Question:
Has anyone ever experienced an aversion to food?

I am 5 weeks post op and the thought, sight, smell of food really nauseates me. It's kind of alarming as I don't want to starve, dehydrate or do any real damage to my health. I look at all the food lists of things I'm supposed to eat and everything turns my stomach (what's left of it). And when I enter places where food is cooking, the smell nauseates me. Nothing appeals to me...and I'm just disgusted by food. Anyone out there experience this? I'm sure it's one of the many post op phases, but I'd love to hear from anyone who is experiencing or has experiened this. Thanks! Oh PS: I'm down 35 pounds ... I'm happy about that. Just don't want to get sick in the bargain.    — Wunderama (posted on June 1, 2001)

June 1, 2001
Oh God yes! Here I thought I was the only one! You know what is really weird is that I can not stand coffee or OJ. And I lived on them before. I sure hope it passes for both of us.
   — Danmark

June 1, 2001
I know what you mean, but being around food is a fact of life. Try to desensitize yourself from food. Add variety to your diet if it kills you, and watch other people eat. Food is not a bad thing. Just try to learn to eat it within your limits.
   — Peter S.

June 1, 2001
The same thing happened to me. I thought I would never eat again. I'm 7 weeks post op now and it's getting better but I still have a ways to go. I'm still on a mostly soft diet but food appeals to me again. While you're having trouble eating try to get plenty of liquids in. When I was having trouble eating and drinking I got dehydrated and I felt yucky (weak, tired, etc). Congrats on your weight loss.
   — [Anonymous]

June 1, 2001
My daughter, husband, and I have each had lap RNY surgery and each of us experienced what you describe, so I think that it's a fairly universal experience. The total lack of desire for food and the problem associated with smells lasted for 8-12 weeks for us. We were told ahead of time by our surgeon that this would be the case, and we really concentrated on maintaining adequate fluid intake and getting our protein in. The aversion to food smells was the first thing to go away, and gradually, a general "interest" in food returned which enabled us to begin to add variety to our diets. It has been a wonderful blessing, however, that at 14 months post-op, I now enjoy the tastes of most foods but am never hungry. I still have to look at the clock and remind myself that it's time to eat. My surgeon cautions his RNY patients that the sensation of hunger generally returns between 12 and 18 months post-op, but that most patients have "relearned" normal and healthy eating habits by that time and will successfully be able to handle normal hunger pangs. I think that the aversion to foods that we experience initially is a very helpful (and essential) part of reframing our addiction to foods or compulsive eating behaviors. Don't fret too much about this...it will pass. Just drink plenty of water, maintain your protein intake and be "religious" about your vitamin/calcium supplementation. Food will begin to taste good to you again....it will just not be in control of your life anymore :-) Good luck!
   — Diana T.