Head hunger and jealousy...

How do I deal with these? The jealousy is of what my family is eating. Any other post-ops with this problem? Christie

I guess that will be hard to deal with. I haven't experienced it yet but I am sure I will. For me its more frustration at having to cook them endless meals. Sometimes I look at their plates and think wow did I eat like that. Once you put dinner out, don't stay in the room while they eat, that might help and if my husband buys my son food from Mcd's or the sub shop they eat in the car before they come home. Good luck Patty

CHRISTIE: GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!! WE SHARE THE SAME DATE.... YES, MY GRANDMA HAS BEEN COOKING WONDERFUL MEALS FOR MY FAMILY FOR ABOUT 6 NIGHTS NOW AND THIS PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN JUST LEAVING THE ROOM! I AM SICK OF THAT! DO I TAKE MY BROTH TO THE TABLE AND WATCH THAT WONDERFUL STUFF ON THE TABLE! I HAVE BEEN OPENING UP CONTAINERS OF LEFTOVERS (gOULASH, FRIED CHICKEN, STEAK, TUNA & NOODLES ETC) AND JUST SMELLING THEM AND PUTTING THEM BACK!!!! THAT IS CRAZY BUT MY HEAD HUNGER CAME BACK A LITTLE SOONER THAN I HAD EXPECTED!!!! MY DOC HAS ME ON LIQUIDS RIGHT NOW, AND I GO TOMORROW FOR MY 1ST CHECKUP, I AM HOPING HE GIVES ME THE OK FOR MASHED POTATOES, REFRIED BEANS, COTTAGE CHEESE ETC. ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, I AM DOWN 22 LBS THIS MORNING! PLEASE WRITE ME WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE!!!!!! JACQUE 8-16-04 271/249

Hi Jacque my surgery day twin, I agree, I thought the head hunger was down the road more. I didn't see it coming. I'm on liquids also. I get to go to pureed stage on Sept 6th. Seems really far off. I have lost 20 lbs as of Monday (1 week) and nothing for the last 3 days. This is really frustrating. I am having a real problem with this. 22 lbs is great. Do you feel better already? I know I do. Talk later, Christie 338/318/170

Hi Christie, I am single so I don't deal with the family stuff, but I completely understand the jealousy of others eating. I started soft foods today (thank GOD!), so I feel much more "normal" so to speak, but I have been mourning my previous relationship with food for a while. I've also felt very envious of those who get to eat like I once did. Even though I know that eating got me to the point of needing surgery, I still miss it and probably will for a while. I am two weeks out and the second week of liquids just about undid me. Having more variety to look forward to sounds wonderful and has given me some hope. Hopefully the jealousy will subside for all of us. I think we've been through a lot in the past little bit, and our minds/bodies/feelings are all a little out of whack. At least I feel that way about me! Take care, Kathryn 8/12/04 -17

My jealousy really didn't hit me until the other night when my husband went to McDonalds and got my favorite: qp with cheese and fries. I had to make him leave the room. The smell of it made me so mad at him for getting that and trying to eat in front of me. He understood, but at the same time, I had to realize that's what got me in this mess and that's why I had surgery. I am 3 weeks out and down 25lbs. I am on full liquids and the only thing I really want is a pop and a hamburger. Oh well, I guess I will live! Good luck and hang in there. We're here to support you!

OH MY GOSH!!! YES!!!!!!!! I had sooooo much jealousy when I first got home, I thought I was going to kill my friend who flew in to help take care of my hubby and baby. It's getting better now. I'm just really missing food. I went to the CA State Fair last weekend and all of the smells drove me nuts! I wanted to gorge myself, but settled for water instead. Sometimes I feel so sorry for myself!!!! It does get better/easier with time. And we just need to realize head hunger really is in our head, and it's OKAY to feel hungry now and again, it won't kill us!!! Dawn

I'm dealing with the same thing right now. My fiancee went grocery shopping and bought all kinds of yummy foods. I just think that If I was to try any of it, I would get deathly sick and it would defeat the whole purpose of having the surgery. I just grab a sugar free jell-o or sugar-free fudgsicle if I'm craving for something and say oh well... I'd rather be thinner and I can deal with it. Lisa

OMG...u mean I am not alone??? Jealous, I was about to knock everyone out for just eating! I almost ate my nieces play pizza set... hahaha. No one ever told me about this head hunger thing.. it was kicking me in the butt and it started IN THE HOSPITAL!!! I saw a commercial for shrimp at Long John Silvers...now I NEVER ate there but it didnt matter! When I came home, I really couldnt get up and down the steps so it was a bit easier to NOT see what others were eating...but it seemed like every 2 seconds there was a food commerical on TV. I actually stared at the Food Network drooling! It has gotten a bit better since I am no longer on liquids but now I am on my 2nd week of pureed foods and I want something to eat!! I wanted peanut butter and some spaghetti!!! SO, instead of getting mad and taking it out on others, I go walk on my treadmill or just cry! Yes, I said cry. I think for me, i have to mourn my previous realtionship with food. Just like someone else said, my old ways is why i am in this situation. But, I couldnt help feel sad about not being able to eat what I wanted even if it wasnt good for me. So, I am taking one step at a time shopping (some places I have to stay away from) and prayerfully in time, it will dimini****s funny though, I was a sweets person, and now I dont have a craving for them.... i want FOOD! Try to distract yourself or tell yourself that you are eating something else. Also, I started writing down things that I wanted to eat (did this when I had my tonsils out too) and experiencing them that way and the craving actually leaves!! You will have to find something that will work for you... I pray it gets easier. At least I know I am not alone! Good luck Diane

Can I say how happy I am to see this topic??!?! I feel like I'm all alone in this 'food mourning' stage. Even my surgeon said that people don't mention how much they miss food. I told him that people must not talk about it. My dietician says that most people forget the first few post-op weeks at about 3-4 months out. I knew that the first 4-6 weeks were going to be difficult. But no one told me that you won't forget what food tastes like - you know how good it is. No one said tha****ching TV can send you over the edge (FYI - don'****ch The Food Network post-op - it will drive you insane!!!! ) I miss food a lot - and it's hard to watch my family eat dinner. It's important to both me and my husband that we eat dinner as a family. So, I sit there with my pureed food, or shake, or whatever I can have and try to make the best of it. I'm hoping that this phase will end soon. I know the rewards will make it worth it!!! Hang in there, Nicole