Post operative appetite

[MH500]

Hi guys

I was wondering how quickly your appetites improved after surgery? I know I'm in early days (day 11) but I'm only wanting bird size portions and have to be coaxed. Prior to surgery I was eating for England

Thanks, Marian xx

[Choski]

Same as you! Hubby would bring me a sliced apple in the morning and leave me a Packed lunch of a buttered tea cake (10 o'clock !) and a sandwich for me to nibble on during the afternoon. Then a small portion of something if I could manage it later. Lots of water.

I had to ask my hubby not to try too hard to get me to eat, as long as I tried and managed something then that was fine. Liquids are very important esp to keep bowels moving too.

However you do need to eat so please monitor what you're having and why you think you don't want much if you're really struggling.

Take care

Clare

[MH500 in reply to Choski]

Thanks Clare, I've been fancying a buttered tea cake since I read this 😃.

Xx

[85live4ev]

Hi Marian, I had my surgery in November 2015 & my appetite is still poor. I have put my self on metatone tonic it has helped but I am not eating half as much as I used to. Time will tell but if you are worried mention it at your next hospital visit. Take care Cindyxx

[MH500 in reply to 85live4ev]

Thanks Cindy xx

[Lyndy]

Hi Marian

I seem to remember it took me a while to get back to normal after surgery...for one thing you are generally quite static so not building an appetite and of course your guts don't like to be touched or messed around. Pain meds also have an effect.

I would mention it to your team but don't stress about it if everything else is ok.

Hopefully you will feel much better in leaps and bounds as your wound heals. L xx

[MH500 in reply to Lyndy]

Thanks Lyndy, I think I'm just stressing about everything at the moment. I'm not exactly skinny but just worried about losing too much more weight especially now xx

[Hidden]

Hi Marian I agree with the ladies, it does take a while because you feel sick and sore. You do need to eat so small amounts more often of whatever you fancy as you do need to keep those bowels on the go. Try toast and Chicken Bovril, or scrambled eggs or boiled eggs. Rice and chicken are also good if you like them. Fruitwise perhaps use the small fruit pots available in Aldi or your local shop and the favourite of all ice cream. If you find you are really struggling, do see your gp and he may prescrible those protein drinks.

[MH500 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, some really good suggestions there x

[GBIRVMIC]

Hi Marion I was the same as everyone else! It takes time and in the end I saw the hospital dietician as weight was falling off. Tbh I had no energy after surgery and a walk around the ward was hard work.. I started eating porridge made with evaporated milk.. basically was told to eat anything that's naughty.. so I did! Little and often. I'm 14 months post surgery and just back to my original weight and my appetite is fine. Best of luck Love Michelle x

[MH500 in reply to GBIRVMIC]

Thanks Michelle, that's reassuring. I guess it's an excuse to eat naughty foods. I've been on a complete health kick since diagnosis but looks like that's gone right out of the window for now xx

[Cropcrop]

Like all the other ladies have said, little and often. I really liked jelly as it was really easy to eat the little pots are just about right, stewed fruit is good and chicken veg soup, eggs are easy eating and nutritious and like Suzuki has said ice cream, have really nice ice cream, and really nice yoghurts (Rachels organic vanilla is so yummy, they have it in big Tesco stores) spoil yourself you deserve it. To be honest though, anything you fancy is good, just try for good nutrition. Hope you get your England appetite back very soon. ❤xx Jane

[MH500 in reply to Cropcrop]

Thanks Jane, funnily enough my hubby came home with Rachael's lemon yoghurt this afternoon..... it's so refreshing and creamy

Xx

[Shellygirl]

After my op my hubby would make me a sandwich cut the crust off and cut in triangles it would last me all day I would nibble at it as could not manage a full sandwich ... my appetite still not same as it was some data better than others .... unfortunately it's not kept my weight under control as I ate what I fancied to try to get on right track .... I would eat what you fancy when you fancy it little and often 🤗

[MH500 in reply to Shellygirl]

Thanks, as my Dad used to say "a bit of what you fancy does you good"

Xx

[Shellygirl in reply to MH500]

Exactly lol 😂

[MH500 in reply to Shellygirl]

Don't suppose that applies to Brad Pitt 🤣

[Caroles1]

Hi Marian,

After surgery I was not eating anything until one evening I vomited acid big time (sorry!).I was then put back on Omaprizole and my appetite returned and didn't vomit again.I have to say I have put on weight,but,still only eat small portions,I think that is the way to go.

