Need to whine

This has been such a stressful week. I'm tired,can't get any rest. Somebody PLEASE tell me why I am so hungry and cannot seem to get satisfied? Surgery was 10/16/03 I've been home 1 1/2 wk. I'm still on pureed foods, soup yogurt instant breakfast applesauce etc. I get full but am hungry 1 hr later. My neighbor has been BBQ steaks outside for the last hour. I've having trouble keeping my pottasium up Anyone have any ideas? Also I'm doing the childrens chewable vit should I be doing more than 1 of those a day? Everything I eat or drink I can feel going all the way thru it's pretty uncomfortable. Am I ever going to be able to eat a steak again?

Are you drinking 30 min before or 45 min after your meals? Sometimes this can be the problem because the food doesn't stay in the pouch long enough. Yes I take 2 children's chewables a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. I have had red meat and have done every well with it. Lean red meat only. Everyone is differnet and I found that only 30% can handle red meat after WLS. I was told that i am the first case at the U of Iowa WLS clinic that does well with red meat. Which makes me very happy. I hope this helps.

No didn't know about the drinking thing but I have to drink with food or else I can't swallow it Thanks

I went for my consult yesterday and Dr. Eibes said not to drink with a meal because it will wash through and you will end up eating more and not losing like you would like. are you doing pureed food? maybe you can add alittle broth to your food to make it alittle moister. Dr. Eibes said I would be on pureed foods for one month after a couple of weeks of liquids--are you trying too much?

I thought i was hungry at first too... what they (my physicians) described as "false hunger". The pain of my stomach healing...was mistaken by my brain for hunger pains. It does go away. I am 3 months post op and I am down 56 lbs. I cannot eat steak. I have handled a bite or two of my husbands, for the flavor..but that is it. I CAN eat a hamburger pattie though. And pork steak/chops, chicken, turkey and such. Red meat, especially in steak, balls up more in tough globs that just doesnt go down well with our surgery. Dont drink with your food. You shouldn't be able to eat more than about a 1/2 of a cup or so at this point in time. Good luck, follow the dr.s rules..and you will do just fine! Dawn Phillips

Dawn, have you tried beef jerky? I have read several post-ops say that they can chew this when they are having beef cravings and chew and chew. Some even say they spit out the little bit that is left after chewing. Also helps with the texture thing. But that it is still a great source of protein. Just a suggestion. Elizabeth

Sue, call anytime ya know. Hints of potassium, bananas and oranges, cantaloup. I will look it up and send you a list. Not to appealing pureed I know, but it might be part of your other problems. Why are you not able to sleep? Pain? restless? I will send you my home phone no. again. The cell phone is acting up. Works, but cuts out. Need to send those directions too. Sorry i haven't been as responsive, guess I have been kind of pouting. Talk to ya soon. (((HUGS))) Elizabeth

I'm still on mostly liquids I've had a scrambled egg or two. The doc is no help, post op visit he didn't even look at incisions just said you're doing good come back in a month. The family doc I was seeing, I called there to get samples of Protonix and the nurse was real nasty to me and I yelled at her (I'm soooooo nasty) told me they didn't get sample of that drug there and I had just gotten some there 2 wks before. I don't have the money to get them filled and it will take 20-30 days for the hospital bill to get in to Medicaid so they won't cover the scrips either. I don't have $500.00 to pay the spenddown I only get $697 a month in SSD. The nurse at the clinic said "well you've got a problem, but there's nothing we can do, so I guess you'll have to go without them" So even if I had the money to see a doc, I don't have one. The surgeon is only concerned with his surgery. After all this, when I saw him last week he asked me if I needed a slip for work???? I haven't worked for 3 years been on SSD for 1 yr. I am SOOOO tired of being blown off by the medical people. I call the dietian and she just wants to talk about portion size??? They're going to start a support group here in CB first meeting next Sat, I'm going to try to go, but I'm sure there will be someone there with perfume/colonge or even Downy softner on their clothes, so I will be unable to stay in the room. I'm again out here on the limb with no net. My depression is really bad, I just sit and cry, and yell at my poor puppies who don't deserve it. I'm sorry to whine here so much but I just don't know what to do. I thought if I survived the two years it took to get on SSD Medicare would help, but I'm in the same boat as I have been for last 2 years, I have Medicare I have Medicaid but I still don't have the money to get medical care. They have a clinic here for low income people and they told me they could't help me I was too sick and too chronic. I felt so good for a while there I wi**** could of lasted.

My surgery was Sept. 12th-food looks very good to me, although I am still on pureed foods. I think it gets better over time, and my mind makes me think I am hungry, but I have not had a stomach growl at all. Last weekend I was at a baptism and church potluck, I was pretty sad, I brought my own food. I think it will get better when we can eat solid foods. I used to always drink with my meals, it is very hard for me to eat without drinking. You could try to pop a sugar free hard candy in your mouth after you eat and wait 30-45 min, then drink. I know it's hard, but it won't wash the food away, and you won't be hungry for a while. Ask your doctor, but I am taking regular vitamins now, no more chewables. PS My husband is 9 weeks post-op and he has eaten roast, steak, chicken, and pork chops...all fine just chew a lot, or it will come back up. Deb PAul