Question:
I need help... eating and tips on protein, 1 month POst Op...

I cant stand to eat anything! It absolutely makes me ill. I force myself to take my vitamins am and pm and force mysely to eat something atleast 3 times a day. I understand that this nausea will go away after the first 2 months or so, but for now, what should I do? Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.    — Karen W. (posted on January 8, 2003)

January 7, 2003
Have you spoken with your surgeon? I would suspect that you have nothing to worry about - I didn't go through any nausea early so I can't say I know what you are going through. But I know a lot of people in my online groups have and it does get better. I was concerned about protein early out but my surgeon said not to worry about it then - to drink as much as I could and to take my vitamins and calcium. I am now 13 months post-op, have lost 160 pounds and am very healthy. However, if you are really concerned, talk with your doctor.
   — Patty_Butler

January 7, 2003
I didn't have any problems with nausea, but maybe your vitamins are adding to the problem, especially on an empty, or nearly empty, stomach. What kinds of foods are you trying to eat? I was on pureed foods for the first month or so. I would start the day with oatmeal made with Lactaid milk. Then, mid-morning, have 1/2 water and 1/2 cran-raspberry juice to sip on.(4 oz) Lunch was 2 oz of pureed cottage cheese and 2 oz of pureed chicken breast (and I used Soup At Hand cream of chicken to make it a smoother consistancy.) Afternoon was 4 oz of unsweetened applesauce. Later on, 2 oz of pureed turkey and 2 oz of mashed potatoes. Before bed was a couple of ounces of low fat, low sugar yogurt. Other things I liked and could tolerate: grits, cream of wheat, pureed canned peaches, V-8 juice, protein shakes made with Lactaid milk. I hope some of these things might work for you. Try to eat something before you take your vitamins. I only take mine at night because I usually have something in the old pouch to "cushion the blow" so to speak. Good luck, and you are right - it will pass. If you are not getting plenty of liquids in, do let your surgeon know right away. You don't want to become dehydrated.
   — koogy

January 7, 2003
Hi, Karen. I am 2 months out (65 lbs down) and still don't enjoy the taste of most foods. I am on general diet, but I started out the clear liquids to full liquids to pureed to soft and finally general. I hear it can take a while to be able to enjoy eating. Can you believe?!! I don't get nauseated, but I do feel, after taking one bite of some things, repulsed. Kind of like when you throw up and think of the last thing you ate. Ewwwww Hang in there...all things pass. So I hear. :)
   — Ginger M.

January 7, 2003
Hey, Don't worry about it, you are too early, just get food you can eat for energy, although beans and rice right now are a good source of protein and can be soft. Nothing tasted good to me at this stage and lots of things "hurt" and were hard to keep down. I kept going back to soups and other soft foods or liquids. I am 4 months out now and can get all my protein in and use a protein shake as well. I like Real Meals but it MUST be cold! I blend with banana, ice, yogurt and milk. Has 30 grams of protein per shake. Hope this helps.
   — Kristy J.

January 8, 2003
I also had nausea for a few weeks after my surgery. My surgeon prescribed Compazine (an anti-nausea drug), which helped when I could swallow it (It's a small pill, but at that stage everything was hard for me to swallow). Ask yours to prescribe it in suppository form.
   — Arlene S.

January 9, 2003
Don't worry about eating. Get your vitamins in and find some protien supplements that you can handle. Your local gym will have single servings of things, and there are some protien supplements now that are more like fruit juice or snapple. You don't have to drink those ones that taste like a bad cake mix. As long as you are getting your vites, your protien, and enough water, you can wait for your appetite to return on its own. Good luck!
   — Cara F.