S.O.S. REQUESTING HELP WITH A REAL CONCERN

I have been wrestling with this issue all by myself for several days, maybe even a few weeks now. I just realized that the people on this board are so open and generous with their help, I need to take advantage of your good will and just put this out to you. I am really scared. I had my surgery on March 8th. I have not had any problems at all with food intake (except for the 1st 2 times I tried meat for the 1st time after surgery, which caused an uncomfortable pain in my chest that eventually went away). Now at just about 2 months out, I am finding I can eat anything without any problems. Of more concern is I seem to be able to eat in normal quantities and without getting any sort of signal that I'm full or any uncomfortable feelings at all. I am not chewing very carefully, I find I eat my meals in about 10 minutes without any complications. I feel like I don't have a "tool" -- that something is not working the way it should. Now, I am hungry all the time. Nothing satisfies me. I guess what I'm saying is I feel the way I always feel when I'm on a diet -- hungry and deprived. How can I hope to get to my goal weight if the surgery really didn't provide me with the tool it was supposed to? If I have a 2 oz. pouch, why does nothing satisfy me? Why does nothing cause me discomfort? I am really scared, folks. Whatever insight you can offer, I greatly appreciate. Thanks so much. Maureen

Reenie, honey! I am the EXACT opposite of you. I can hardly keep water down without getting that air bubble thing and then hucking it all up. Yesterday I managed to get in 1/4 of a crustless sandwich, 1 oz. string cheese, 4 oz. regular cherry jello, a cup of coffee and well water. That doesn't mean that's all I ate just that's what stayed down. I eat and sometimes I'm fine, Chef Boy Rdee (sp) usually stays but not these last few days! I can eat 7 oz. of the Chef Boy (extreamly slowly) and be fine but then a swallow of water (at a different time) and HUCK! I think we should get together and I take some of your eating ability and you can have some of my eating inability, that should balance us out! Seriously though, you might want to talk to your doc. I can't give any advice about this as I haven't expirienced it. I'm sure others have though and can help you out (or at least try!) Good luck and remember to love yourself no matter what happens! Love and Hugs, Gayle

Well, Gayle, I'm sorry you're having so much difficulty with food! I do wish I could have just a little of the problems you're experiencing so that I would really be scared to eat. Thanks for the good thoughts. Maureen

Maureen, I am one month out and have been experiencing similar. I too can eat more than 4 oz. in one sitting and don't ever really get the full sensation others talk about. Except when eating meat that is bulky. I keep wondering if maybe my pouch is bigger. I keep complaining of hunger pains. Two friends of mine who had the surgery before me a year and 2 years ago tell me they never got hungry in the beginning and could only eat 2 ounces at a time. I will be going back to the doctor next week for my 1 month checkup. I will be inquiring about this. Sorry I can't give insight, but I can relate. Karen Open RxY April 2, 04 -23

Karen, thanks for responding. Would you mind letting us know what your doctor says about this issue? Thanks a lot. Maureen

No problem. I will post a message after my appointment, which is actually on May 17th. Also, to combat eating too much at one sitting, I drink water along with my meals. It seems to help fill me up. Hang in there, Karen

Maureen, I am exactly the same way you are, able to eat almost anything, except Chinese. I am always hungry, I have never had the 'full' feeling. It is very freightening to me. When I went to see my surgeon on my first post-op visit, I accused him of not doing the surgery, he wanted to know why, I explained this whole situation to him, and all he basically told me was to pay attention to what I eat and to consume just the recommended amount given to me by the dietary department and not to eat till I get that 'full' feeling, and he also warned me that if I did eat until I was 'full' I could stretch my pouch. So, I try to stay in the recommended amount, consuming between 600 and 700 calories a day. I know this is not much help, but that is all he had to offer me. Betty

Well, Betty, it's somewhat comforting to know I'm not alone in this. I am also trying very hard to stay within the recommended guidelines of WLS eating protocol but I feel at times as if I am hanging on by my fingernails. That same old feeling, you know? Sooner or later, I will give in to the hunger and that empty feeling inside. This is my greatest fear. Thanks. Maureen

Hi Maureen: I am 7 weeks post op and I too am like you. I don't get sick or full and I can eat almost anything. At times I feel like I am starving. However I cannot eat as much or nearly as much as I used to and when I do eat I stop myself when I am no longer hungry. I don't wait for a full feeling just when I am no longer hungry. My dd and ds both lost over 130 pounds with wls and they are both amazed at my recovery and how I can eat. BTW Neither of them can take more than 10-15 minutes to eat a meal. I can only say that you may need to talk yourself into not feeling deprived, and celebrate your weight loss. Maybe you could list a typical day and we could start there to see why you are not satisfied with your meals. Are you eating the right choices? Are you able to eat sweets? I am afraid to try more than a little bite of any sweets. If you tried sweets did you dump? I know what you mean when you say that you wished you had some eating difficuties - it certainly would make it easier to lose weight. Have you called your doctors office and asked about this problem? Louise -28

Louise, I haven't tried anything "illegal" yet -- my DH and my DD (hey, I'm getting the hang of this!) both had birthdays in April and we celebrated in the typical way with wonderful cakes. I didn't dare try tasting them. I am too afraid, but I suspect if I had, I would have been ok. Am going to a post-op support group meeting tomorrow night and will try to get some insight on this then. Thanks for your support. Maureen