Question:
Can't eat ANYTHING without feeling sick

I had surgery 6/13/03, it's been 4 weeks tomorrow. I have lost 34 pounds but I haven't found anything I can eat w/out feeling sick. I am getting NO protein but my milk. The protein drinks make me feel sick for 3 hours after trying to get them down. The only thing I can eat are suger-free bakery cookies, they go down easy, no feeling sick. Sugar doesn't even not make me sick. It should but it doesn't. Has anyone else experienced this? HELP! Please email me at [email protected]    — MJ G. (posted on July 11, 2003)

July 10, 2003
I had surgery on 3/18/03 and in the beginning everything made me naseous. I lived on sugar free popsicles and it helped to take the feeling away. But it does get better. Stay away from sugar free cookies and concentrate on protein. Develope your good eating habits now. Good luck
   — Stacey F.

July 10, 2003
I can relate to this!! I had my surgery on 4/11/03 and I went thru the same thing! It has gotten better but there is still alot of things I avoid now because of the sick feeling I get afterwards. I have lost 75 pounds in less than 3 months and I am feeling great! My blood pressure is 100% under control WITHOUT anymore medication!! My job has gotten easier to run around all night and not have my legs swollen and throbbing in the morning!
   — Theresa M.

July 10, 2003
Make sure you don't have a stricture. You might need an endoscopy procedure to be dilated. I would get it checked out. Best of Luck!
   — ZZ S.

July 10, 2003
MJ- I had an easy first couple of weeks post-op, then hit a rough patch with naseausness. Given your rapid weight loss, you are in ketosis; as a result, you have ketones in your saliva and these makes most stuff taste lousy. Unfortunately, it's a process of trial and error to find the stuff that will taste good. If you can handle skim milk, you might want to try some no sugar added Carnation Instant Breakfast; I used that every other day during my rough time. Also, I kept experimenting with the protein drinks-- Isopure (from GNC) was good for a while, but then started to taste poor (but, I am back to enjoying it again). Also, I used Boost (in the tropical fruit flavor) to help me get enough calories and protein. You just need to balance the use of Boost and CIB b/c they are high in carbs. Lastly, I found that if I pureed chili and nuked it with a little cheese, I could have something warm that was loaded with protein. You also might want to check into whether you have allergies; whenever I have gotten a head cold, the mucus that's created fills my pouch and induces lots of nauseausness (sorry to be gross, but lots of post-nasal drip into a tiny pouch will have that effect). Good luck--- many of us have gone through the same trying time that you are now enduring. It sounds trite, but it does get better-- and the results (and improved health!) really do make it all worthwhile.
   — SteveColarossi

July 10, 2003
I had surgery on 4/28/03 and a relapses on 5/31/03 which causes me to have to start over with my eating. Everything causes me to feel the same way (sick. HOwever, I've notice that in the last two week I have been able to eat serveral things and not get that sick feeling. I currently working on getting all by protein for the day. In time the sick feeling will pass. Good Luck
   — Peggy H.

July 11, 2003
Hi MJ, I felt that way at first too, I was told by my doc that around the 3-4 week period you go thru the nasuea stage, and some people have it bad, so he prescribed nasuea medicine for all his patients to take to help out when you ate, so you might want ot call your doc if you already don't have some, cuz it does help. But, if you are throwing up though alot, then you might have a stricture or acid build up in your throat which that is what I had also and had to have a endoscope done, which is a painless procedure, and then my doc put me on nexium and that has helped out alot! So def call your doc and good luck to you!
   — Melodee S.

July 12, 2003
I am 10 months post op as of today and I am down about 90 pounds. My advice to you is to make sure you are in control of your portions. I was one of the patients that had to be put on medication for the upset feeling everytime I ate. But I am also the type of person that doesn;t like to be on medication, so I decided to make my portions even smaller than what they should be and the nausea stopped. Even now I notice I do get a bit upset if I eat even just a bite too much. BUT!!! there is a light at the end...it does get better and everything works itself out. It is a process of learning what the signals are for your body! Not everyone is the same listen to your body and change your ways...take notes on what hits you the wrong way and what time of the day it occurs you'd be amazed all the things we do with out realizing it! GOOD LUCK!!!!!
   — Margie M.

July 13, 2003
Could it be the milk? Alot of people become lactose intolerant after the surgery and also the sugar in the milk can be making you dump. Dumping can last for hours, so by the time you get over it, you are drinking it again. Try a protein drink made with water. The milk will also slow your loss down from the sugar in it.
   — Michelle A.