Question:
Why am I able to tolerate so much so soon after surgery?
I am 11 days out and my surgeon started me on soft foods yesterday and its working but he said I should only be able to take in 2oz of tuna, or eggs or whatever protein soft foods I desire to fill me up but I can consume much more and I don't feel sick. So far I have not felt nausea or the "full" feeling. I am drinking 12oz of protein shake a day and 30oz of water daily as well..........anyone else? I am afraid I will try to eat more and more and will regret it. — fre4christ (posted on December 16, 2006)
December 16, 2006
how long is it taking you to eat?
— bob-haller
December 16, 2006
2 oz of tuna...protien shakes and water, and you are worried about gaining
weight. If we all ate like that in the first place we would have not had
to have surgery. You need the protein and you have changed eating habits
for a good way of eating, you will lose weight. Think logically what you
ate before and what you are eating now, how do you think you won't lose
weight?
— Diane C.
December 16, 2006
You won't feel the "full sensation" at 11 days post-op, your
nerve endings aren't healed so you don't get the signal. Please follow
your surgeon's guidelines. Once you are healed properly you'll feel full.
You may think/feel hungry some of it could be real hunger some will
definitely be head hunger. You have to relearn allot early post-op it's a
steep learning curve but well worth all you'll be experiencing soon.
Congrats on your surgery, wishing you a fun, exciting journey. Dana
— cajungirl
December 16, 2006
I had lapband surgery in November and have not had a fill yet. I too am
able to eat more than 3 to 4 oz.s. I am dieting on my own without the aid
of the band and am losting weight. I did get cocky and ate spaghetti with
garlic and mushroom. That did it. I had a big bad reaction to the dinner
and was up till 3 in the morning. So you can push it, but I wouldn't
recommend it.
— janddhager
December 16, 2006
When I read your question, it really saddened my heart for the battle for
obesity. You may not always eat until you are "sick", but the
battle for obesity is much that way. We eat until we feel we cannot eat
anymore. That is a big battle for the obese. I encourage you to look at
being full in a new way. Look at full as 2 oz of tuna and water and
veggies. Look at full differently. If you are truly hungry, then eat
something healthy, and if it is head hunger, than you have to fight that
differently. I am almost 3 years out, and have lost 120 pounds and kept it
off, but the battle for head hunger or eating until I "feel sick"
is still instinctive for me. I try to eat slower, but I still battle the
head issues of an obese body. Obesity to me is a head issue with a body
consequence. The tool we have is a great help, but not a miracle. The
biggest work is still in the brain and good training. Diet, exercise,
water and a strong will to do right are still your key factors. Enjoy that
honeymoon phase with lots of exercise and barely eating and drinking lots
of water. I wish you well. You can do this, you can fight this battle and
win, but make no mistake, it is a fight to win it.
Patricia P
— Patricia P
December 17, 2006
I felt the same way at the soft food stage - I couldn't tell when I was
full and never had any problems with the foods I ate, no nausea, nothing. I
was positive I was eating too much and that my pouch had stretched!
Like someone else said you might not feel full for a while - I didn't. As a
matter of fact I thought I was hungry all the time (it turned out to be the
feelings of my stomach healing, but I couldn't differentiate between the
two).
My nutritionist told me something that has helped tremendously - don't eat
until you are full, eat until you are not hungry anymore. If you do that
you shouldn't go over the allotted amount your surgeon wants you to eat. It
has been huge for me and I don't try to eat until I am full anymore.
It's a process and there are times when you may screw up - that's ok!
That's what the surgery is for, to teach us how to handle food and in the
future you will be much better off for it. Just do as your surgeon tells
you, measure your food every time and put the rest away so you won't be
tempted to continually add more each time. You'll do fine.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 17, 2006
I am so glad you posted this question because I thought something was wrong
with me. Now I know I am not alone.
— jamjam
December 17, 2006
Actually you eventually will get that full feeling and believe me it isn't
a fun feeling when you've over eaten. Eat slow and chew, chew, chew . I'm
now 10 months post-op and lost 150lbs and I really don't eat very much If I
order a hamburger I can only eat 1/2 or less then that for lunches I eat
tuna kits which have mayo/relish/cracks with string cheese and a diet soda
for a total of 160 cal is all, but I got my proteins from the fish/cheese
then calcium from cheese this does not make me constipated since I've never
had a issue with this. Eggs I still have some problems with even now.
— Deborah Joyner
December 17, 2006
I noticed you said you had only 12 oz of protein shake a day. I was on 3
shakes a day between meals. You should check this out if your only having
one shake a day. You may not be getting enough protein in your body and
those shakes helped me feel full most often.
— jstplainwyrd1956
December 17, 2006
i am 12 days post-op and i an feeling the same way you are. i was so scared
before reading your qusetion. i also find myself eating and not feeling
"full". i have yet to learn to stop eating after i believe i have
had enough. sometimes i drink while i eat like i used to and i stop when i
feel like my chest is going to explode. i have to learn to eat all over
again.i have to learn to eat only when i am hungry. i hope you have it
easier than i do, we just have to go at it day by day.
good luck .
— gloria V.
December 17, 2006
I could not eat nearly that much, and still can't after two years, but
everyone is different. Does 12 ounces of protein shake give you enough
protein? You might want to up your protein a bit. As long as you are
losing weight, I would not worry. Just don't eat more than what you are
supposed to, even if you can.
— Novashannon
December 18, 2006
Greetings...
When I was just a couple of weeks post op, I didn't feel hungry. I ate and
after a few bites just didn't want any more. I didn't feel 'full' for
several more weeks. By that time, the volumne of what I could eat was
continuing to increase week by week. I could consume a 20oz protein shake
in about 30 mintues. My surgery was 4/25/06. by mid July, I knew
something was wrong. I was tolerating volume that I shouldn't have been
able to. I told my surgeon that something was wrong. He said it was my
fault for not exercising and eating right. I quit the protein shakes and
lost 5 lbs. I saw the surgeon again and said again that something was
wrong. He said I wasn't following directions. By the 3rd time I saw the
surgeon and said something was wrong, he finally agreed to send me for some
testing. I had an upper GI. The results? My pouch and my old stomach had
'fused' back together and it was as if the surgery 'had never been done'.
To get the results I'm wanting, I have to have the surgery again. However,
no one in my area does revisions, not even my initial surgeon will do it.
That is also assuming my insurance will pay for a revision. I"m not
meaning to get you down. My intention is to make you aware that things go
wrong and for you to watch for it and confront your surgeon if neccessary.
It concerns me that you are able to drink 12oz at this stage of your
recovery. Feeling full or not, I'm thinking you shouldn't be able to
consume that much. Please follow your surgeon's advise on how much
quantity you should be consuming at this stage of your recovery. My
thoughts and prayers are with you.
Susan in Bartlett, TN
— slkacred
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