What does "full" feel like post-op?? Please help!!!

Hi all!  I have a question.  I just had surgery one month ago today.  I don't think I have felt "full" since my surgery.  What does it feel like?  For that matter, I don't think that I have felt hungry either.  I eat on a schedule right now.  I follow all of the rules when I do eat to include no liquid, tiny spoon, tiny plate or bowl, weighing food, chewing food to a pulp.  Thanks in advance!

Oh, gosh, this is a hard question because it is different for everyone, but I'll share my experience. My pouch's name is Mrs Nesbit, and from day 1, I had to learn to really listen to her above everything else. Sometimes it was hard to hear her above the voices that said "You know you really want that last bite of ____ !!!" It took a few times early out of being ever so slightly uncomfortable (not vomiting or nauseous, mind) to find that "sweet spot", especially when I did not have measuring tools available. Measuring food, as you are doing, was a great help because I found that even when I stuck to those exact amounts, I was neither hungry nor "full" either and that is OK! I was glad for that, because before surgery I was always hungry and never full, and at least postop I really didn't feel either of those things, at least not until I was much further out. One of the things that happened to me was that Mrs Nesbit would very clearly tell me when it was time to stop, and as long as I did when she said so I had no problems. If I ignored her, I learned early on that was a mistake and I would pay for it. Didn't take me long to learn how much was too much, and it was always spot-on with what I had meaured out for myself in most cases. Enjoy the feeling of "freedom" that comes from not being hungry or not being "full" like we remember it to be preop and then being hungry again a short time later. You are doing exactly the right thing by measuring and sticking to what the rules say!! Even for myself at 16 months postop, as long as I follow all of the rules I have no issues with fullness, hunger or regain and enjoy the feelings that come with a different perspective on food.

Good morning! As my good and so missed friend, Dawn, said, it is different for everybody. For me, being 10 1/2 weeks out, (AND YEP, I EDITED THIS TO FIX MY TYPO THAT SARAH FOUND!! hehe) I still do not get hungry. I have found myself, on a few occasions, remembering late at night that I have not had lunch or dinner. The hunger pains, stomach growling, etc. haven't come back. But I don't miss them. And neither does Nellie, ( my pouche's name, named after the whiney girl on "Little house on the prairie")



I also use a small plate, like a saucer, and measure my foods. I try my best to not drink with meals, this is still my biggest problem BUT I am making great progress.



The one thing I can say about being full is that when I am almost there, I hiccup. A large, deep, echoing loud hiccup. I take 1 more bite and then it is time for me to stop. The times I haven't listened to it and ate more than that 1 bite, I have gotten the foamies and food has sat right in my chest.



Listen to your body and new pouch. It is in control and ultimately will have the last say. Good luck and seems like you are doing fabulous!!

So, Theresa, you're 10 1/2 months out now are you? Wow time has really flown.....

I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself!

Awwww yay! Sarah made me laugh. I read this post and was like, hmmm? what is Sarah talking about. Then I re-read mine and had to edit it! But as I sit here, crying, because of those darn sad SPCA commercials, you made me laugh! So thank you!

Definitely different for everyone.  Some people sneeze, burp or hiccup when they hit their full line.  In the beginning it is so difficult to tell because your nerves, etc. are still healing (at 1 month out is may still be too early to feel).  Keep on measuring things in order to stay safe.  As for the hunger, in most cases it does come back also.    I am a burper, if I get to that full spot I burp, then I know to stop so I don't get ill. 

You are very early out yet and probably not on full foods so you will not really feel totally full yet. You should not be feeling hungry either. When you go onto full foods you may experience symptoms of feeling full but your body is really good at letting you know. As everyone has said some burp or hiccup, some feel a real fullness and if they exceed it they suffer.  For me in the beginning I had a fullness or real tightness of the chest - I still get that a little and sometimes I get hiccups or a line of little burps - it means stop or I am going to really hurt if I take one more bite - and also it depends on the food I am eating too.... with meat and fish I feel the tightness in my chest with fruit and veg I don't feel that... The feeling will come - just give it time until you are on normal foods Jackie

I agree with all the good advice you have been given and I also commend you for sticking to the program.  That is most important to retraining yuor brain that will be aHUGE benefit when you get 12+ months out.  I'd like to answer your question from a little different perspective; feeling full post-op is not like pre-op.  Pre-op full was a wonderfully full content, boy-was-that-good kind deal for me. Push back and let the gut hang,...loosen the belt,...put my feet up, heavy sigh and be content (at least until next meal when I'd eat till I busted a gut again, super-obesity bound). Post-op, full for me, I kept waiting for.  But like you, I had no hunger and had to force myself to get in the required minimums. As I moved/graduated to soft foods (with protein powder stirred in,...yum) it finally happened.  I was slowly taking my 1 oz spoonfuls when I started getting a discomfort in my chest right around my sternum.  It kinda felt like something was stuck.  I was full.  It was the first time I ever felt that.  With another bite, it got worst but I had food let in my approved portion.  Another bite and it started coming back.  So eating slowly enough to feel the signal your stomach send and having the wisdom to stop when you get the signal will save you further pain and the reverse swallowing throwing up (not full fledge vomiting and not dumping; dunping is a different animal caused by intaking too much sugar and/or fat and makes you feel feverish, dizzy, and ill). Feeling full may never be the same but eating is not the same as I now eat to live not live to eat.  It is weird and a different livestyle but the end product is way better than any food I fantisize missing.  Usually a taste ensures the reality; we dream of it as way better than it really is. NOTE: I had my first real cheeseburger; grilled and on a bun with only a little ketchup, on Monday, July 7, 22 months post-op.  It made me sick within 15 mins of eating it and will be my last,...mystery and taste buds satisfied,...no longer a menu item for me.  I had wondered. Best of luck.  Work the plan, the plan works; I started at 408 with a 60 waist. Lowest of 224, stable at 238 and a 40 waist; and happy. Joe

I totally agree with you--if you follow the program it works!  I am never hungry but my full feeling is there..I burp Joe..you look so wonderful in your new avatar!

Thanks Jen!  I was thinking a newer shot was due with all the updates you lovely ladies have been posting.