Question:
5 days post-op and I am ashamed to say, a little hungry...
I had Lap RNY on 7/11/02. I'm doing very well, and am on clear liquids only. My problem, I'm hungry! Not like I want a full course meal, maybe just a spoonful of applesauce or lowfat pudding. I feel bad, I don't want to give in because I want to follow the doctor's orders, but I want something more. Is this normal? Is there a way to make the hunger pass? Would it hurt me to move onto full liquids? I'm going to give the doctor a call in the morning. I don't want to page him over something that seems so trivial. Some advice from you guys would really help...thanks in advance...Amy — amd0721 (posted on July 16, 2002)
July 16, 2002
Ahh head hunger is tough and you shouldnt cheat. I was on clear liquids for
10 days but am ashamed to say I expanded clear liquids to incluude sugar
free fudgesicles, strained Prego spaghetti sauce, and a couple other no
nos. Now remember that rule is to give your tummy a chance to HEAL! So try
to be good but if you cant help yourself CHEAT RESPONSIBLY! One sad case a
guy ate beef jerky, split his stopmach and ended up in ICU on a vent after
emergency surgery. All for a bit of jerky... Stick to the mushiest next
stage foods ibn VERY small uanties and see how it goes. Now go weigh
yourself! See that bIG drop? Thats the surgery working for YOU. Now give
yourself a chance to heal. A year from now those tough days are a dim
memory replaced by feeling GREAT! My surgery wasc July 23 2001. Things are
much more fun this year!
— bob-haller
July 16, 2002
Try to increase your water intake and that should help fill you up.
Sugar-free freezies got me through the rought imes too!
Mary
— Mary H.
July 16, 2002
Hi Amy- I am in the same boat. I had surgery on July 9th and by yesterday,
I couldn't stand to drink one more sugary thing. Popsickles, zero-carb,
fruit 2O. I had enough!!! So I cheated too. I went and got a container of
egg flower soup with just the egg white and broth. I have never tasted
anything so good in my life. It is definitely going to be a mainstain for
me for awhile. I held it down both yesterday and today and because of
having something more salty today I am able to tolerate my sweet drinks
much better. Good luck!!
— Joanie J.
July 16, 2002
Well, I am 7 days post op as of today and ventured into the land of
"Full Liquids". My wife made me some strained cream of potato
soup that was out of this world. I also ate some sugar free chocolate
pudding made with skim milk. They both stayed down well and were the most
wonderful thing I have ever tasted. About the hunger part, I was
"hungry" too, but not really hungry like I used to be. It was
more like a gnawing sensation from just having water / juice / broth run
through me for an entire week. I think my body was just craving something
with a bit more substance.
— Greg P.
July 16, 2002
I was HUNGRY from as soon as I got out of the hospital (5 days) to about 2
weeks. I literally got out of bed at 2 am to drink an Instant Breakfast.
Our bodies are using a lot of energy in this time frame to heal themselves,
and not much energy is available easily at this time. Similar posters have
asked similar questions, and "eat small amounts frequently" was
the most common answers. If at 3 weeks, you find you are eating more often
than you are hungry, you will need to improvise. For now -- eat if you are
hungry. This is short term.
— Karen F.
July 16, 2002
You are a weak, frail human just like the rest of us!!!!! I think that we
all go through these cravings. TRY to follow your DR orders. The longer
that you stick to them the better you will heal. This will make your
recovery faster and eaiser. Good Luck
— Robert L.
July 17, 2002
I know some folks say it's okay to break the rules...well, don't start
doing that if you can help it...you will be opening a door you may have a
hard time closing again. Keep up the liquids...if your surgeon permits,
like mine did, drink chicken/beef broth, up to a cup between meal times. I
was also allowed SF Jello which because it was semi solid feeling, I felt
like I was eating something. You are going to have periods of "head
hunger" that will make you miserable if you don't find a way to
overcome them. I found that when it hit me, I'd go outside and walk as
much as I could or I'd call my best friend and tell her to talk me through
it much like someone in AA does with their sponsor to keep them from
drinking. Water is so very important and if you're having a hard time
detting it in try this...
1. Make sure it's filtered, I use a Brita Pitcher.
2. Put it on ice, it burns calories to drink iced water.
3. Now for funny part...always use a straw. You will find you are drinking
so much more at a time that you'll suddenly be exceeding your 64 oz.
Hope this helps.
Teri
— Teri D.
July 17, 2002
Amy, my RNY was done 7/8. I've had the hunger feeling once or twice. I
found that drinking some Apple Juice mixed with water helped to tame it. At
this point I anticipate staying the clear liquids that my doctor's papers
dictate for 2 weeks. But I'm looking forward to better things.
— Kathe G.
July 17, 2002
I think is what you are experiencing is boredom. I got very bored with the
stages of increasing the types of food I could eat. but I was scared to
death to put anything else in my mouth. Right before I was to go on pureed
foods, I decided that if I cut up some spaghetti into mush, I could eat it.
WRONG! It got stuck in my stoma and I thought I would die with the pain
and nausea. My advice is to do exactly what your doctor says.
— Regina S.
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