Appetite - ThinnerTimes

mfergusont · 07-11-2005, 01:58 PM

I am having a hard time with food. Now that I am on soft foods, I have a large list of foods to choose from. But nothing sounds good, nothing tastes all that great either. When does a person's appetite come back? When do you actually start to feel a little bit hungry after surgery?
I just don't even feel like eating. I am also coming down with a cold, and yesterday all I did was drink clear liquids and eat some beans and shrimp. But its lunchtime right now and I don't want to eat. I just want to drink water.

Peckkale · 07-11-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfergusont

I am having a hard time with food. Now that I am on soft foods, I have a large list of foods to choose from. But nothing sounds good, nothing tastes all that great either. When does a person's appetite come back? When do you actually start to feel a little bit hungry after surgery?
I just don't even feel like eating. I am also coming down with a cold, and yesterday all I did was drink clear liquids and eat some beans and shrimp. But its lunchtime right now and I don't want to eat. I just want to drink water.

Well no wonder you're losing faster than I am...You've no appetite!

Now mine never stopped. I told the nurses in recovery to bring me a cheeze burger. Once in my room I told my daughter to sneak out and bring me back a steak!

I am hungry but it's different. Let's see if I can explain it....Before surgery my hunger sat higher in the abdomen and the growl for food was located in the stomach.

Now the hunger sits lower...Around my bellybutton...It's the same hungry feeling as before but lower and so is the growling.

The difference before and after is now I can satisfy it with a spoonfull of peanut butter.

And what are you doing eating shrimp?? That's a "no-no" on my list of soft foods.

I hope your cold gets better soon.

mfergusont · 07-11-2005, 02:52 PM

Thanks, Peckkale. I hope my cold gets better too.
My list of soft foods says shrimp, it even gives instructions on eating it, which is to brush with olive oil, spinkle seasoning on and grill on george foreman. It was kinda hard to chew up really well though, so I don't think I will have it again.
I do sometimes have cravings, sometimes it is for pizza, and other times it is for salad and fresh fruit. But that was in the beggining. Now, I don't have any cravings but for water. I know I am only hurting myself by not getting enough calories and protein in. Last week I was averaging anywhere from 90-240 calories/day. I know that is bad, bad, bad, horrible! I am up to 460 or so now, but I have to force everything.
How funny you actually asked the nurse for a cheeseburger!!! What did he/she say?

Peckkale · 07-11-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfergusont

Thanks, Peckkale. I hope my cold gets better too.
My list of soft foods says shrimp, it even gives instructions on eating it, which is to brush with olive oil, spinkle seasoning on and grill on george foreman. It was kinda hard to chew up really well though, so I don't think I will have it again.
I do sometimes have cravings, sometimes it is for pizza, and other times it is for salad and fresh fruit. But that was in the beggining. Now, I don't have any cravings but for water. I know I am only hurting myself by not getting enough calories and protein in. Last week I was averaging anywhere from 90-240 calories/day. I know that is bad, bad, bad, horrible! I am up to 460 or so now, but I have to force everything.
How funny you actually asked the nurse for a cheeseburger!!! What did he/she say?

Oh my word....My Doctor said if I can't squish it with my fingers it's not soft and don't eat it.

I guess the nurses thought I was nuts. I came out of recovery sleeping on my side. The nurses told my husband and daughter they have never seen a wls patient sleep on their side. I had no pain in my abdomen. What I had was horrible cramping in my back and gas.

Sweetie you need to get calories in or your metabolism will compensate. I've had 50 yrs to train mine..Years of eating one small meal a day trainned my body to be very efficent with calories....When I did eat my body hoarded every thing. I ballooned up 50 lbs on a 1275 cal diet. Don't make the same mistakes we made as fat women.

LizardQueen · 07-11-2005, 05:37 PM

It will come back soon. Just try to eat a little something 3 times a day. I only crave veggies and cheese and occasionally steak. You need to get (according to my doc) 800 cals a day. Give it another week or so and things will start to sound more appetizing. Push some protein!

LadyGigi · 07-11-2005, 05:48 PM

Tiffany,
You might try the little bay shrimp instead of the big ones. They were on my soft food list and I didn't have any problems. In fact that's what I'm having for dinner tonite.

_______
Cindy
298/278surgery day/249.5
June 14, 05 OPEN w/ Dr. Callery

angieJ · 07-11-2005, 08:27 PM

I've wondered the same thing. I still have no appetite (2 months post op tomorrow). I try to eat 3 meals a day and sometimes a small snack (usually if I am going to aerobics on my lunch break) but often feel full after a bite or two depending on what I am eating and have to stop. I do drink a lot of fluids because I worry about dehydration out here in the desert. It was 105 when I left work at 5 p.m. today.

With the protein shake and foods, I am getting about 600 calories a day now with 80 grams of protein as the priority. I rarely feel up to any veggies after eating the meat.

It feels very wierd to eat because I need to instead of eating because I want to. After 30 years of eating for any number of reasons, this is the first time I'm doing it for the one correct reason. Hopefully when the hunger comes back, we'll be re-trained to eat for energy and be able to aviod the other eating pitfalls.

daffyduck67 · 07-12-2005, 09:07 AM

Tiffany,
If you are having trouble eating, and only crave water, drink protein shakes. The one I use is Isopure, found at GNC. It has 50g of protein in a 12-16 oz serving (12 oz water + 2 scoops powder = about 16 oz shake). It may not have a lot of calories, but at least you will get the protein in that you need. Is it food in general that doesn't appeal or just meat? If it is just meat, try veggie proteins. You can find them just about anywhere.....Morningstar Farms, Boca Burgers, Gardenburgers. Also, try tofu. Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it with....So, if you want it to taste like chicken, soak it about 30 minutes (maybe longer if you want it REALLY "chickeny") in chicken broth/ bouillon. Also, if you aren't doing it already, try soymilk. Lots of protein, no lactose :-)