1 Year Post Op - Needing Support, Not Eating Enough

[Cynful 5]

I'm a little over 1 year post-op. Sleeved 12/4/20 in Tijuana, amazing experience, no complications and good follow up care with a good state side PCP who approved of and supported going to Mexico. I started at 345 lbs and currently weigh 225 lbs at 5'7 so 120 lbs lost in a year.

Emotionally, I'm sad, frustrated and need some support.

I have zero appetite (absolutely none) and take a med who's off label usage is for binge eating disorder which further surpresses anything hunger related. This med is for executive dysfunction issues (ADHD) so going off is not an option. I have no cravings. I'm very much struggling to eat, but I have serious food intolerances.

I cannot tolerate most meat such as chicken, beef or pork. It makes my stomach cramp horribly. If I do force myself to eat it, I can maybe get a few ounces in but I'm miserable for a while after.

Shrimp is the only animal Protein that I can tolerate consistently with little issues. Even fish can be problematic only due to palate and taste bud changes.

I can no longer tolerate eggs by themselves. I vomit within 10 minutes and vomiting triggers food avoidance for days. This has been mitigated by a therapist and not eating eggs. Eggs used as a binder in things like bread, cake or muffins are fine.

Rice, Pasta, bread and vegetables give me no problems.

Dairy is ok as long as it's Fairlife milk and Protein Shakes or aged cheese. Any other cow based dairy items trigger diarrhea at the worst, stomach cramping/bloating at the least. Non-dairy such as oat milk and nut milks are no issues.

Most protein shakes/powders make me vomit like eggs do. I have spent hundreds of dollars on protein shakes and am grateful that my husband can drink anything or it'd all go to waste.

Surprisingly, I can tolerate deli meat, but very tiny portions like in a lunchable. Same goes for sandwiches so I've been consistent with those.

Snacks are non-existent except for sunflower seeds. Sometimes even Doritos bother me. The only slider food I had for a while was ice cream, but it triggered lactose issues I've never had before so...

Drinking is not an issue though I do have issues with certain waters, but juice? Tea? coffee? No problems! Anything liquid doesn't bother my stomach. Even drippings from the chicken I'll put on rice!

I'm also experiencing gastro issues... Specifically the trigger to release your bowels when you eat. It's an involuntarily action your body does, but mine is violent. For months I had nothing my diarrhea after eating. I did a stool test and it was only slight inflammation. It's slowed down some but I just stick near a toilet when I eat. It doesn't matter really what I eat either.

I also have GERD (did not have it prior, one of the lucky few that develop it post surgery) and am on prescription meds because OTC does not work. GERD is not every day. I'll have a flare up (connected to nothing!) Maybe 1x per month for a few days and then nothing.

The above intolerances and gastro issue trigger food avoidance how vomiting does. I'm literally disgusted 99% of the time I'm in the kitchen when looking to feed myself because of the physical issues I'm having with food. I have no problems cooking for and feeding others (I have a family) and being in the kitchen and cooking is still an absolute joy. I have no negative physical or mental reactions to food that I do not plan to eat. Strangely, I'm VERY excited to still try new foods and will go with friends or family who have as diverse palates as I do and will taste their item. But it's literally a taste.

I know I'm not eating enough, weightloss has definitely stalled due to the lower calories. I'm taking my Vitamins like clock work and while I'm due for more blood work, my last was great.

Feeding myself feels like a huge chore. VSG has done it's job - it's changed me metabolically. No more appetite, no more cravings and has completely rewired my brain to not enjoy food at all.

I'm only a year PO so... Could this change?

How do I combat this? Should I stop whining? Does it get better? Should I go back to therapy? Would a revision help?

I feel like most people want to only look at food as a necessity. I wish I was disinterested in food like I am now, but without the physical side effects that make me sick or keep me on a toilet.

I appreciate you reading this far!

[Guest]

I'm so sorry you're struggling, but I commend you for reaching out and for dealing with both the mental and physical side of things. I'm sure the sleevers will know more about your symptoms there.

[Sleeve_Me_Alone 656]

I'm so, so sorry you're struggling. Please know we are rooting for you and want to see you healthy and well. I think first and foremost, you should stick to what you know you tolerate well and do not feel aversions to. Eat as much and as often as you can to help stabilize your caloric intake. Try focusing on what you CAN eat and try to enjoy it as much as possible. Secondly, I would definitely suggest getting in to see a therapist who specializes in disordered eating. Yes, VSG changed your anatomy, your bodily needs, and maybe even your tastes, but this is not normative and getting support will likely be a game changer for you. The sadness, depression, and frustration are all completely valid given what you're going through, but you don't have to stay in this place and there can be improvement. Lastly, I'd say you might want to get in to see a GI or bariatric surgeon to discuss. I also had surgery in Mx and had a wonderful experience and have a very supportive PCP at home, but something this severe might warrant a face to face visit with a specialist. If there are any physical factors they should be addressed along with the mental/emotional pieces.

