Can't stop thinking about food!

I am four days post op and in a lot of pain. I did well in the hospital with my morphine pump but am very uncomfortable now that I'm home and on Tylenol with codeine. To make matters worse all I'm doing is thinking about food. I'm overwhelmed by the fact that I have so far to go before I can have a bite of real food. Any help from others that have felt this way would be appreciated.  

Walk, drink (try different temperatures) & walk some more. This is proablly the hardest time and walking helps to alleviate the gas. I welcomed warmed fluids such as herbal teas & chicken broth (a little Jewish penicillin) and they felt so good going down. You should also be able to have sugar free pops & jello and that helps with the sensation you are missing from not eating solids. Relax, wrap yourself in an electric blanket or use a heating pad. You have begun a wonderful journey!

I was lucky enough that I was able to get outside and walk after surgery.  Try to think about the things you can do...walking, drinking water, etc.  And if you must think about food, think of creative ways to get some flavors into your food.  This phase won't last forever.  Food cannot be the center of your universe if you are going to succeed.  Good luck.

Do things that get your mind off food and whatever your do don't  watch the food channels! I've read here where people are watching it and can't figure why they can only think of food!!! Personally I knit and crochet but recently My hands have gotten worse with arthritis and I thought well now what am I gonna do?? Well I've been reading about adult (no not porn, just more grown up subject matter) coloring books and coloring for activity. I find it not only keeps me busy but it is really relaxing and calming. So go back to being a kid and color yourself up a storm and when you hands are busy you can't eat. It might even help distract you from the pain.

Thanks everybody!  I think once my pain is a bit less and I'm not cooped up in my room I will not be so focused on food. I love the idea of coloring so I'm going to look into doing that. Thanks again!

I just started coloring and it is great.   The food channel was also a help to me for whatever reason and I have gotten really into cooking.  That is new since surgery.  At first I cooked comfort food for my family.  I never ate any of it but got some satisfaction from cooking it.  Now I am onto cooking healthy options for them.  I do know it is a battle with my mind and I am trying to find ways to win. 

It's odd - I don't' get hungry watching the food porn channels like I do watching regular network channels and commercials with food!

The have adult.coloring.books on Amazon.com go search on there the reviews are great...some are.for major books.too like the secret garden I think I'd use twist up.crayons or colored.pencils lol I may order me some would.look.nice.framed in a child's.room :)

Yep that's where I got mine from was Amazon and they were here in just a few days or heck if she wants to just stay busy she could grab a kids one and crayons from the grocery store just to have one fast and then order the super cool ones from Amazon!

You have been already given some good advice.

I would add that, for myself, there was a bit of grieving when I couldn't use food itself as a distraction. I frequently tell myself "eating isn't going to make (insert problem here) better."  Then, I try to deal with my problem. 

So, dealing with head hunger is an early challenge! You will get thru this!!!  Yes, find something to distract your brain.  I watched all of Breaking Bad while recovering.  

~Shel