Dr Curry? I'M POST-OP AND HUNGRY!!!

Hi, Dr. Curry, Thanks for reading my post. I had RNY last Friday. I was OK Saturday and Sunday, but all this week I've been fighting food cravings and what I can only describe as hunger pains! I've been told by other posters that this is "head hunger" and that might be part of it, but I'm feeling pangs right down in my (new) gut! I am still on the full liquid diet and yesterday added cream soup. I was OK for a while, but by 7PM, if someone had put one of those bags of cheese cubes in front of me, I probably would have finished the whole thing! I'm miserable and at this point wondering what the heck I had the surgery for! Help!!! (and thanks)

Joy, It's totally head hunger - best thing to do is stay busy, don't sit around the house where you think about it all the time. Go to the mall and walk, walk, walk! C

I know I am not Dr. Curry but I had to reply because I got a chuckle out of your wanting to eat a bag of cheese cubes...Believe me,,you may "THINK" you can but it would be impossible,,hehe,,that is the great thing about the small pouch,,you have a built in regulator now, that keeps you from gorging,,,grazing maybe later on yes,,but gorging ,,,naw.....good luck,,now I will slink back to lurking

Hi, Melanie Thanks for your reply! I sure do "think" I can, and my son (the little smart-ass) told me to go ahead and "see" what happened. Everyone keeps telling me it's "head hunger" and it probably is. It seems to be dissapating a little, but those cravings sure are a bear! Well, Dr. Schauer did tell me the surgery is only a "tool". Cheers! Joy

LOL, I remember them telling me it was only a tool also, but that really hits home when the weight starts to be a chore to get off..the first 8months for me were not hard, but now the last 50lbs is being tuff to get off..but thankful for 100lbs gone for sure....just remember water water water, protein and avoid the carb monster,,it is my drug of choice~~!!

I could have written this post myself a few months ago... All I remember reading from people was you aren't hungry after surgery and you have to force yourself to eat...YEAH RIGHT...I was SO hungry after surgery and the liquids did not do it for me... I am sure a lot was head hunger as every food commercial was a killer to me and just dug in deeper because I knew I couldn't eat that stuff....I spent a few weeks suffering like that, until I was able to eat more solid foods. The liquid weeks were hard and when I went to soft foods I think I felt a bit better and I added things a little early.But that's what pulled me through. I have a magic bullet blender and put in some of the more dense things and added them to my diet.. Flavor really helps the head hunger, as one or two bites of somethig with real flavor is so much more satisfying than a few sips of liquids. Now I am 2 months out and can eat almost anything and feel like I did not have surgery. I feel normal.. I have my days where my pouch is a bit tense (and food hurts a bit when it goes in) but on those days I drink something warm to relax it. Now I feel like the others and I keep having to force myself to eat...I start to think that I might eat too much, but it really doesn't happen because for the first time in my life, a bite or two is satisfying (to my belly not to my head< my head still feels a little ripped off I can't eat the whole platter of food)..I am still having a hard time getting in enough water and protein.. I am drinking one protein drink a day to boost my numbers and notice the more protein I get in the more weight I lose... I am a slow loser as I have only lost 30 lbs in the first 2months. I am unable to exercise like I should because of an ankle injury and now a hip problem, but I try to walk as much as I can....The other thing I felt in the beginning was I wished that I had stuffed myself with junk a few weeks before the surgery.. I was so ready to have this done that I was already watching my foods (for about 6 months) and eating like I had already had surgery, (protein first, low carbs) and I had wished that I had had some pizza, chips and some sweets as a last goodbye to them... Well I have rambled long enough.. I just wanted to say I know how you feel and it will get better once you get past the liquid stage.

Have you tried fitday.com I love that site for posting my weight change and calories for when I think I am eating to much. I am doing great. Me and Dave have decided to put me in out patient rehab. I start tuesday. I have started walking again and im feeling better than I did. how much have you lost. I would love to see your picture update. I am limited on my excercise and its bumming me out. Hugs Barb

I guess we all are a little different coming out of surgery. For a long long time I had no desire to eat....sometimes I would forget to eat....and here's the kicker....If my tv was on it was always on the food network the entire time I was off work for recovery....actually I still watch the food network quite a bit. I still don't get hungry unless I forget to eat...which usually happens on the weekends. During the week I have a stricked food schedule I follow. It's harder on the weekend since I'm busy doing this and that. See I carry a cooler with me everywhere filled with healthy High protein snacks, sometimes fruit, or veggies and dip, nuts, south beach bars, oatmeal...... When I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. I usually eat about every 2-3 hours. Or 6 or 8 times a day. So in all honesty I don't think I give myself time to get hungry. Everything will work out just fine. I've heard people say this surgery is easy.....well no its not. And the first few months are down right tough! Good luck on your journey! Lisa Starting 307/150 current