Question:
My stomach is PO'd at me for doing this to it LOL
Hi all :). I'm 3 days post-op and starving! PLEASE don't tell me this is head hunger. These growlings and crampings are coming from my stomach, not my head LOL. I imagine that my old "big" stomach is having a tough time with this surgery and is calling its old friend, FOOD, to come and visit! My new "little" stomach, however, thinks it's funny to send up air bubbles everytime I take a sip of water. So, here are my questions --- Is it normal to be burping everytime I take a tiny sip of water??? Is it normal to be so blasted hungry at 3 days post op??? Is it normal that the only time the "hungry" feeling settles down at all is when I take my pain pill? I've taken my pain pill 3 times since coming home yesterday afternoon, and those 3 times have been the only times I haven't felt ravenous. My husband ate pizza today, and I swear that if I didn't love the man so much, I would have murdered him LOL. I know it's not fair that everyone else around me should change their eating habits, but my stomach disagrees. HELP! Will this all feel better once I can have something besides just water, broth, and SF Jello? Not that I'm complaining, because it's better to get a little taste than NONE at all, right? Thanks all of you, and remember, don't tell me it's head hunger because that will just make me SAD LOL. SuzAnne in Utah — SuzAnne S. (posted on December 31, 2002)
December 30, 2002
SuzAnne, I too will be waiting for the answer to this question. I had
surgery 2 weeks ago today and is still having the burping and gassy
feelings. Mine came along with back pain on the left side. I just drink
more water to get rid of the gas. The hospital gave me a 30 ounce sippy cup
(it also has a straw). I fill it up every morning at about 6 or 7. I must
finish the first 30 ounces before 1pm. then i fill it again at 2 pm and
must finish by 9 or 10 pm. drinking more water seems to help me get rid of
the gas and have bowel movements. hope this helps.
— Alicia M.
December 30, 2002
Yes when you are new post op it is Normal to burp "everytime". I
believe I too was hungry all the time, but I ate alot of Bomp Pops...
although I could'nt find any sugar free. I loved anything cold as it make
my pouch feel really nice. Yes on the air bubbles too. Infact I could'nt
swallow pills for three months as those blasted air bubbles came up and
pushed the pills up mid throat. And they stayed for 20 minutes. Painful. I
don't recall pain pills stopping the hunger. So I can't say. I was to be on
liquid for 7 days then pureed for around 4 weeks. At day eight I ate beef
jerky... but chewed it to liquid. I never did do pureed, but pureed
EVERYTHING in my mouth. Perhaps you can eat some cream of chicken soup with
little pieces of chicken if you chew "everything" finely???
Perhaps you can find something to chew on as long as it is liquid when you
swallow. NO CHEATING. Everything liquid when it goes down. Just an idea.
BUT DO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL.
— Danmark
December 30, 2002
I was the smae way. I had real hear it all the way across the room stomach
growling. And yes, i burped every time I drank anything. The growling does
go away eventually, but it takes a little time. And the burping gets
better, but it takes longer. Just take your time and listen to your body.
You'll be fine.
— Vicki L.
December 31, 2002
Being ravenous didn't hit me until about 2 weeks post-op while I was
watching all those blasted food commercials. I wanted one of those flying
Burger King Whoppers in the worst way! And yes, even though you don't want
to hear it, it is head hunger. Remember its your body that was operated on
and not your head. Your head is used to seeing and consuming massive
quantites of food and its sending the message out that its hungry (growl,
stomach!) and it wants you to feed it..I found that all that went away as
soon as I was able to eat more and eat some solid foods. Even things like
soft scrambled eggs and egg drop soup helped the hunger feeling subside.
As far as the burping, yes, that is normal. I also had and still get on
occasion, the hiccups when I am eating..embarrassing when in public!
— Cindy R.
December 31, 2002
Hi SuzAnne, What you're feeling is exactly what I went through at first.
It is "normal" to feel this way. I know you don't want to hear
half of this but half of it is head hunger and the other half is physical
hunger. At first, we are starving ourselves. It is a drastic change from
the way we are used to eating and it will take time for your body and head
to get in sync. The first month, I remember thinking why the h*ll did I do
this to myself. The second month I still wondered this but was adapting to
my new stomach. Now eight months later and down 100lbs, I feel fantastic
and more alive than I've ever felt in my life. Soon you will begin to eat
more than the water, broth and jello and feel more like yourself. Hang in
there...This is the worst of it and it will get better!
— Lynn E.
December 31, 2002
I never bought into that head hunger stuff for that sensation...cravings
yes, growling stomach no. My belly GROWLED...and at 18 months post op still
does. And guess what? Eating makes it stop...go figure, head hunger my
*&%@. The awesome thing about it though, is now just a little bit of
food stops those little pangs. So hang in there, once you're able to eat
some solids things will settle down in that regards. All the little air
bubbles will also settle in time. I would get what I would call
"creaky pipe" sounds. They were especially noisy at night...my
husband would make similar sounds with his mouth and tell me he was
communicating with my stomach (weird guy but I love him). Those also
settled down. I think it's trapped air. Once in a great while my plumbing
will still get vocal, but it's few and far between now. Hang in there, your
stomach will loose it's bad temper! -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -145
— KimBo36
December 31, 2002
Yes, it's normal to growl, gurgle and bubble! I am almost 8 months post-op
and I still have gurgles in my tummy after eating or drinking water, but
not as often as when I was newly post-op. I felt my first
"hunger" pangs when I was still in the hosptial, a few days after
surgery. I thought perhaps something was wrong with me for being hungry
already! Although when I would try to eat some broth, I would get full
right away. And to answer your question about "will you feel better
when you can have something besides just water, broth and jello"...the
answer for me was both yes and no. I had tummy aches, nausea and
occasional vomiting after I introduced solid foods back into my diet. But
that only lasted a few weeks. When I began eating protein, I did feel
better. When I introduced solid foods back into my diet, I nibbled on
small pieces of cheddar cheese which are soft and easy to chew. Congrats
on joining us on the other side!!! :o)
— Jennifer A.
