Eating feels like a chore. Does that end?

[Topher_B 7]

I had my VSG on 5/9/18 and I feel great physically. I was walking right away and have no problem with drinking. My doctor advances all his patients to stage 2: purée diet right in the hospital, so I am eating some soft foods, However, eating anything feels like such a chore. As a result I am struggling with getting my Protein in. Eating is unenjoyable to me and a struggle. I guess this is food aversion? I have never felt this way about food before and just wanna know approximately when this stage ends lol!

[S@ssen@ch 745]

I can't say that I have "food aversion". I didn't have any appetite and the thought of eating was a bit stressful in those first 3 or 4 weeks. Right around the 4 week mark I noticed that eating was a little easier. I assumed the post operative swelling had gone down enough to make my tiny meals a little easier to tolerate.

I'm 5 weeks out and I still feel like my entire life revolves around my eating schedule, what I can/can't have, and being OCD about Proteins. If memory serves from my initial Lap Band experience, this food/eating obsession goes on for a long time.

Disclaimer: my original Lap Band experience was over 10 years ago and I'm pretty early into the sleeve journey. In comparison, the sleeve is taking me A LOT more time to adjust to.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

My food aversion ended at approximately 8 weeks post op. During those first 8 weeks, I felt like food was a menace. I ate out of necessity. If I hadn't lost very quickly, I would have been completely miserable. But, one week I went to the grocery store and all the sudden I had a taste for certain things again. I also looked up a lot of recipes to try.

[Frustr8 7,886]

food Aversion-'May,we please
discuss this?
How common is this?
Is this only a post surgical occurance or can this manifest presurgically too?
Should this be referred to what specialist? Dietician, Nutritionist, Psychologist, Surgeon?
I am asking these questions-1 because I like to learn these things
2 I wonder if I am developing a mild case myself?
Between the prolonged length of my PreSurgery journey and my gastritis, I am losing joy in eating. Yes, it is good I no longer have the urge to engulf food like an ameoba on amphetamines but I find myself going the other way and I'm a little scared. Ask me what I want to eat? I don't much care, sure I structure around a Protein. and vegetables and adequate Fluid, but plan and execute? Just as leave pop a Protein Shake and forget about the whole thing. Do I need help now? My weight isn't melting off as yet, so maybe not too late? Please give me some advice.😪

[Topher_B 7]

“Yes, it is good I no longer have the urge to engulf food like an ameoba on amphetamines”

I connect with this phrase on a spiritual level. You really put to words exactly what I am feeling. I feel great but eating is a struggle and one I know I need to overcome because I need to eat to survive and thrive. I am happy to not be the only one struggling with this but of course unhappy that any of us are.

[future_dahl 3]

Eating feels like a chore to me too. I'm about 3 weeks out from my gastric sleeve surgery. I've progressed to full foods, but I have almost no desire to eat. If i'm not sticking with liquids I HATE the painful/uncomfortable way food sits in my stomach--and no, i'm definitely not overeating. Also, I get really intense acid reflux the few times I do eat, EVERY TIME. I practically live on TUMS.

I'm actually a little afraid of what weight I'm going to end up at if this continues indefinitely. I think I logged 350 cals yesterday.

[Geri Marie 235]

No, that doesn’t last any longer than a couple months. Then your hunger comes back, and food does settle in your stomach better.

[S@ssen@ch 745]

15 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

food Aversion-'May,we please
discuss this?
How common is this?
Is this only a post surgical occurance or can this manifest presurgically too?
Should this be referred to what specialist? Dietician, Nutritionist, Psychologist, Surgeon?
I am asking these questions-1 because I like to learn these things
2 I wonder if I am developing a mild case myself?
Between the prolonged length of my PreSurgery journey and my gastritis, I am losing joy in eating. Yes, it is good I no longer have the urge to engulf food like an ameoba on amphetamines but I find myself going the other way and I'm a little scared. Ask me what I want to eat? I don't much care, sure I structure around a Protein. and vegetables and adequate Fluid, but plan and execute? Just as leave pop a Protein Shake and forget about the whole thing. Do I need help now? My weight isn't melting off as yet, so maybe not too late? Please give me some advice.😪

Frustr8,

I don't think we're talking about true "food aversion", but more lack of appetite and possibly "food frustration." Lack of appetite is an intended side effect of surgery and frustration can come with that.

Food aversion is defined as being repulsed by a particular food and can sometimes lead to nausea/vomiting at the mere thought of that food. It's as if the taste of the food is toxic. If anyone has those things going on, they should certainly notify their surgeon and consider a referral to a dietician/nutritionist and a counselor.

In my opinion, the issue is that our relationship with food has changed. Before surgery, it is likely that our lives revolved around food, the pleasure and comfort it gave. Post surgically, our lives still largely revolve around food but now it's focused on making sure our body has the fuel it needs. It's probably not even pleasurable anymore. As you describe above, you "no longer have the urge to engulf food..." That's normal. It's also normal to be indifferent as in the "I do not care" comment. I myself have that. I eat because I have to. I make sure I have things that taste good to me, but I could easily go long periods of time without eating.

You indicated you're concerned that your weight isn't melting off. Mine isn't either. We all lose at our own pace and as long as we continue to fuel our bodies within the guidelines of post Bariatric Eating, it will.

Please note that I am not a doctor. If you are seriously concerned that you have a food aversion or that you're post surgical path is not normal, consult your doctor.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

Frust,

@S@ssen@ch is right about her description of food aversion. I used that word too flippantly. Honestly, mine was just a mere lack of appetite for the longest time. When you aren't hungry, you aren't going to have a taste for anything and things may even look unappealing. But the suppressed appetite doesn't last forever, so it's important to embrace that. The key thing is to get all your Protein in during this suppressed phase. You almost have to force yourself to stay on track with eating throughout the day. It may be a challenge to get all the food in with restriction, but also with a lack of appetite.