I'm so hungry!

My surgery is scheduled for 2-1 and for the past 3 days I am non-stop hungry! Is this normal? Up until now, I have done so well with my protien, etc. lost my 5%, but I am afraid that if I can't my mind off food, I will gain it all back before surgery! Any suggestions? Sue

Hi Sue! Take a deep breath... you are almost there! I think it's not uncommon to "feel hungry" just before surgery. Is it real hunger, or "head hunger". That's something to check out before you eat. Much of our issues are psychological and I know that I feared that I would never be able to eat my favorite foods again, after surgery. (That's not true) I wanted to eat everything I could think of before it was too late.... but, I didn't. Keep drinking lots of water and make sure you are truly hungry before eating. Find something else to pass the time until the feeling goes away. Take a walk, a bubble bath, window shop online for all the cute clothes you want to fit into. I will be sending positive vibes your way! Keep up the good work, Sue. You can do this and it is soooooo worth it! Joy

I think it's very normal. You are coming face to face with all of your food issues and are about to surrender control - or at least that's how I felt. I had "lasts" daily, and spent a lot of time when I was driving thinking of the next one. If I had only known I was going to be more satisfied with my eating experiences post-op I would not have been so panicked. You are not likely to gain 15 pounds in less than two weeks. Don't take your obessions about food right now as a sign that you are not going to do well. It is really normal! When you wake up from your surgery you will be on board and headed right where you want to be! I did a lot of deep cleaning to get my mind off of it. Before you know it February will be here! Patty

Thank you so much for your support. I did better with the water today and added a little more protien. You are right of course, it is hard to let go of my food. It has been my best friend since I was a little girl. Sue

It may not be a good friend, but it's an old friend. Change is always hard, be it moving, getting a new job, getting gastric bypass surgery. Those early months after surgery when I was not able to use food to comfort my bad times and good times, it forced me to come up with a new way of living. The "can't" days don't last forever, but by that time the pull and need were diminished so greatly. I remember feeling the week before surgery like I was standing on the high dive wanting to jump and feeling terrified to jump. Luckily I showed up that morning and I have never had one regret. I have to be honest....I know I could not have adhered to that cottage cheese and tuna diet Dr. Patterson expects patients to follow pre-op. My doctor only asked that I not gain any weight and neither he nor I weighed myself again pre-op. I felt soon enough I would be following things to the letter. I understand the great benefits in being as healthy as possible going into surgery, but I just wasn't willing to drink protein shakes and be on the Atkins diet that last week. I don't confide this to say "don't try" but to share that you are not the only one struggling in the days up to your surgery date. Do your best - I share your struggle! Patty

I read the post and im in need of same thing those are all good idea's I really like the one of shopping for new clothes.I have benn saving skinny pants for years now knowing someday i will be back in em.and now it shere.I feel ya sue on the eating thing but I think im doing ok.I know I need more water but I seem to be drinking the protein just fine.Then I dont feel thirsty anymore lol I start to feel a bit guilty.But I will start drinking alot of water now it just has to be.I go to the surgeon on thursday to talk & EKG ect.I am so nervouse It does feel just like a diving board patty.I have been doing nothing but eating meat and vegtable's Not pork but I have had some very lean steak. And skinless chicken avoiding hamberger.All in all I weighed before a couple months ago at initial meeting with clothes on and i weighed 327-being on the diet with out my shoes i was 315-317 on sunday so I hope im doing ok.I have also been wearing the patch trying to quit smoking and have cut down emensly. I will definatly done by tues.its jsut really hard being a smoker of 20 years and trying to be on a diet is difficult.I didnt want to quit cold turkey and not loose the wight.sooooooooooo hard.but im also telling myself see mike see thats what ya get lol and its working.My NP also said not to go cold turkey cuz it makes it easier to start up again.so gradually taking my nicotine intake down slowly has really worked alot better I think . Wow a week from this wed cant beleive it im so full of butterflies.I know its not my post but thank you everybody. michael.

PS.im also hungery sue I think the midnight feedings is what I miss the most.;o)

Hi Michael. I'm so glad that people are being so honest on this board. It helps us know how to help each other. I'm pulling for you, Michael. Peg

Hi Sue. You got some good advice from Joy and Patty. I'm thinking about you. I too was afraid that I wouldn't EVER be able to eat the foods I like again, so I dove off the high dive and had all the things I wanted before surgery! Silly me! I am still able to eat them....just in much smaller quantities and not all the time. You can do this, Sue. I'm pulling for you. Peg