Not sure how to cope with this new issue

[cin1aka]

Hello all. Like most I think I have been a diet yoyo. Even when I had my RnY it felt like dieting. I know how to cope with being hungry, wanting to eat things I can't, thinking of food almost all the time. These things I can handle as I have in the past, I am used to them.
Here's the issue I am completely unarmed to cope with. I am not hungry! Not even a tiny bit. When I get myself to eat I have to force it. I stop when it seems my tummy wants me to but overall I could skip eating. I know I have to eat and get my protein in or I will get sick. I find time passing me by and surprised when I haven't eaten at 4 pm. I am drinking without issue.
Any suggestions on how to help with this? I have tried the milk based protein drinks that I used prior to surgery, the smell even makes me sick now. I have tried the "unflavored" protein in my drinks and yogurt......omg I all but hurled with one sip. I guess I'm fighting flavor and lack of hunger. I'm 14 days out from my surgery to a DS. I could really use some help. Thanks all.

[larra]

Lots of us weren't hungry and didn't care if we ate or not for awhile after our DS. I considered that a blessing. For now, you should still be focused on fluids, and it sounds like you're doing ok on that front.
Keep trying different protein drinks. The only one I could tolerate early out was the Adkins shakes. Cheapest place to buy them was Walmart. You have protein stores that should tide you over for a few weeks. Try stuff like egg drop soup or commercial soups that you like, just don't eat the noodles or whatever else comes with the broth (if a little rice sneaks in, don't sweat it). It will all get easier as time goes on.

Larra

[robinfen]

Hello, I'm new to this board but maybe I can help with food issue. You wont want to eat for a while. Set a timer and nibble on a deli slice. Each new TV show means getting up and get a babe bell cheese wheel. The miny yogurts kid size, a meatball. The snacks dont have to be traditional so think what do I like for a meal and put it into bites. Then set timers on cell phone try TV trick that means every half hour or hour your eating something and its not to much. This is the size you need to eat if you just arent hungry. As a binge eater i can go all day and ignore hunger so I get it. Hope thats helpful, hunger isnt part of early surgery months.

[Deleted]

Dec 3, 2013 15:05:55 GMT -5 robinfen said:

Hello, I'm new to this board but maybe I can help with food issue. You wont want to eat for a while. Set a timer and nibble on a deli slice. Each new TV show means getting up and get a babe bell cheese wheel. The miny yogurts kid size, a meatball. The snacks dont have to be traditional so think what do I like for a meal and put it into bites. Then set timers on cell phone try TV trick that means every half hour or hour your eating something and its not to much. This is the size you need to eat if you just arent hungry. As a binge eater i can go all day and ignore hunger so I get it. Hope thats helpful, hunger isnt part of early surgery months.

Careful with some of these suggestions. You're only two weeks post-op so some of these suggestions might be a little too much (i.e., meatball or even the baby bell cheese).

Try scrambled eggs, egg drop soup (or any kind of soup), sugar free jello or pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese. Things that are easy to eat and not heavy.

Your insides are still healing so don't be so hard on yourself. As you heal, your appetite will come back.

[brooklyngirl]

Dec 3, 2013 15:05:55 GMT -5 robinfen said:

hunger isnt part of early surgery months.

True for some, but not for all. I was getting hunger pangs every few hours starting about 5 days after surgery. Some do have the same experience as the OP, however, and almost all of them have said that it gets better and an appetite comes back. Think of the protein shakes or what Janet listed as medicine right now, and I do agree with the idea of setting an alarm every few hours to remind yourself to get something in. IMO, what you're experiencing is pretty normal.

[Deleted]

I'm almost 3 years out and there are still days when nothing I have OR could go buy sounds good. So I've taken to drinking hot broth if I need to have something. While not high on the protein index, it IS a fluid and that always helps.

[bboop]

How about SF popcycles?

[Girlrocker]

It's definitely not unusual to experience lack of hunger, and have an intolerance to the assorted protein drinks, dairy. You're very new post op and a revision from RNY (me too!), this was a HUGE surgery. I know you're stressing about getting in protein, but the flipside is, enjoy the hunger free honeymoon while it lasts Even though I felt crappy, I was relieved to be absolved from having to deal with food except for figuring out what I could tolerate and get in.

I used quick dissolve protein powders that I could shake with water and used sugar free jello or pudding mix to flavor them. You might do better with fruit flavors over chocolate/straight vanilla.

There's also a fruit flavored protein called Unjury www.unjury.com/store/protein/

I also got Amino2222 and protein bullets from GNC that I could take like cough medicine shots when I just couldn't stand drinking or eating anything.

For a little sustenance, try clear soups, any kind, just the broth, sugar free jello (I actually loved this) peanutbutter and saltines, egg scrambled, hardboiled or with a little mayo for egg salad (I had to change up my temps for eggs to eat them), fat free refried beans with a little salsa.

Hang in there, the really nauseated feeling, total lack of hunger will pass. Just know it's a process of healing, reintegrating and it's normal to have to baby your new insides for awhile; you gradually work your way back into foods like a growing infant does, liquids to soft to more dense foods. Trial and error while it works itself out.

