Question:
How do you know when you are full?

I am only one week post-op...I think it's hard for me to tell. Sometimes I start burping after I eat..just a lot of little burps. In one day I've been having about a cup of cream of wheat for breakfast and a cup of strained cream soup for lunch/dinner.    — Kayla (posted on March 4, 2006)

March 4, 2006
You're only a week out.. I think you are already eating too much food.. You should not be eating
   — mzb2u

March 4, 2006
You're only a week out.. I think you are already eating too much food.. You should not be eating a cup of food at one meal at this stage.. You should be eating about 2 oz. of food (small medicine cup).
   — mzb2u

March 4, 2006
I was instructed to eat no more than 1/4 cup at the point you are at. One cup seems to me to be a lot of food. Check again with your doctor though......maybe yours is a special circumstance. Most pouches are only the size of a small egg, way smaller than 1 cup. You don't want to stretch your pouch out - especially this soon after your surgery ~ it would defeat all that you have gone through. Learning to judge when you are full is an ongoing issue for me. I have to take my time eating and really focus on it or else I might eat too much and it is extremely uncomfortable and/or painful when that happens. But always always check with your doctor when you have important questions like that as well.
   — patgels

March 4, 2006
Kayla, you won't feel the "full" filling at one week out. Did you surgeron give you a recommended quantity? I was only allowed 1 oz each meal at 1 week. Try limiting your intake to about 2-3 oz at the most....drink lots of water it curbs the food desire. Also, S/F popcicles give you the satisfaction of eating. Good Luck, Dana
   — cajungirl

March 5, 2006
It is going to take lots of practice to know when you are physcally full. Just know that you have a very small pouch and after you eat 1 or 2 oz of food you are full. You need to program your mind to think in those terms. Now if you remain hungry, I assure you it is not a real physical hunger. It is by habit and/or what we call a "head hunger". Head hunger is also refer to as emotional hunger. What is bothering you, what is the disconfort you are experincing, why are you scare and the list goes on.....These are some exemple of head hunger. It takes lots of courage to post and to reach for help after one week of post-op. Good luck in your new journey and take good care of yourself.
   — Dani96

March 5, 2006
Thank you so much for your help everyone! Now I am FREAKING out that I've already stretched my new pouch. Can I ruin things that fast? I am following everything to the letter...at my one week post-op I told my Doctor that I eat almost a cup of these things-and feel fine after-and he said that was fine, and when I get to solids it'll be different. He said I probably just don't have any swelling and it is passing thru the stoma faster. It was a concern for me though because if my pounch is 1-2 oz or the size of an egg, how can I so easily do this? I have lost 30 pounds...so that is a good thing. Thanks again everyone for your help.
   — Kayla

March 5, 2006
Also-I am going to cut it in half or less and see if I feel the same. Thanks again!
   — Kayla

March 5, 2006
NEVER eat until full! Eat until you are SATISFIED! If you eat until full.... you eat as we used to... you don't want to become obese again.
   — Danmark

March 5, 2006
I'm now 3 months post-op...but back in the beginning I posted the same question. I had heard people say that if you over eat you will get sick...and I feared that since I could not tell if I was full or not. In time you will get that full feeling again...but it does take time. In the meantime you should maintain smaller meals and drink lots of protein. Protein helps fill you up and gives you energy. Try to stay away from caffiene also...there was a few days there where I was drinking Crystal Light tea w/caffiene and I felt hungry most of the day...I had always heard that caffiene stimulated our hunger...but until after this surgery I never realized how much. I also have heard that when you eat soups and such that you can eat more since it's more of a liquid rather than a real food. Good luck....things will get better every day...
   — mmcphee1

March 5, 2006
Kayla, I'm only 5 weeks out, but went through what you did. I could eat a lot of soup those first 2 weeks I was on the "liquid" diet. I went for my 1st post op doc appointment and he moved me up to solid foods a week early. The cottage cheese and refried beans make you feel fuller. Then when you move to solids it doesn't take much at all to make you feel full. A couple of bites. I think, like myself, you're just having the liquids run right through. You probably didn't have as much swelling. It's not going to stretch your pouch if they run right through. Good luck. This first few weeks has been difficult but it's getting easier.
   — LaurieH

March 6, 2006
I did the same thing you did and certain foods make me feel fuller than other and I freak out about stretching my pouch but I am continually losing weight, so I wouldn't be too concerned. I was a few weeks out and eating 8 oz of yogurt and a cup of soap and I believe they just run through. If I eat meat now I get full much faster and I feel a little pinch just below by breast bone and that is my signal and I stop eating. I have been lucky where I can eat pretty much anything but I have to make conscious choices. I have not had soda or sugar since my surgery and will continue this path since I really don't miss it that much now....your body will tell you what it needs and doesn't need and you just have to learn to be conscious of what it is saying... everyone is different.
   — Grammy24

March 6, 2006
When I was a week out and for quite a while I ate cottage cheese I bought the self serve one and it lasted me for 3-4 meals. You yes are eating way to much for just having your surgery... Best of luck to you and remember you now have the tool it is up to you to do the right thing with it... If you would like to talk more please write me. Cindy
   — NYCindy

March 9, 2006
i am six days post op and on a soft food diet. i too can eat a cup of soft food and my doc says that it is because my bmi was 39 and i don't have as much surrounding fat and no swelling. he was not at all alarmed at how much i could eat or my confusion about not feeling full. i do now recognize the "full"feeling a bit better and have yet to have a pb or any vomiting and was back to work my fourth day post op so i think you are doing well. always refer to your doc if you are unsure because all surgeons have different rules.
   — kelly C.

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