Question:
I am 3 weeks post op RNY open and have virtually no appetite.

I ate one half of a scrambled egg and a cup of V8 today, that was it except for water and liquids. I really can only eat about 2 tablespoons at any given time. Does this seem normal?    — donnalawbabe (posted on February 10, 2002)

February 10, 2002
happy new birthday donna! i am almost 8 weeks post op & it wasnt until about 3 weeks ago, when i was 5 weeks post op, that i was able to eat more than 1 ounce. & sometimes less, depending on what i was eating. ur new tummy is swollen & that makes it smaller than it will be after u r healed. i think u r doing fine.
   — sheryl titone

February 10, 2002
Your normal. At around the same time for me post op Jen was in the hospital with breathing problems. I didnt eat a thing except for water for over 2 days. Finally ate out of worry I would make my self ill. Unfortunately my appetite has returned, but atr over 6 months I have lost 117 pounds.
   — bob-haller

February 10, 2002
Hi ! This is totally normal! Your appetite will return. Be sure to eat your protein first, especially since you are only able to eat small amounts. I know when my appetite did return at about the 6 month mark, I was not prepared ! Now I have to work hard to make responsible food choices. Best of luck.
   — lovebug2

February 10, 2002
This too shall pass. It was probably a month before I started to get a little hungry and maybe two months before I really had a craving for food. It will come.
   — DeeDubbs

February 10, 2002
You are normal! Your brain can't comprehend that you aren't eating anymore than you are and you aren't even hungry. Your new tummy needs time to heal anyway right now. Get your liquids in and you will be fine. I am continually amazed at what my surgery has changed about my life in only 9 wks. (open SRVG, a form of VBG) I have 38.5 pounds off and 40.5 inches gone as of this past Sat. (Feb. 9th) I had to ask my husband to put the scales out in the storeroom because I was getting on them everytime I went into the bathroom, shoot,..if I could have figured out a way to sleep on them I would have!!!! LOL!! I no longer focus on food,..what's the saying? "I eat to live not live to eat." That is true! Sometimes I have to remind myself that I need to eat other times I really am hungry. But I don't obsess with it anymore. This is a healing and learning time for you and your body. Congrats for having the courage to have WLS, I think we WLS patients are the most courageous people in the world!!!
   — esthjb

February 11, 2002
You sound normal to me! I am 7 1/2 months post-op open RNY and I still have not had my appetite return. I eat because I know I need to and sometimes maybe because I want to, but maybe I am the one that is not "normal" as I still do not feel hunger. I know from what I read that it will return, but I am glad that it hasn't yet. Good luck to you!
   — Molly S.