Question:
what does feeling full feel like?

Hi, okay, this may seem like a stupid question, but, what does feeling full feel like post op? I just came home from the hospital today (5/17/03) I had my surgery 2 days ago. I feel really good. All I've had to eat is broth and jello so far. And I'm not sure if I feel full or not. Does it feel the same as being full before surgery? I just want to know, so I don't end up eating too much. I'm still a bit sore, and gassy, so I don't know what is full, and what is just post surgical discomfort. Thanks :-(    — KellyJeanB (posted on May 17, 2003)

May 17, 2003
I don't know if this is true for everyone. But this is what it feels like for me. I don't get the unfasten your pants kind of full I did pre-op. I feel it up instead. When the full feeling reaches the breastbone I know to stop. Does this make sense to anyone else?
   — Linda A.

May 17, 2003
I agree with Linda, feeling full is a whole new sensation post-op! If you get too full, it can actually hurt and be worse than pre-op. It's usually my breastbone/heart region since our pouch is higher. You will definately know it when you get there! But I honestly never felt full until a few months after I started eating soft foods, then regular foods. You don't get full much drinking liquids since they go right through you, and the same with pudding, yogurt, jello, etc- they are liquid-like so don't really stay in your pouch long. Not a stupid question- I wondered the same thing after my surgery. Goodluck to you :-)
   — Lezlie Y.

May 17, 2003
I was wondering this also. Does it kinda feel like when you have swallowed a bite that was to big? I mostly just eat til I think I have had enough.
   — Jane T.

May 18, 2003
It might be awhile before you feel FULL... jello and broth didn't make me full.. and I kept waiting. 2oz of other stuff once I went to pureed and soft food DID make me feel a little full. Full is NOT like it was pre op.. its different and MUCH more uncomfortable and easy to get to with just one extra bite. Full is what I'm feeling RIGHT now.. even though I just ate a little bit and I'm nine months+ out -- weird.. by 4pm.. I'll be able to eat more than I just did right now. Full is weird post op, at least for me.. but its very painful, so be careful. We all push ourselves to it at one time or another, especially when we're testing.. when we don't really believe that doctor did it to us... *grin*.
   — Lisa C.

May 18, 2003
I definitely agree with everyone here. Great question! I'm exactly 2 months po today. Full is a "tight" feeling in the region just above your left breast (put your right hand on your heart for the Pledge of Allegiance and that's where the "feeling" is (maybe a little above like where your thumb ends up during the Pledge)), and unequatable to any feeling pre-op. Someone once said "like a stuck furball." That's true, too. Believe us, you'll KNOW it when it happens. Not until you eat solid food, and cottage cheese and hard cheese doesn't reallllly count. With meat, you'll definitely feel it!! Good luck...welcome to your new life! (no regrets!) lap RNY 3/18/03 -40
   — msmaryk

May 18, 2003
Kelly - Great question!!! Thanks for asking it, 'cuz I was just wondering that the other day and I'm 9-1/2 weeks post-op. Now I know! Thanks everyone. Robin
   — rebalspirit

May 18, 2003
Great question. The only thing I have to add to the previous posters' answers is that you will better recognize the full feeling when you are not distracted. The first time I overate was at my first luncheon with my coworkers at 2 months post op. I was in a social situation which triggers overeating for me and I ended up getting very sick by the time I got home because I was focused on the conversation and not what I was feeling. I am 7 months post-op, but just this past Friday night, I had dinner and then ten minutes later I started to drink water instead of waiting the 1/2 hour after (again I was in a social situation). Well, I was in a lot of pain within a few minutes. I find that if I'm uncomfortable, it's due to eating too much or too fast. Good luck to you.
   — Yolanda J.

May 19, 2003
Ohhhh..how I remember being where you are...wondering... when am I going to feel 'full'? Then, one day, it hit me. Darn, did I ever know it. And it's true, don't try to take just one more bite! I see that some have given you different general areas of pain. Mine is just below the breastbone on the left side. It is a feeling of fullness, not a feeling of stuffed miserably. I overate once and just couldn't handle it...the pain was terrible (like a heart attack). When I think I've had the max, I find that taking a short walk helps almost instantly in feeling better. Good luck! (1 mth post -31)
   — Diane S.