Question:
Do you get an
Yesterday, my co-workers and I (I'm pre-op) treated ourselves to a chinese buffet for lunch. I was really hungry before lunch, and ate two pretty large plate-fuls of food. At the restaurant, I didn't feel stuffed after the meal, but about a half-hour later, back at work, I was feeling so full, I had to get up and walk around the office, and hope I didn't get so sick I'd throw up. Anyway, it occurred to me, will I be throwing up post-op before I realize I'm full? Or does it change this to an immediate feeling of fullness? I think that's always been my problem with dieting. My full sensation doesn't work right, so I never think I'm full while I'm eating. I'm not a slow eater, (but I don't "wolf" it either), so I'm sure that contributes to the problem, and I realize I will have to slow down considerably after WLS. Just wondering what this will be like post op. Thanks. — Carlita (posted on January 31, 2003)
January 31, 2003
Pre & Post Op I had like scenarios that you described. I would eat a
large amount of food, get back to work and then feel as if I was going to
bring it all back up. The one KEY thing for me after the surgery was that
I could visually seen the amount of food I would eat and know that my
stomach could not take that and so I FORCED myself to slow down and wait
for the old system to catch up and tell me to stop. Over a period of time
(about 6 months) I retrained my old habits so now I eat slower and I
constantly ask myself if I need the next bite of food or am I just stuffing
the old pie hole because it taste good. If we were good at regulating we
most likely would not have needed the surgery - the surgery is a Tool that
allows us to re-program our minds and bodies to properly take care of
ourselves. Good luck on your new path in life - it is well worth it.
— Robert S.
January 31, 2003
My surgeon said that at the first sign of fullness, you should stop eating.
The symptoms are mild chest or shoulder pains, and a feeling of nausea.
Vomitting is the worst thing in the world to me (I feel that stuff should
enter the mouth, but not exit) and if you eat to the point where you feel
full all of the time, you will eventually stretch your stomach and you
don't want that. Ask your surgeon for other warning signs of fullness and
really try to concentrate on way to prevent vomitting. Best wishes to you.
— Tonya H.
January 31, 2003
I had the same problem preop. I felt like my "satisfaction meter"
was broken in my stomach. I had RNY and I feel like it is finally fixed.
That is not to say that I don't ever overeat, but not very often because it
is very uncomfortable. You have to listen to the signals that your pouch
gives you to say "stop eating." I am sure they are different for
everyone but for me then include: Burping or hiccuping, a feeling of
fullness or pressure in my chest, waistband of pants feeling tight, and/or
slight nausea. The burping is usually the best indicator for me. I had to
stop last night after about 3 bites of my dinner because I had a salad
before it and obviously I was full. It didn't bother me: I took the
leftovers home! You may make a few mistakes (face it--which of us hasn't)
but you'll get the hang of it. I am so happy to have my appetite fixed!
— ctyst
January 31, 2003
I have had similar 'oh no' experiences as a postop. That one bite too much,
or too big, or not chewed well enough. What you will have to do is really
train yourself to eat slowly, especially at the beginning. I have 3
strategies that help me eat more slowly. #1, I drink a bunch of water right
before my meal (water loading). #2 I deliberately make my food extra spicy,
it slows me down because I am not a chili-head. #3 When I was very early
postop, I ate with a SINGLE chopstick. These strategies might seem silly to
some, but they sure worked for me. Good Luck to you
— Cara F.
January 31, 2003
You said it yourself, you will definately have to slow down. You never
think you are eating as fast as you actually are. I am now 6 months out
and have not vomited since I left the hospital after my surgery *knock on
wood*. But I literally used a 1 ounce pill cup (like the nurses use to
bring you your meds) in the beginning. I used that to measure my food for
about a month and a half approximately. I did this so I would get used to
seeing how much 2 oz was. After a while I knew the right amount just by
eyeing it. I am able to eat more now that I am 6 months out. And I have,
on occasion felt that I ate a little too much to the point of being
uncomfortable. But I have never been one that vomits for that reason. So I
don't know if my pouch is being pushed to the absolute limit, or if I
actually know when to stop. I hope it's the latter of course. But I do
better with measuring my food rather than trusting myself to stop when I
should. If I put too much on my plate, I WILL EAT IT. So I choose to put
only the amount I know I can eat. That way the temptation is not even a
factor.
— Laurel C.
January 31, 2003
We've all done this. Taken that one bite too many and realized it too late.
Its all part of the learning process. I will feel fuller about 15 minutes
after I'm done eating. What is weird though is that when I start to get
'full', my stomach will start 'gurgling'. That is kind of my cue that I'm
pretty much done eating. I don't know if this is true with anybody else who
has had an RNY, but thats me.
— Kris T.
January 31, 2003
Over the last 21 months I have often thrown up because I've gotten to full.
I eat way to fast (I'm a "wolfer" as you call it). Unfortunately
when we eat to fast the signals don't have the time to get to us that we
are full. So do eat slow. That is the real answer to this problem.
— Danmark
February 1, 2003
At first, you feel full right away, but as time goes on, it takes a little
while to feel it. OUr doc wants us to MEASURE the portions until we hit
goal, basically. Not because he's mean, but he tries to take the vomiting
out of the food experience. Did I do it 100%? No. Did I get to vomit when
I didn't? Yes.
— vitalady
February 3, 2003
Others have mentioned it, but I'll reiterate just how important it is to
measure your food! My nutritionist also recommended that during the first
3 months, I should use a baby spoon. I bought a set just like my
daughter-in-law uses for the babies. I didn't use them in restaurants, but
I always did at home. This and the measuring taught me how to get it
right. I've never thrown up and I'm 21 months post-op. Just remember to
follow the food introduction plan from your surgeon and if yours doesn't
provide a specific plan, write me and I'll give you the one from my doctor.
I have all the faith in the world that I've only been successful because I
fought the urge to break the rules and by sticking to them to the letter,
I've lost 140 lbs. For someone only 4'11" and 252 lbs. that's truly a
miracle. I reached my initial goals in less than a year. WLS is a
blessing if you accept it and can be a nightmare if you aren't committed to
changing your life.
— Teri D.
February 3, 2003
Well, if you overdo it with food, you will throw up, without question -
there's just no where for the excess to go. The good news is that it is
more like harking up a hairball than the retched wretching that happens in
"normies". The bad news is that it still sucks. This happens
once or twice, you'll learn your limits. Trust me.
— rebeccamayhew
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