Eating is so hard!

[shelleigirl 7]

I am 3 days post op and I am really struggling to eat. I am allowed to have stage 2 full liquid, like yogurt, pudding, Protein Shakes and applesauce. I am lucky if I can get an ounce of food down. I dread having to eat. How long will this last? Will I ever want to eat? Drinking is super hard too. Help!

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[AC3 51]

I had my surgery 12/12 and I'm not really hungry. When I am, I eat a little like two half spoons and I'm full. I need to get more fluids in.

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[suzzzzz 1,005]

You have a lot of swelling right now. As that begins to decrease, it becomes easier to drink and eat. And, yes, you will get the desire to eat back. It is just different than before.

[MissMegan91 8]

Try ice on your incisions to decrease you're swelling should help

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[mherrera 7]

I wondered the same thing early on. It definitely gets easier. I was sleeved on Oct 13. I felt like I had improvements with how things felt in my tummy between weeks 3-4 and 6-7. From week 3 to 4, I noticed that soft foods, like yogurt, didn't feel so yucky. From week 6 to 7, Water suddenly tasted refreshing to drink (prior to that, Water made me feel like gagging). ...hang in there.

[theantichick 2,204]

It definitely gets easier, and your appetite will definitely come back. I'm about 4 months out at this point, and it varies from day to day. I'll have several days in a row where I have to have reminders to eat, but then I have no problems actually eating. Then I'll have a day or two where I'm constantly hungry. It's a cycle, really. But by about week 3 I could eat about 1/4 cup of food with no issues. Now I can eat 1/2 cup of most things with no problems, and sometimes it creeps toward a cup if it's not too dense.

[shelleigirl 7]

You have a lot of swelling right now. As that begins to decrease, it becomes easier to drink and eat. And, yes, you will get the desire to eat back. It is just different than before.

Thanks...I'm just afraid I'm not getting enough of anything in! I've had like 6oz of Water with Protein and 50 calories worth of food today! I hope it's gets easier.

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[BigViffer 3,545]

Thanks...I'm just afraid I'm not getting enough of anything in! I've had like 6oz of Water with Protein and 50 calories worth of food today!

Woah, that is really bad. No matter how little thirst you have, you must force yourself to drink. Dehydration is no laughing matter and can put you in the hospital. And when they have to give you a bad of IV fluids, they'll have to dig for a vein with that big needle since you will be dehydrated.

Sip, sip, sip!

[theantichick 2,204]

What @@BigViffer Said!!

Popsicles, Jello (if ok'd by your surgeon, of course), ice chips... anything you can do to get fluids in, DO IT. Fluids are more important even than Protein right now, and calories flat out don't matter at this point. You have to stay hydrated or you'll end up in the ER with someone fishing for a vein for an IV. (Which is super hard when you're dehydrated, take it from a former ER nurse!)

[_Kate_ 2,224]

Sip, sip, sip, constantly....... and Protein drinks if you can. That way you get Protein and fluids in at the same time.

Kate

[shelleigirl 7]

What @@BigViffer Said!!

Popsicles, Jello (if ok'd by your surgeon, of course), ice chips... anything you can do to get fluids in, DO IT. Fluids are more important even than Protein right now, and calories flat out don't matter at this point. You have to stay hydrated or you'll end up in the ER with someone fishing for a vein for an IV. (Which is super hard when you're dehydrated, take it from a former ER nurse!)

Oh I know! That's what I'm afraid of! I'm a hard stick anyway! Throw in dehydration and I'm screwed! I'm just focusing on Water with Protein and sugar free popsicles at the moment. Figure that is the most important!

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[theantichick 2,204]

I even found some ziploc tubes on Amazon and froze Syntrax nectar Protein drinks (I like roadside lemoade) so they were ice pop style, and sucked on those the first couple of weeks post-op to try and increase both fluids and Protein. The ice pops were easier to get down than liquid Water at that point. It seemed like I was sipping non-stop through the day and only getting a few ounces in, but little by little I was able to get more and more down and it got better. Just hang in there and keep at it!!

[MsShortyDee 160]

I had my surgery on December 2. I can only maybe a tablespoon of food. If it's meat I'm more full. My stomach starts making a bubbling noise or I burp. Popcicles are my best friend. Purée sucks. Right now Protein Shakes are not my friend. It's getting better

MsShortyDee

Edited December 16, 2016 by MsShortyDee

[MsShortyDee 160]

Oh man! Now I am starting to feel the weekness because I can't eat enough. Thank GOD for my sisters!! They are always so loving and encouraging. Thanks Tee and Cookie!!

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[erp 2,016]

I am 3 days post op and I am really struggling to eat. I am allowed to have stage 2 full liquid, like yogurt, pudding, Protein shakes and applesauce. I am lucky if I can get an ounce of food down. I dread having to eat. How long will this last? Will I ever want to eat? Drinking is super hard too. Help!

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If your body is telling you full liquids is too much then back off of them. I was still on Clear Liquids for the first week.