I'm back and doing great

Hi All, I had my surgery on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Probably most of you who have had problems don't want to hear this, but this was one of the easiest things I've done in my life.  I had absolutely no nausea, vomiting , NO PAIN.  Like everyone else, I guess, I have 6 holes in my stomach.  I felt nothing in five of them.  The sixth is where the drain was and all I felt there was some muscle soreness...like I'd worked out too hard.   Here's my problem.  I never expected to be hungry!  I think I even asked here if I would be hungry because that's the one thing I didn't want.  Well, that's been the hardest thing for me so far...the hunger.  I had the drain removed yesterday and the doctor told me I could progress to soft foods.  I left his office and went immediately for a scrambled egg.  I expected to be able to eat only a few bites.  I ate the whole thing and could have eaten another one.  This morning for breakfast I had another egg and an entire protein drink.  I told the doctor about my hunger and he told me I was one of the rare ones.  I'm just wondering if anyone else had this experience.  It's scaring me because I feel absolutely normal and have since the day after the surgery.  However, I lost 16 pounds the first week so I guess it's working and I'm happy about that. I wanted to thank everyone for their uplifting words and prayers.  I'm sure that's what made this so easy for me. Sue

Glad to hear that you are home and doing well...16 pounds WOW...Hang in there

Right now you are not able to actually feel the difference between full and hungry. the nerves in your stomach have been cut and it will take time for them to grow back. What you are feeling is head hunger or habit even though to you it may feel like hunger. Most of us have not felt actual, true hunger in years. We've always eaten before true hunger could set in. At this point you should be measuring your food and not eating more than 2 ounces at a time. More than that can, over time, stretch the stoma causing mechanical failure of the surgery and regain. My instructions were 2 oz every 2 hours eaten over no more than a 20 minute time frame. Congrats on the 16 pounds though. That is great! Just remember, the weight comes off very easy in the beginning. After the first 6 months the weight loss slows considerably. Now is the time you need to be learning the habits that are going to serve you for the rest of your life.

I think that what you are probably feeling is head hunger and not actual hunger. darlene

Hi Darlene: Well, I guess what I'm feeling might be head hunger but my stomach is sure growling. Sue

You will find that our new tummies make all kinds of strange sounds. There are times that my hubby can hear mine growling and gurgling when we are sitting on opposite ends of the couch.

Sue, I don't have any input as to the surgery, but I will send you alot of for startin your terrific journey.  Hugz Barb

Congrats on the 16 lbs, that is great.  Just becaeful eating too much.  I think I read in some where on the board that you stomache will talk to you, so maybe that is what it is doing,  I'll keep you in my thoughts Sue

Well now I'm really confused.  It feels like I'm hungry when I eat but after reading all your responses, maybe I'm not.  So how much should I be eating...and not jut eating too much.  I have a protein drink for breakfast, I think I'll have a scrambled egg for lunch and maybe some cottage cheese for dinner.  Should I actually be eating three small meals a day like that?  And to get in enough protein, I'll probably have another protein drink during the day. Is that too much food for being so early in this journey? Sue

Many of us have found that 5 or 6 mini meals work best for us. A mini meal would be about 2 oz or 1/4 cup of food. Most of us do rely on protein drinks early on because it's just not possible for us to eat enough to get our protein in. You can go on fitday.com and use a free program to monitor your calories, protein, fat, and water. At this stage your focus should be protein and fluids. Shoot for a minimum of 60 grams of protein and try for 80 - 85 grams. Fluid should be sugar free, calorie free and caffeine free. Your goal there is a minimum of 64 ounces per day. Remember, nothing to drink 30 minutes prior to eating and nothing to drin****il 30 minutes to an hour after eating. It should take no longer than 20 minutes to eat your meal. Longer than that and you are prone to eat too much. I'm glad you are feeling well. I didn't have any nausea either. But, I'll tell you, it was 6 months before I could eat an entire egg.