December 31, 2002
Yes, it's natural. Crunch on ice, add flavoring to it so you can
"fool" your stomach into believing it's eating. Also, your head
is playing games, too. I would get out and take a walk to try to get those
hunger "head games" away. Water hurt my stomach for about 8
weeks after surgery. I couldn't hardly get it down. It felt like a lead
ballooon going into my stomach. I didn't have to take pain pills once I
came home. I had them, but didn't use them. I had to have pills to calm
the queezies, but not pain. The evening before my surgery when I couldn't
have anything but broth (yummy) my husband ordered a large pizza and the
smell was making me nuts. As he ate, I sat there and cried because I
wanted it so bad, but I knew I couldn't have it. When my family would eat,
I did not join them at the table until I was able to eat some solid food.
The smell and the looks of the food was too much for me. I made the
mistake once when my mom (who lives with us) made steak and baked potatoes
and all the fizings and I sat at the table and watched them devour the food
and I couldn't even taste. I left the table crying. The next time they
ate, they asked me to join them, but I said no. My will power was much
stronger! Be strong - the tough times are behind you and the beautiful new
you is coming up - look ahead!
— dolphins94
December 31, 2002
Did your doc give you something to keep the stomach acid down? I am four
weeks out and I have been taking previcid, they were great for making the
stomach settle done and be quiet.
— Micheal B.
December 31, 2002
My number one suggestion for that "grumpy tummy feeling" is
Celestial Seasonings Peppermint Tea (it's caffeine free/herbal). I put a
packet of Splenda in mine. I'm down to one cup a day now but the first 3
months I'll bet I drank 2 or 3 cups daily. Also, don't forget lots of water
and sugar free popsicles/fudgesicles. It's not head hunger (wasn't for me
anyway until I was about 5 months post-op, just in time for the holidays!).
Good Luck & Happy New Year! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -100lbs.
— Anna L.
December 31, 2002
Try Hunt Valley Chicken Broth. It is a broth, but provides 5 grams of
protein per serving. If you are hungry, the protein might help to fill
you-- but you will still be following your diet. You can find this broth
(and their veggie broth) in the health food section of Giant and probably
other supermarkets, as well. Good luck!
— Beth S.
December 31, 2002
I am only 3 1/2 weeks post op, but I remember having the same feelings. I
managed to control the hunger feelings with sugar-free popcicles. I would
have three or four a day. The cold felt good, they had taste and you could
bite them. I still have issues with water feeling like it might come back
up on me. Can't help you there, but I hear it gets better. Good luck!
— Chris P.
December 31, 2002
SuzAnne at least your stomach is PO'd at you for doing something that will
make you healthy in the long run. Mine right now is PO'd at me for the
abundance of chinese food I just ate. LOL I'd rather be feeling miserable
because the surgery is already behind me. People gave you some suggestions
and I hope they help get you past this time.<p>By the way I took a
trip of the Utah Canyondlands in early Sept. and it was great. Beautiful
country! Good Luck and try not to let the food demons get to you too much.
— zoedogcbr
December 31, 2002
Are you using a straw? That might be part of the gassy/burping things. All
surgeons are different, but mine says not to EVER, EVER, EVER drink from a
straw again, because it puts too much air in the new stomach. I'm 3 weeks
post-op, and being hungry was surprising to me! I wanted to be one of those
people that "forget" to eat. I never forget. LOL!
— Diana L.
December 31, 2002
first of all SuzAnne in Utah, i totally commend you on your sense of humor.
i was cracking up reading your posting. what you are going through is
totally normal - i was starved too 3 days post-op, and here i am thinking
"oh great, i will be the 1% this surgery does not work for".
anyone, once you start eating high protein foods, you will be surprised at
how fast you get filled up. keep up with the great sense of humor - you're
hysterical. -judi in nj
— [Deactivated Member]
January 2, 2003
I know there are alot of responses to your post, but I just had to write
you too! I'm sitting here giggling because that is EXACTLY how it was for
me!! I know I had head hunger, and I felt that my 'old' tummy was
hungry...probably because it wasn't going to get food ever again! My 'old'
tummy was SOOOOO not happy and it let me know! It made sounds that could
wake the dead! And, like you, every time I took a sip of water, I burped!
It does stop...just give it time. You made some major changes in there and
your body just has to realize that this is how it is now. Things will
quiet down soon. Take care!!
— missesrita
January 2, 2003
Girl I cried three hours over a Taco Bell commercial 3 days after I was
home from the hospital. My roommate picked me up from the hospital and
immediately 2 minutes from them pulled up to a McDonalds drive thru and I
think that I have been planning her death eversince. She had it three
weeks after me so when I picked her up from the hospital I immediately
asked her if she wanted some McDonalds.
Anyway hang in there. I was devastated that I was hungry all the time. It
does pass it really does, I mean I don't know what in the hec it is but boy
howdy is it ever terrible.
Peggy open rny 9/30/02 -70#'s
— Peggy A.
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