I had my one week post-op appt. today...

Today marked one week for me...My weight at the hospital last Friday was 245, my weight at discharge was 256 and today it was 235.  I went in, got my staples out and talked to the doctor.  I told them that other than seeing the marks on my stomach I don't feel like I had surgery.  I explained that i can drink water and protein shakes (that's all I'm allowed to have) without a problem and that it only takes me about 30 minutes to drink an 8 oz. protein shake.  Also explained to him on Tuesday I started feeling VERY hungry (very bad hunger pains in my pouch).  I talked to myself and said, "now Michele, is this hunger pains or is this your head wanting you to be hungry."  Sure enough, I physically have hunger pains...when I wake up in the a.m. they are there, when I use the bathroom in the middle of the night they are there...I told him that the only time the hunger  pains subside is when I initially take a drink of water and it hits my pouch...the hunger pains stop for 5-10 seconds...other than that they are always with me.  He said it's all in my head and that no one gets hungry for 8-12 after the surgery...Of course I would never add anything to me diet without my doctor's permission...I asked for SF Jello and he said no.  I can only have water and protein drinks for another week.  That's fine with me because I can live with the hunger pains...it just kind of makes me sad that he doesn't believe me.

Also, he gave meds to start next week...My gallbladder is fine now, but the meds are supposed to keep it that way.  Did anyone take it and does it really help?

Thanks for listening to my pity party.

Hey Gurl,

He said it's all in my head and that no one gets hungry for 8-12 after the surgery

I am assuming he meant months?????

I am 8 months and I do get hungry............ I felt like you in the begining too. I dreamt of food..... every night......... I dreamt I was picking steak off of my blanket..... LMAOOOOOOOO  I would joke about it because my dogs sleep on my bed with me. I would say hope they don't have an accident during the NIGHT...

It will get better.......... it's all head hunger....... you really do believe you are hungry though.......

Keep up the great work and always do what the Nut tells you and always measure.... always. it will help you get to your goal........

ciao

Congratulations on your weight lost thus far!  I am glad you are having such an easy time recovering from your surgery. 

As for the hunger pains...I am so sorry you are dealing with this.  I started counting calories and journaling 2 weeks ago and the hunger issue really kicked me in the pants about mid-week this week!  I have been doing a lot of reading about "head hunger" versus true hunger pains via Google.  It's such a hard thing to know, especially where we've come from with food and/or weight issues but I am finding some of the articles fairly helpful. 

I am curious to find out more about his issue of "head hunger" vs. true hunger. I am hungry ALL the TIME!! And like you I recently started my pre-op food diary. Can you send me the most helpful links you found on the issue, if you still have them. From what I thought, it's because people like us who have hunger issues that don't have our brains and stomachs wired together right. "Normal" people know when they've had enough food and know when they need to eat. *I* on the other hand NEVER feel full and ALWAYS think I need food. Thanks,
Meredith in New Bern
(sitting here hungry, as usual)