Do You Feel Any Different?

I'm getting such great imput from everyone and since I can't figure out the chat room, I'll just have to keep posting my questions... I'm curious about how you feel post-op. Meaning, do you feel like you just had your insides rearranged? When you swallow is it a different sensation? And ya know when your throat is really dry and you take an ice cold drink and you can feel it travel all the way down, you get that "ahhh that was good" feeling... does that change? I know this surgery is permanent and I'm worried that it will make me feel alien to myself, know what I mean? And above all... was it really worth it? The life altering surgery... do you ever have regrets? I understand that for some, this was a life saving surgery. But if you could go back, knowing what you know now, would you have done it again? Thanks so much for any answers you all feel like sharing. I can't promise this will be my last post for the day, after all I'm on a roll!! God Bless every path you put your feet to. LeeAnn

As many have said, I only wish I did this 10 years earlier. I had a bit of difficulty the first week with major constipation that I was convinced was a stricture or blockage (I panicked), but I was fine after that with a text book recovery. I looked at the diet, meds/vitamins, exercise and surgery as a formula to achieve the weight loss. The fact that it happens relatively rapidly in the beginning, gets you so motivated. I said to myself, "Thank goodness I will have the opportunity to be successful this time ". I kinda felt as if I was rescued from having to deal with major weight issues for the rest of my life. It was sooooooooooooo worth it for me and I don't regret it for a minute. Hey, shopping for size 4 sure beats shopping for size 24!!!!! As for the physical feelings, you feel kinda sore in the abdomen, sort of like you are bruised internally. As for swallowing, that feels the same, but the "full" feeling is a bit different. When I am really full, I can almost feel the food resting in my esopagus as if it just won't fit in my stomach (pouch). This feeling usually passes quickly, unless I have truly over eaten. You can still feel refreshed when you drink cold liquids, and at least I, feel a bit uncomfortable if I drink very hot liquids. The changes you make in your day to day life become routine, and are very livable. I am sure that others may have their own, or different thoughts on surgery, so I'd read all the responses, and figure that you should fall somewhere within the range of replies you get.

I am only 3 weeks post op but I can tell you that I am so glad I had this surgery. I do feel different in some ways but not the ones you describe - I am not hungry - that is something I dont think I have ever experienced in my life. When it is time to eat, I eat because I have to, and after the first couple of bites I usually dont want any more (the first few bites satisfies whatever cravings I have to chew and taste something) but I do eat until I feel the pressure thing because I have to make sure I get enough protien. Have you heard about the changes in the full feeling? Well we are supposed to stop when we fill this pressure - for me it is a dull pressure - no pain or anything like that. The way I first recognized it was just because it was different. Well that is our sign to stop eating - that is the sign that the pouch is full. If we eat even a few bites beyond that we risk throwing it all up. The thing about the drinking, we have to sip continually all day, so its not the same sensation - we cant let ourselves get too thirsty because we cant drink more than a sip - we cant guzzle the whole thing. But I still love drinking ice cold water or hot tea! For me, knowing this surgery is permanent is a blessing. I will never be able to eat the way I did before. I must always eat like a diabetic because my body can not metabolize sugar the way it did before. They say that a year down the road I can have a few bites of a birthday cake (Post op size bites - small, not pre op size bites - gigantic ;) ) which I am sure will satisfy me. I havent had any longings for anything like that anyway. They only longing I had for something was toward the end of my liquid only stage where I was feeling good and wanted to chew on something (about 8 days post op) I saw the Incredibles with my kids and the little boy was eating steak and broccoli (now remember this was animation) and I wanted a taste of that so bad I could literally smell the steak!!! Well thank the Lord I had my first post op visit with my dr two days later and once I was given the ok to have some soft foods I didnt have that craving to chew on stuff any more. From what I understand from people here on the boards, that is called head hunger and happens to most everyone at the point just prior to having the soft foods. I hope some of this was helpful to you! God bless you and keep you. ~Andrea