Question:
Could anyone give me some advice?

I am 5 weeks post op, down 35 pounds. I do not want to eat! My weight loss has slowed, and I know it is because I am not eating enough. I have tried adding healthy food, but the problem just gets worse. For the past few days, I have not wanted food or liquids. I take about 15 medications daily, and I had just as soon be beaten as to try to take them..today I took nothing except my sublinguql B-12 and my multivitamin. I did eat a piece of beef, also. I have drank about 1 cup of decaf coffee. I can't even stand the thought of drinking water, I don't want my protein shakes (I don't mind the taste of them, I just DO NOT WANT anything.) I have started feeling--well, I guess tired, and general malaise--and I don't want to get out. I know these are due to the low intake, but I'm at a loss of what to do about it. My 2 week labs were all fantastic. HELP PLEASE!    — Linda S. (posted on July 16, 2003)

July 15, 2003
Make yourself drink. Try Crystal Light, SF Country Time, SF Tang or something - it doesn't have to be water but if you don't drink you will be in the hospital very quickly. I was ill for a few days and didn't drink or eat and I spent three days in the hospital becaue of it. And I was a lot further post-op than you. You don't have to eat a lot at one time, but try to eat something or drink part of a shake. You have to be mature here and get your nutrients or you will be very ill. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but this is a serious situation. Back your ears, grit your teeth and drink and eat. If you experience nausea, call your surgeon. This MIGHT be post-op depression and if it is, that can be dealt with too.
   — Patty_Butler

July 15, 2003
Hi Linda- I felt the same way for at least two months after my surgery, and still rarely have an appetite (except during PMS!). Unfortunately, there is no magic solution that I'm aware of. You just have to force yourself to do the best you can. Don't think beyond the next meal...just do your best to either eat a bit of something or to drink a little protein shake. If you don't eat, you'll get tired and ambivalent, which leads to more not-eating, and so on...you need to break this cycle. Remember how you felt before your surgery and the commitment you made at that time...you're not going to be healthy if you're skinny but malnourished. The good news is that each day it will probably get a bit easier to consume something...you may not want to eat for quite some time, but you'll get better at forcing yourself. It's a weird feeling not to want to eat, and I think so many of us have the impulse to go with that since it would have been such an anomaly before the surgery, and such a (temporary) help with our many, many diets. But the rules are different now! Best of luck to you- (lap RNY 23-Jan-2003 246/173)
   — gamboge

July 15, 2003
Many of the symptoms you described at the end of your post are consistent with dehydration. i have been dehydrated several times in the past, and what you described was what happened to me to a "T." Please force yourself to drink at the very least, and get some much needed liquid into your body. once your cells begin to get enough water, the desire to eat (and drink) may return. If drinking doesn't work (and i mean TODAY!), call your doctor (and i mean TODAY!). Good luck, and hope everything turns out for you!
   — sweetmana

July 15, 2003
I have days like that also. I am 6 months post-op. There will be days you think you absolutely can't stand the smell of protein or the thought of one more ounce of water. Try something different. I like s/f popsciles as a change. Once you start one, you have to finish it. You will not get better until you drink and eat something. Call your doctor immediately. You are not the only one who has been through this I am sure. He may have some suggestions or may reccommend future testing. It is hard to come out of this, but you have to get your protein and water in to feel good. For me a break in the regular routine helps.
   — june22

July 16, 2003
I was like that for a while and you just have to turn off your feelings of "I don't want to" and get in a routine and "just do it". Good nutrition is absolutely essential to building energy, internal healing and long-term habits. Sounds like you're dehydrated and are not getting in enough protein. Get going and JUST DO IT!
   — Cathy S.

July 16, 2003
Linda- When I hit those rough patches early on (and I still do sometimes), I forced myself to drink clear protein drinks (my choice is Isopure Zero Carb from GNC). That way, I get hydrated and protein at the same time. I felt at times like I had lost my best friend (which was food) and was in mourning (so I didn't feel like eating). Other times, I knew that I couldn't eat anything really flavorful and was so terrified of making a bad choice that I just opted to not eat anything at all (sort of like an addict just going cold turkey). The feelings do pass. What complicates it early on is that as you kick into ketosis, the ketones are in your saliva and alter your tastebuds making many foods seem totally unpalatable. It passes-- unfortunately, you need to overcome a pretty high hurdle during these rough patches and force yourself to drink and have some protein. It is very tough-- but all of us who have been in the same boat want you to succeed and will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
   — SteveColarossi

July 17, 2003
Okay, so you've heard about how this is 'normal'. I was in the same boat...sinking. It was as clear as mud as to what I should do about it. It's true there is nothing that can be done if you don't do it for yourself. And the only thing you can do is to force yourself to eat and drink. I absolutely hated the thought of putting anything in my mouth, but I forced myself to do it. Yes, even now there are times when I think about the last time I ate and it is TOO long ago. I have to think of something I can eat that will get me back on track. If I wait too long between meals I get very bad pain when I do finally eat. Of course, that makes me look forward to eating all that much more (NOT). Eating and drinking are something I work at each & every day. Am I ever perfect? No...but I don't give up. Occasionally I find myself grazing and I know that others will say that's a definite no-no, but it's the only way I can get what I need to get in. It does get better as time goes by, but there are always going to be days when it seems impossible to do what needs to be done. That part of life is no different than pre-op. Best wishes!
   — Diane S.

July 17, 2003
Linda, Some people go through a post-op psychosis due to the anesthesia. This will eventually clear up, but you do have to take care of you! Make yourself drink so you won't get dehydrated, eat at approximently the same times each day, and remember that you are a good person and loved. Best of luck to you and God Bless You Bob
   — Bob M.