[tina9999]

I agree with the timer. I had to do that today because with working yesterday, I missed both my fluid & my protein goals. I set mine up on Outlook & it reminds me every 5 minutes. I've done much better today.

I was never hungry all the time before I had the surgery. I also didn't have subtle hunger cues, so if I only ate when I was hungry 36 hours would roll around before I ate. But I never let lack of hunger keep me from eating, so I'm trying to do the same now.

One of the things I did yesterday & am doing today is putting some peanut butter on a tablespoon & just taking little licks off it. Then I let is sit in my mouth & mix with the spit (sounds yucky when you say it out loud, but everything mixes with your spit, we just don't talk about it) and when it seems to have thinned out a bit, I swallow.

I also picked up at Publix 3 types of puree'ed (sp?) soups - a butternut squash, a red lentle & a potato and leek soup. I'll probably add an Unjury unflavored protein mix to it to amp up the protein. It doesn't seem to bother me.

Also I tried the Isopure ready to drink protein from GNC. A word of caution...they're expensive, but for me, no more that I was spending eating out every day, so I bought 4 different flavors to try. The best so far has been the apple mellon which sounds gross, but was really tasty. I don't notice a residue after drinking it and it's not cloudy. I've never been a fan of milkshakes, so they in general don't appeal to me, but I can tolerate them. So far my favorates have been from Chike & I like the banana flavors.

Good luck in finding you something. I'm not sure what your diet progression is like, but keep in mind it's only temporary. I know I can suck anything up as long as I know there is an end in sight. So keep your eyes on the prize!

[sheanie]

They gave me Isopure ready-to-drink in the Grape Frost flavor immediately after my DS. I ended up buying more at GNC and CVS post-op. It was the ONLY thing that didn't gag me. I stayed hydrated AND got in at least 90 grams of protein from day one post-op with that one product. It's ISOLATE whey protein, so didn't make me sick when I developed lactose intolerance. A lot of us end up lactose intolerant post DS. Not everyone, but a high number.

[PrettyGirlBounce]

Dec 3, 2013 15:05:55 GMT -5 robinfen said:

Hello, I'm new to this board but maybe I can help with food issue. You wont want to eat for a while. Set a timer and nibble on a deli slice. Each new TV show means getting up and get a babe bell cheese wheel. The miny yogurts kid size, a meatball. The snacks dont have to be traditional so think what do I like for a meal and put it into bites. Then set timers on cell phone try TV trick that means every half hour or hour your eating something and its not to much. This is the size you need to eat if you just arent hungry. As a binge eater i can go all day and ignore hunger so I get it. Hope thats helpful, hunger isnt part of early surgery months.

Actually, I have to disagree here ^^^^. I would refrain from eating anything remotely similar to a meatball or even a deli slice until you are at least 4 weeks out (3 weeks if you are wanting to push it). Since you are only 2 weeks out now, I wouldn't recommend it...like at all. If you are cleared for pureed foods, I would start there in the tiniest portions...soft, bland foods. Perhaps 1 oz per hour as a goal.

But this early out, your main focus is to stay hydrated. Don't stress too much about eating or not eating. For me, the thought of eating made me nauseous until I was closer to 4 weeks out. I would have to literally force feed myself to eat a little something here and there. I also had a feeding tube at that stage though, so I pumped protein into it since I didn't have to taste it.

Of course, your miles may vary. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Deleted]

Sheanie, in all the times I've read about proteins - including the very thin ones - somehow it never registered that I should keep a case of these on hand. Thanks for sharing your experience (probably not even close to the first time you've written about this, your protein intake from Day 1 sounds eerily familiar... but apparently I'm slow on the uptake).

Cyn, for the longest time I had trouble stomaching anything and I'm still working out what i can eat and when so I'm going to add these, hopefully easier-to-tolerate drinks into my routine. If you are at the point where this makes sense for you, Amazon had 24 for under $2/ea. What you're going through is temporary, hopefully it's also very short term. Reaching out for help was a smart choice too. Hang in there and as others have said, fluids are your priority now.

[Deleted]

I am really enjoying smoothies from a local smoothie franchise. I worked with the owner to find a combination that I could keep down, which includes extra protein powder and some other nutrients which are supposed to help a little with healing. It takes me most of one day to drink one. If you have a place like this nearby, it might be an option for you?

I'm trying to look at this revision as a new adventure and not necessarily a new diet. Boy do I understand that from living with the RNY. We have new options now. For instance, I thought that I was lactose-intolerant, but ended up enjoying a glass of milk yesterday. I could never drink it without terrible dumping. It was SO GOOD. Full fat, even!

Hang in there.

[sheanie]

Well, I should clarify about the Isopure. It's perfectly clear. It's not like the protein shakes that gag you. It's clear and when poured over ice, it's actually refreshing. It's not something I had to plug my nose in order to drink. I sat with a bottle on the window sill by my recovery chair in the sun and sipped until it was gone, then opened another one.

[Deleted]

Isopure is GREAT stuff if you can tolerate it. I drank it a lot after RNY. I've gagged on it so far, but I may try a new flavor. Is it the grape one that you like, Sheanie?