How long until appetite returns post-surgery?

trainer

My resection was done Oct. 20, and my appetite still hasn't returned to what I would describe as normal. Has anyone experienced this?

Sandi1

Hi
Hi,

My husband had his resection on 9/15/08 and his appetite is still not quite normal. You have to expect this, you just had major surgery. As long as your eating (and I might suggest eating a bunch of small meals instead of 3 big ones) that's all you need to worry about. Your appetite will come back eventually.

Good Luck with your recovery
Sandi

trainer

Sandi1 said:

Hi
Hi,

My husband had his resection on 9/15/08 and his appetite is still not quite normal. You have to expect this, you just had major surgery. As long as your eating (and I might suggest eating a bunch of small meals instead of 3 big ones) that's all you need to worry about. Your appetite will come back eventually.

Good Luck with your recovery
Sandi

Meals
Thanks for the info. My breakfasts are either a bowl of cereal or a bagel, maybe fruit, lunch is seldom eaten as I'm not hungry, and dinner more often than not is a half portion of whatever is served. I'malso a Type 2 diabetic using Byetta and I'm going to check with my primary to see if the dose should be reduced. A side effect of the Byetta is that it suppresses appetites. I've lost 40 pounds not just due to appetite loss, but a diet, some exercise and of coures the operation. One unfortunate side effect of Byetta is occasional nausea, which I am having more frequently and I think it's because of the amount of the Byetta dose, which was based on my former weight.dosesare either 5mg or 10mg and I'll probably go to the smaller dose. Might be more than you wanted to know, sorry.

Betsydoglover

My colon resection was done the first week of June 2005. My appetite was not completely back to normal until late August, although it gradually improved. I went back to work at 4 weeks post surgery and my friends took me out to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant a week later - 5 weeks post surgery - I had the same thing I always had and could only eat slightly less than half!

I know most of this had to do with colon surgery itself, but this past June I had a hip replacement and I was appetite suppressed for 2 - 3 weeks, so I think anesthesia recovery is also an issue.

It sounds like you are "normal" and things will improve.

Betsy
Stage IV, liver mets
Diagnosed 5/2005

Buzzard

Betsydoglover said:

My colon resection was done the first week of June 2005. My appetite was not completely back to normal until late August, although it gradually improved. I went back to work at 4 weeks post surgery and my friends took me out to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant a week later - 5 weeks post surgery - I had the same thing I always had and could only eat slightly less than half!

I know most of this had to do with colon surgery itself, but this past June I had a hip replacement and I was appetite suppressed for 2 - 3 weeks, so I think anesthesia recovery is also an issue.

It sounds like you are "normal" and things will improve.

Betsy
Stage IV, liver mets
Diagnosed 5/2005

Appetite
I also was about half an eater than I was before but im back to full fledge gorging now....They say not to eat salad before you go out....I do...don't eat spicy foods before going out....I do..... I really don't see the need of cutting back on the things I love to eat because it makes me gassy......I simply have my hand close to my ostomy and when its time to cut loose my muffler is standing by ready for action.....

trainer

Buzzard said:

Appetite
I also was about half an eater than I was before but im back to full fledge gorging now....They say not to eat salad before you go out....I do...don't eat spicy foods before going out....I do..... I really don't see the need of cutting back on the things I love to eat because it makes me gassy......I simply have my hand close to my ostomy and when its time to cut loose my muffler is standing by ready for action.....

Aha, ventriloquist!
I like Chinese, Japanese and Mexican food and some of it is spicy, I will just have to pace myself. I never thought of an ostomy having a gas problem. You could have some fun with that by becoming a ventriloquist of sorts, only instead of throwing your voice, you'd throw your farts and can blame them on who is sitting next to you. Well, it's obviously Friday afternoon and hitting the silly hour. Better pack up and go home.

Mike49

appetite
I had my rescection on Oct.15 and I had pretty good appetite but cut down on serving size. I just started chemo, so there goes the appetite for now.