Wish you the very best of luck!

[catwoman7 11,215]

oh wow - sorry to hear that. Those kinds of symptoms aren't uncommon early out (like the first month or two post-surgery), but this far out, that's pretty unusual. Or at least having all of them is unusual (some people, for example, do develop GERD....or lactose intolerance...or whatever - but not the whole shebang). Sorry this is happening to you. I hope they can figure this out. I agree that maybe a visit with a specialist is in order.

[Cynful 5]

5 hours ago, MiniGastricBypassDude said:

I'm so sorry you're struggling, but I commend you for reaching out and for dealing with both the mental and physical side of things. I'm sure the sleevers will know more about your symptoms there.

Thank you so much. ❤️

59 minutes ago, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

I'm so, so sorry you're struggling. Please know we are rooting for you and want to see you healthy and well. I think first and foremost, you should stick to what you know you tolerate well and do not feel aversions to. Eat as much and as often as you can to help stabilize your caloric intake. Try focusing on what you CAN eat and try to enjoy it as much as possible. Secondly, I would definitely suggest getting in to see a therapist who specializes in disordered eating. Yes, VSG changed your anatomy, your bodily needs, and maybe even your tastes, but this is not normative and getting support will likely be a game changer for you. The sadness, depression, and frustration are all completely valid given what you're going through, but you don't have to stay in this place and there can be improvement. Lastly, I'd say you might want to get in to see a GI or bariatric surgeon to discuss. I also had surgery in Mx and had a wonderful experience and have a very supportive PCP at home, but something this severe might warrant a face to face visit with a specialist. If there are any physical factors they should be addressed along with the mental/emotional pieces.

Wish you the very best of luck!

Thank you!! That is what I have been doing... Enjoying and eating what I can. I am functionally a vegetarian and luckily live in a large metro area so getting vegetarian meals is easy when I don't want to cook at home. I've resigned myself to having to drive further out for that, but it helps me feel "normal". Thankfully my family and friends are soooo supportive. I think this would be a lot worse if I didn't have them rooting.

I will do that. I'll start looking for a therapist with disordered eating experience. I'm very worried about going in the opposite direction after WLS. I think maybe a GI will help as my PCP did ask if I wanted a referral after my stool test was basically inconclusive but I declined at the time because thanks to WLS, I found a tumor (benign! And that surgery was a success) and was getting prepped for surgery so I didn't want to do two health things at once.

I'll get to looking and see if I can get someone before the end of the year.

44 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

oh wow - sorry to hear that. Those kinds of symptoms aren't uncommon early out (like the first month or two post-surgery), but this far out, that's pretty unusual. Or at least having all of them is unusual (some people, for example, do develop GERD....or lactose intolerance...or whatever - but not the whole shebang). Sorry this is happening to you. I hope they can figure this out. I agree that maybe a visit with a specialist is in order.

Thank you! That was my concern as well and why I posted. When I search, it's people only a few weeks out which I was already told it's normal. I've posted in other groups and keep getting told wait a year. Or I get snarky comments about being too fresh and just wait a few years until I can eat a whole pizza again. Well ... now I'm here, a year and two weeks later with no appetite and can only eat a quarter of a normal sized sandwich so I'm not sure how'd I'd be eating pizza! I also don't want to wait years and hope these issues resolve considering I did get some folks 3+ years out who still have pretty decent food restriction and intolerances as well (though never severe as mine).

I really appreciate you all for responding. It was a good thing to wake up to.

[SleeverSk 635]

Someone I know developed an intolerance to Protein mostly in meat form after surgery maybe this has happened to you too and that in turn has turned you off eating because you now associate eating with being physically sick. I agree woth the others stick to food you can eat without reaction until you get it sorted. I think its perecftly normal for you to feel the way you doing given what you are experiencing. Hope you find answers and feel better soon

[Cynful 5]

14 hours ago, SleeverSk said:

Someone I know developed an intolerance to Protein mostly in meat form after surgery maybe this has happened to you too and that in turn has turned you off eating because you now associate eating with being physically sick. I agree woth the others stick to food you can eat without reaction until you get it sorted. I think its perecftly normal for you to feel the way you doing given what you are experiencing. Hope you find answers and feel better soon

Thank you! I'm waiting for a call back from a gastroenterologist so we'll see.

I probably won't be able to see anyone until mid-January, but I've made my calls so here's to hoping!