? about the hungries.....

Okie doke - we all have had different surgeries and different instructions for post-op, but I just want to get a general idea. I don't have a surgeon locally that I can ask these things of, so I am hoping to glean info from you all. I do okay most of the time, but sometimes I get famished. I am dealing with one of those times right now, but thankfully I'm too lazy to get up and get anything! My surgeon said to eat 3 meals a day and no snacking. I can do that for the most part, but I do find that I get hungry a couple more times during the day than I can eat. I am okay with going hungry a little, but sometimes I am just feeling so famished I want to eat! I have tried pushing my meals later since breakfast isn't so important for me needwise, but what ends up happening, like today, is that I eat at noon, then at 3pm I am hungry....famished....again. I went ahead and ate since I figured it was my body telling me that I was off schedule, and then I had dinner about 8pm which then made me dump. So I slept from 9p-1a and got up and am sitting here at 5a hungry as all getout. Do any of you have this happen as well? How do you deal with it? I'm not really overwhelmed by it as I don't have a problem with a growling stomach to a degree, but I figure if you all have tricks, maybe I can incorporate them... Dina

Well I'm truly a "newbie" 10 days post op, but I was given totally different directions. Along with my 3 meals, I take 3 low calorie protein drink snacks between meals. I actually have a hard time consuming everything, I'm hungry....but only mentally...I'm 10 days post op but down 15 lbs. Yipeeee Rachel

Try snacking on green veges or other things that are nutritional but not high in calories or protein that are hard to get in. Occasionally I will snack on SF pudding. Usually I am needing to get in a protein shake. I am having a hard time getting in 3 meals! I've never been a breakfast eater, so it is hard to start eating that early, and then I'm not hungry at lunch. I went all day one day with just one meal of yogurt and 2 protein shakes. (I don't recommend that--I had a crisis with my mom and did not even have time to think about eating!) Funny how we are all so different in our responses! Joy

Well I am still confused by some of the differences I read. I am supposed to try to get 40-60 grams of protein, and as much liquid as possible. But I am only supposed to consume 2 ounces at a time in food and 4 ounces at a time with a protein drink. Therefore I am also eating or drinking something all day long with 20-30 minutes intervals inbetween. I am finding I am hungry too. So basically I have been eating 3 tiny meals, 3 little snacks and about 4 small protein shakes. I would like to eat more at one sitting and drink more at one sitting, and think I could but want to follow orders right now. have you all been allowed to down an 8 ounce protein shake at one sitting?

Hi Sally, My protein shake is 11 oz (can't stomach it anymore so I stopped it and am getting the protein other ways now). When I first came home, I was able to finish the 11 oz shake in about an hour. Now I'm drinking a SF Carnation Instant Breakfast (8 oz) in aobut 15 - 20 minutes. I still keep a 30 min buffer before and after I have that though. mgm

When it comes to the 'technicalities' (i.e. how many meals per day, how many oz per sitting, how many gr of protein, etc, etc) FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S REGIME. It's nice to have the ideas that are thrown around on here for stuff like how to tweak a protein shake to make it taste like a strawberry margarita, good high-protein food suggestions to keep us from getting bored, etc. But when it comes to the REAL stuff, you've GOT to follow your doctor's instructions. Despite how many different protocals are out here, there's a "method to the madness" of each doctor and the 'program' they've chosen. They didn't just haphazardly come to their instructions, they didn't just hit one book and come up with what sounded good, they studied various methods and came up with their "best practice". Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to All Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles

Kimmer - different story for me though. I have very few aftercare instructions from my surgeon since he is in Mexico. All he said was not to eat between the 3 meals I have and told me soft foods for the week after surgery and no meat or coffee until 1 month out. Oh and no carbonated drinks or NSAID's and aspirin. So really, for me it is a need that I have to hear what people are doing. I knew going into this that I wouldn't have the benefit of having my surgeon close by to help me out with this - that's why I ask the question. I will do what he asks of me, but I also need to hear other's experiences and instructions in order for me to fill in the blanks. Dina

Oh, I know yours is quite a different situation, Dina. I even thought about offering to send you a copy of my materials to take to your PCP (or not...) for reference, knowing your gig. (If you'd like a copy, let me know...I have about 1/4" thick of stuff SO FAR...you're welcome to them!). But you don't have the access to your surgeon like the rest of us do. "WE" are not in your shoes... I was referring to those who keep 'comparing' their post-op program to others (i.e. "why can you have 4 oz when I can only have 2 oz?", "Well, if YOU can have salmon at 2 weeks out, I don't see why I can't, even tho my doctor says I should still be on full fluids"...etc). It's like taking a sampling of Atkins, Weigh****chers, The Zone, South Beach, Cabbage Soup, Optifast, Medical Weight Loss, and every other 'diet', mixing them up, taking a bit from this diet and a bit from that diet, and expecting it to work. Atkins works for a reason, but if you add Weigh****chers in to it, it's gonna be a total failure. That's what I keep trying to emphasize to some of our Marchers - their doctors have come to a post-op plan under MUCH research and study, and they have to stick to the plan given them. I know I sound preachy, but it's not going to work correctly if they don't. And frankly, it just starts sounding "competetive" at times: "well, I'M gonna have a salad, too, since YOU had one". Yeesh. Anyhoo, that was NOT intended for you...and if you DO want my materials, I'd be happy to send 'em to ya. Just send me your address... Hasta la, chiquita! Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to All Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles

Hi Dina; I took the Snapples to my dietician before my surgery. She said that the sugars are okay because they're natural. I understand not wanting to test the dumping though. Also, I had never heard of a 4 oz. pouch. Do you mind if I'm nosey and I ask why it's so large? Cheryl

I like the idea of the low-cal snacks and all, but I think I'll forego the Snapple a day thing because of the sugar content. I have been dumping with sugar and carbs, so I think I'm going to have to beg off those. I have had plain old SF/FF yogurt which is 100 calories per 8 oz serving, so I guess I could snack on that since there are 9 grams of protein in it. I know that some of you have smaller pouches than me though as well, so I can see why some surgeons are saying to snack between meals, but I'm not so sure I should do that with my 4 oz pouch... Dina