Question:
I am almost 3 weeks post-op and just want to eat.

I have never cared about food like this before. I worry I won't succeed. Any suggestions how to get past this "head hunger"phase?    — lovebug2 (posted on July 27, 2001)

July 27, 2001
I feel the same way, I am 10 days post op. Everyone says time will make it better. I have eaten alot of things I like already and nothing hads disagreed with me thus far. Try eating what you want, but make it small, like 1/4 cup. It is a double edge sword, but gives me some satisfaction. Good luck. Angela
   — Angela S.

July 27, 2001
head hunger!!! ACK I know what you are going through! I am 3 weeks and I want food. It's amazing how much our daily lives revolve around food. I have tried a few things but most don't agree with me. For me it is best to get out of the house where I don't have the kitchen. Hang in there, they say it will get better
   — karen Z.

July 27, 2001
I am almsot 3 weeks psot op also. I have been eating for 2 weeks now. But that first week of jello and broth killed me. I was so starving, I thought I was going to kill someone for food. My tall, thin surgeon insisted I was not hungry. I almost strangled him. The best thing to do is turn the channel when food ads come on, keep busy, go for walks, write in a journal. You have to keep your mind off of it. But at the same time having some one to alk to who underatands is priceless during that no eating time frame. I just figured I'll get through it, I have to and there is no other alternative. I challenged myself to find other ways to keep occupied. Before you know it you'll be eating your first poached egg.
   — Julie C.

July 27, 2001
I am 5 weeks post-op. Just before my 3rd. week, I had part of a poached egg. Chewed each piece 30 times. Be sure and use those 1 oz. med. cups to measure in. NEVER go over your one ounce during these first 6 weeks. I also had pureed fish with fat free sour cream and fat free mayo pureed on a cracker. Fat Free cottage cheese with a dab of apple butter is good, too. I can't remember who posted that, but God bless them. Barbara
   — Barbara B.

July 27, 2001
How to get past the head hunger phase? One word: Masturbation! Trust me it works... Ok, so I am kidding (a little)...I kept looking (and, since I still get it occasionally keep looking) at what was the emotional trigger for the head hunger. I had, in the past associated eating as a way to manager anger, loneliness,tiredness, boredom, etc. As soon as I identified the 'stressor', I attempted to alleviate THAT with something besides food. It usually worked, and at least distrated me. Failing that, I munched on baby carrots. The chewing action is primal. Nutritionists who work with cancer patients who cannot eat by normal methods due to having their stomach removed, etc., know that they have to give the patients something they can chew on and spit out, just to satisfy the need to chew. One woman in my support group made microwave popcorn, chewed it and spit it out into a papertowel. She 'ate' the whole bowl and was satisfied. Good Luck to you!
   — merri B.

July 27, 2001
Merri,... it does'nt work! lol. Anyway all kidding aside, I'm 11 & 1/2 weeks post op and hardly ever hungry. Guess I'm lucky. Well... maybe it does work! ;)
   — Danmark

July 28, 2001
Hi Bethann, I can totally relate. However my hunger started just a few days after surgery. I am 2 weeks post op. I started mourning food and was head hungry and started to slip into a post surgery depression. I refused to let myself go there. I decided to start to journal. When I got hungry i would first pull out the journal and ask myself am I really hungry? What physical symptoms are there that show I am hungry? and I would just free write and journal. Also when you feel the urge to eat something and you want to go to the refridge. first go get a glass of water, or crystal lite and sip it for 15 min if you are still hungry then have a little something if the "craving" goes away then you weren't hungry. I am going through the same thing and these things are somewhat working for me. I also tried reading a book called "when food is love" by Geneen Roth and she also wrote "overcoming compumlsive eating" and that is also a good one. I got some new magazines like "Self" and "fitness" and those have also helped. So good luck. If you want to chat some more write me at [email protected]. Like I said I am going through the same thing. Jenn
   — Jennifer L.