I'm worried because I am soooo hungry! Erin, help!

My surgery (lap band) was just this past Friday. I have lost 13 pounds so far, but anytime I've done liquid (fasting) diets in the past, I've always gained it back. To prep for surgery, I did two weeks of liquids prior to surgery, and now am in clear liquids for a week, which all was a breeze until today, I'm really hungry! Maybe cause I'm feeling better, but I'm worried. Honestly, I never was one to pig out before but I'm not used to eating like no food for three weeks straight! How did you guys get through this? I'm cooking goolash right now for my family and the smell is killing me. I've actually had a hard time getting liquids down, cuz I feel like I'm swallowing a rock and it makes me feel like I got the wind knocked out of me, so maybe I need to try to eat (drink) more. I have restriction for sure, and it's really uncomfortable to eat. I havent really been able to get full since I've been home. Erin, am I really only allowed broth, water, diluted juice, sf jello and popsicles? Is this normal? I want to succeed! I have to succeed!

I was hungry too the first week.. They say it is head hunger. I got so bad I had to be put on depression medicine to get me thru that tough time. Im still on them. Beleive me everything comes together when you get on solid food. All this is normal. I got sick of my family eating. I had to stop cooking for a month to get thru this. I would just go for a walk. Best wishes Barb

Erin is out of town but I'll tackle this one if I may... You will feel hungry on liquids. This is normal. Your band is not meant to restrict liquids, and even though you can feel them going down and may feel tight, they leave the pouch very fast and leave you feeling hungry. It's important though that you don't break the rules, if you overeat and bust some stitches loose we will have to reoperate to reposition your band, which neither you nor I want! Hang in there you can do it! Dr. C PS You WILL NOT gain back your weight, miss Debbie Downer!

I can't overeat, you mean overdrink, thanks...because it feels a little painful getting them down. I'm sipping and can only take a couple of bites of jello or about 1/4 cup of broth at the most! Thank God, it hurts to get that much down or I would be tempted! I'll be a good patient, Dr. C, I promise, I promise. No more surgery for me. This surgery was too easy already. My stitches are strong as can be!

CONGRATULATIONS on your surgery welcome to the loseing side Good luck Michael

I hope I'm not missing something here. I'm still on liquids, but I have been using Optimum Nutrition Gold standard Protein powder mixed with Crystal Light to get about 100 grams of protein per day. This seems to keep me from true "physical" hunger..... I have been keeping the carbs VERY low but making sure I get enough fluids.... more than 64 oz to keep the ketones flushed out and be kind to my kidneys. AND. I 've been eating all the sugar free popsicles and s/f jello I fell like eating. Once a day I have about 6 oz skim milk with 2 calcium chews... "my candy" and this helps. I did buy some fat free cool whip for the S/F jello and sometimes pour some yogurt smoothie on the whole mixture with some splenda for a "sundae." Also, once a day I have a cup of warm pureed soup... (minestrone) for about a 100 calories. I figure I'm getting between 8-900 calories per day and am always able to eat SOMETHING. The popsicles are great for "chewing" as are the calcium supplements. They have 15 calories apiece... so what the hey.. three or four per day.... hardly counts at this point. I have come to the conclusion that I could probably eat a mcdonalds cheeseburger at this point, but I don't want to mess with success and louse up the band so I am making do with the above. Hope this helps!!! Nancy

HIJACK! Hey Dr C, when I come to see you at the end of the month, do you think you could check out my hernia? I think it's getting bigger. Sharyn

Sure, no problem! C