right. I am having a hard time getting my water and protein in and have been lacking energy which probably is because of this. Everyone tells me it will get better and your taste buds will come alive and we should be happy for this period as it is the best time to lose weight fast. I have lost about 43 lbs. so I am happy about that. Hopefully the both of us will feel like eating again someday.
   — Carlene B.

March 16, 2004
I think most of us went through a period in which we had no desire to eat, did not feel hungry, and the smell and taste of food was not the same. As weird as this sounds, enjoy the time when you have no appetite and HAVE to make yourself eat. If you are like most of us, this will not last forever and when it does end you will wish it had lasted longer!
   — Kristen S.

March 16, 2004
Felt the same way Jessica but as everyone posted it will change gradually. Eating has a new definition, and you must eat to live now. Breakfast may mean 1/2 teaspoon of egg salad or applesauce or a few bites of soft cereal. We Americans think a meal is a covered plate, but that is not true. I am 3 months Post-Op and my lunch is 1-2 slices of cheese, or turkey - followed later 1-2 hours by 1/2 orange. Sometimes my brain takes over and tries for more but my stomach pushes it back up, which means I've over eaten. Dinner is a few leaves of salad and if I have the space a small piece of meat - sometimes less than 2 oz. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY
   — Anna M.

March 17, 2004
at this stage of the game, you wouldn't really be throwing up even if you have, or are begining to have, a stoma blockage; you would merely be feeling very full for very long periods of time. At a recent support group meeting, our surgeon explained that IF you were having problems relating to scar tissue build up at the stoma you would notice it between the 5th and 11th weeks following surgery. This is a potentialy serious problem and if it persists, you should contact your surgeons office for an appointment. There are test that can be done if the surgeon feels it is necessary. But take my owrd for it, there is a difference between not wanting to eat and not being able to eat! Be careful and be your own advocate here. Don't dismiss this if it contnues or becomes worse. Let me know if I can help.
   — nancy V.

March 17, 2004
I am just getting over that feeling - I am 11 weeks post-op and was haveing a VERY difficult time eating, keeping things down, beign very nauseas at the site and taste of food. I would drink water and get sick to my stomach. Protein drinks - oh no thanks!! My doc had me take an upper GI to rule out a stricture or bowel obstruction. That was done a week ago. The test showed no stricture (thankfully) but it was about 2 weeks since i had any real food or protein in me so i began to get VERY weak and tired. Basically - to make a short story long - the doc gave me anti-nausea meds to take so that i could tolerate eating. Helps ALOT!!!! my strength is finally back!! So although you feel sick, you have to do what you can to make yourself eat... I know it is hard, but as hard as that is, you dont want to wind up back in the hospital from dehydration!! try drinkable yogurt - dannon makes a yogurt smoothy and yoplait makes a light version of their drinkable yogurts - its a good way to be able to take your time and get some nutrients in and protein. Also, try broths made from chicken and beef, etc. that helped ease the sick feeling as well. Hope this helps!! Jan - 11 weeks post-op (start 295) now 237
   — Jan P.