Appetite

For starters, get a second physician's opinion that "specializes" in eating disorders.

Blessings.....

While people who are overweight are taught to eat when they're hungry, rather than "it's time"... patients on certain medications, patients with nausea, anorexics, and others are taught to eat NOT when they're hungry (or they'd never eat) but because "it's time". Typically every 3 hours the equivilent of 1/3 to 1/2 of a meal.

I'm surprised after your surgery that that wasn't part of your aftercare. It usually is.

Well the good thing is that you do feel hungry at some point, even if you are lethargic and shaky.

Milk has a way of making you vomit if your stomach isn't doing right. I might also think if you've gone thru that type surgery, you might have developed a habit of eating that you just need to re-train.

If you have no appetite, try appetite building herbs and teas. You have to eat, so do salads and soups. It's also possible that because you don't eat regularly or have an appetite, you have developed a lot of gas or air in the stomach that can actually block you from feeling to eat. Try ginger tea and peppermint tea to see if that relieves the bloating.

Then eat some chicken breast for protein and check back with your doctor. I would assume if your doctor thinks you are fine, you should go with that, but also only you know your body. So try different things to regain your appetite but make it light and consistent.

I wish you the best.

I would get further evaluation. That said try taking digestive enzymes with your first bite of your meals to help break the food down. Solaray makes digestaway and that is a good one. Betaine Hydrochloride may also be missing from your physiology.
Good luck

Hi J.,

That sounds frustrating. I'm glad to hear that you are trying to get in a protein shake and some food as you still need to fuel your body. Although I don't have any suggestion about how to regain your appetite I thought I would share a product with you that will help you get the nutrients you need. Have you heard of Juice Plus+? It's a whole food nutrition supplement that has 17 servings on fruits and veggies in a chewy or capsule form. At least if you were taking Juice Plus+, you would be getting 17 servings of fruits and veggies every day without having to force yourself to eat them all.

By eating the USDA recommended amount of fruits of veg (7-13 servings a day), you will help to protect your immune system and may even find you have more energy. They also have a wonderful Complete protein shake which also has 17 servings of fruits and veggies! It comes in French Vanilla or Dutch Chocolate!

I would love to chat more with you if you have the time or are interested. You can also go to www.jillwheatonjuiceplus.com and watch a short 15 minute video on Juice Plus+. Let me know if you would like to chat!

Good luck and best of health.

J.

Dear J.,

It's certainly hard to not be interested in food and eating in this culture where we use food as a way of connecting and socializing with other people. The one thing that I'm wondering about is if you get some exercise every day. When I don't regularly exercise I can become uninterested in food, but as soon as I get into a routine of cardio and muscle building work it feels like my body wakes up and my appetite returns. Swimming can be a great activity for getting my tummy rumbling.

All the best to you,
S.

My niece took meds that masked her 'hunger feeling' for years. She literally was never hungry. She just needed to get into the habit of eating a reasonable portion at regular meal times as well as one small snack between lunch and dinner. That kept her weight in the 'normal' range for her height.
A reasonable portion was something like 1/2 sandwich and a small piece of fruit. A small bowl of oatmeal with banana, berries, or raisins, and a glass of juice or milk. Snack would be a small apple, or peanut butter and celery, or something else small and healthy. Since you have other dietary requirements (like no fat), you could go with nonfat cottage cheese, or nonfat plain yogurt with fruit as a meal, or something else you know you can eat. Just go with small portions at regular times. Your cell phone probably has an alarm feature. You could set it to go off at regular meal times to remind you to eat.
As for going out with friends, just order a small appetizer instead of a full meal. Or, a cup of soup and a roll. There are usually inexpensive small items that would allow you to enjoy a meal with friends without wasting money and food.
For meals with your son, just take a small portion and eat it. He's old enough to know that you had surgery and so you can't eat very much at one meal, but he is a growing boy and should eat much more. Pushing food around on your plate teaches him not to be up-front about things. It is important for our kids to learn that we all have issues that we have to live with, so just be out there about it. It will be good for him to see you just going about your daily biz without worrying about what others think of it.

You have to eat! Even if you don't feel like it. If your stomach can't handle a large volume of food, then eat small portions 5 or 6 times a day. Eat high protein and take vitamins. But don't rely on vitamins to keep you going. Your body needs real food so don't wait til you are shaky and lethargic, eat!

J.,
Please go get a second opinion!!
Also, you need to eat small amounts throughout the day or you will not be healthy. Try fruit smoothies and yogurt and such. I have a really hard time eating when I am not feeling hungry also, but have to force myself to eat something so that I do not end up getting headaches, dizziness and the shakes.
As for going out with your friends.....go and have an appitizer or just sit and chat with your friends while you have some coffee or tea. You need the social time with your friends...it will be really good for you!!
Praying for you!
J.

I think what I would do in your situation is to ask the Dr. for a referral to a dieticiian who specializes in dealing with cases such as yours. It seems someone like that would be able to help you figure out what you can eat that will maximize the effects of the small amount of foods on your health needs. They may also be able to help you figure out things to eat that would give you more of an appetite to enjoy what you do eat.

Did your doctor have any suggestions? Have you tried talking with a nutritionist? It sounds like your body could be undernurished which can lead to other health issues besides losing weight.

Does your doctor think it's not an issue? Maybe it's not as big of a problem. Sounds like you have you do have a plan in place for nutrition. Was that something a nutritionist planned for you?
Your weight and height ratio sounds healthy. Are you concerned because you are losing more weight? First of all, because of your history with having a tumor, make sure cancer is not the problem.
I don't like going out to eat (this has affected my marriage because my husband thinks going out to eat, eating together and eating a lot is a family virtue!) and also don't get "hungry" and usually have to schedule meals for the family and eat before I feel shaky or sick but I haven't had any stomach surgery or major issues related to my stomach or nutrition so I can't say it's a major problem for me.
However, with your surgery, it sounds like a similar thing that a person who has had their stomach stapled or pancreas removed, might experience. Usually, with such surgeries, a nutritionist and even a psychiatrist is involved. Did you get a consult with either when you had your surgery?
If you already had a consult with a nutritionist when you had your surgery, maybe you need a follow-up not just for the appetite issue but because your body is not able to digest and process food like a "normal" person and you want to make sure you are getting the proper vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function.
I thought a psychologist might be helpful because you mentioned that your social life has been affected. A psychologist is not a medical doctor, so if you think you need medication or something more severe, than a psychiatrist might be more helpful.
A psychologist may help you figure out what you can do during meals with your family and friends so you don't feel so isolated during those occasions.
When I go out to a restaurant and don't order food, I do feel self conscious when everyone else is eating. Sometimes I feel like I'm offending the chef. It's worse if I was invited to dinner at a friend's house. The hostess may think I don't like her food when I just nibble here and there. People have also wondered if I have an eating disorder. I don't, I am just not attracted to food that same way I'm also not attracted to shoes and handbags like a lot of my women friends but that's another topic.
Good luck and hope this helps!

It sounds like your body needs to rebalance itself with some prebiotic and probiotics along with some good nutrition to help your body get healthy again.
If you need some ideas I have a program that will help you.

Have a great weekend.

N. Marie
____@____.com