what should my stomach be feeling like now?
I'm like you, I thought my stomach was lower also. It's good to know that what I am feeling is normal and from my stomach. When I first had liquids that weren't just clear, I had sharp pains briefly. I thought it was just surgery related. Those have gone away since I have been drinking much smaller sips and slowed down the time between them. Thank you for the advice.
on 4/8/15 12:13 am
Measure about an inch above the incision below your sternum. That is where your new stomach begins. So, yes, the weird feeling is from your stomach. That annoying sensation is your sleeve telling you that it's working and when to stop eating. I assume you're still on liquids at 6 days post-op? When you start eating more solid foods, that sensation will come in very handy as your signal that the sleeve is full.
psychoticparrot
"Live for what today has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away."
Also remember that the nerves around your stomach have been cut and may not be telling you correctly what is going on. In simple terms, it LIES! You may think you feel hungry but it can actually be acid. or it may not "feel" full but is. So remember to always weigh and measure your food so you know you are not eating too much. While it is talking to you it may be telling tales at the same time!
I had surgery on 3/31 so I'm just a bit ahead of you. I have yet to finish a full portion of anything that I serve myself each meal, because I am TERRIFIED of overstuffing myself and stop at the first little twinge of anything in my stomach. I still haven't gotten used to the new signals it sends my brain, although I definitely can tell when it's totally empty or rumbly with excess acid, as that feels just like the old stomach's hunger pangs. If I take too large a drink of water (I have yet to take too large a bite, again because I'm probably being way overcautious) I feel a kind of heavy, dull ache right below my ribs for a few seconds until things settle, so I'm guessing that's what my new 'full' feels like.
I've decided the dull ache is a signal I am too full also. If I wait a few minutes, especially if I'm drinking water it goes away quickly and I can take another small sip. When it doesn't go away in a few minutes is when I quit, I must be full. It's so hard when I still want a drink of water or something.
I worry about over filling my new stomach and take small sips of anything. I just sip and wait for time to pass and do it again. How are you doing on getting your protein in? I'm having trouble getting to 60 grams, I'm getting better but it's still hard.
I'm averaging 60-65 grams a day, and I've only had to 'supplement' with a shake two days so far. Five more days on full liquids before I can start soft foods, yay!