Eat small amounts,what you fancy,little and often,

Carole xx

[MH500 in reply to Caroles1]

Hi Carole, yes I'm taking Omeprazole as that was definitely a problem in the first few days.

Xx

[Caroles1 in reply to MH500]

You will probably be on the mend now,at least you are eating something,if at all worried,speak to your team,best wishes to you,

Carole xx

[Howick01]

I could eat as soon as tumour was removed( huge one!)

I was starving in hospital- could not wait for next meal and even had a Tikal masala !!!!

Before surgery I could not eat,was nauseous all the time and lost a lot of weight but as soon as tumour was removed all that disappeared.Even while having chemo I continued to eat well.

Guess I was one of the lucky ones as I feel for all who have suffered.I often feel quite guilty when I read some of the posts.

Take care all xxx

[koffeekat99 in reply to Howick01]

I was similar to you. Terrible appetite for months before the op and lost lots of weight. Woke up from op and felt better immediately. I had my first proper meal the day I got out of hospital (3 days later) and I loved every bit of it (hospital food was so terrible and it took a couple of days for my bowels to wake up again). Have never had an appetite like I have now. Makes me wonder how long I have had cancer for and what pre-condition I may have had that led to it.

Loss of appetite is a horrible symptom and I do feel for the people who still have it post op. My dad also had loss of appetite for months until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He's quite proud but, because I've experienced loss of appetite too, I'm the only person he'll listen to about food. I find that people think it's just not feeling like eating but if you just force something down then it's ok. But appetite is so important. If you haven't got it then forcing food down is terrible. I started to dread mealtimes and because I had fatigue nearly all the time I found that just sleeping through mealtimes meant that I didn't have to think about food. So whilst everyone else was trying to force the same food down my dad at normal mealtimes I told him little and often, high calorie content and try to have more liquid foods so it feels more like a drink than eating. He still has a morning smoothie and keeps rice pudding pots handy, though fortunately his appetite has started to improve now he is getting some treatment.

I don't feel guilty about my appetite improving. We're all different. I was ill for so long that the thought of feeling guilty about feeling better post op doesn't even occur to me. Our symptoms are all different and they affect us differently too. So empathy definitely, but guilt, no.

[Howick01 in reply to koffeekat99]

I could only eat cold things eg milkshakes ,coke and apples and could not tolerate the smell and taste of certain food and everything seemed to burn me.It was terrible being so nauseous.

I still have a good appetite and back to my normal size 14.

This comforts me and as soon as I have any of those symptoms back I will be straight back to docs.

I have clear cell so do not know if this is typical.

Take care xxx

[Hidden]

Hi there, I had surgery in Oct and it took a while to get my appetite back. As other ladies have said, little and often. Ice-cream went down easy for me. At the moment I am having chemo (one more to go, whoop, whoop!) and I had thought I would start my new health regime but, for me, the nausea has made my appetite crave stodgy food such as buttery toast, crisps and a permanent need to have food in my stomach. I have come to the conclusion that for now I just need to go with it and once chemo over I will be hitting a new healthy eating plan. Have you tried meditation to help calm your mind. I too was stressing and it has helped me. Jill xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Marian I was the same plus with me it was a very restricted diet so even when I wanted to eat it was so boring that like you didn't want to, so just when you want and try and have lots of tasty treat I have never eaten so much chocolate so just eat when you can when you can I was about 6 weeks before I even started to feel hungry so hang on in there you will get you appetite back good luck Jenny xx