Question:
What will be different post-op, if I NOW stuff myself past point comfort?

I'm concerned about something I do now which I'm hoping I physically won't be able to do after the surgery. Often, I eat so much food that I'm physically uncomfortable and bloated. If I can stuff my stomach that full now, what's going to keep me from being able to do that post-op? I mean, i realize the stomach volume will be MUCH smaller, but still - i'm worried that i might "test" the limits and try to stuff more than i can hold. This is ALSO a problem for me because I DON'T THROW UP! I'm serious, folks - i've only thrown up a handful of times in my life, and and each time, i ended up in the hospital for a serious illness. I want to hear from others who were pre-op VOLUME EATERS, and if that's changed since the surgery for you.    — sweetmana (posted on February 16, 2003)


February 16, 2003
You may not throw up, and that could change post op, you WILL feel miserable if you overstuff yourself. It is a learning process to know when to stop eating. If you know this is a problem area you may want to seek help from a behavioral therapist before undergoing such a major step- I was a major volume eater- ate portions intended for 2-3 people by myself, I physically cannot do it anymore. I detest that sick feeling that comes if I over consume, just like pavlovs dog, it was condition training.
   — ~~Stacie~~

February 16, 2003
Lisa said it all. I am the same. Unfortunately, I'm discovering that I can still eat a lot - much more than I should be able to (even my surgeon says I should be throwing up, doesn't know why I'm not!). It's a huge frustration, but all mental - I am not eating because I'm pysically hungry, simply because I think I want it. Argh!
   — jen41766

February 16, 2003
I was a volume eater too, and often ate to the point of discomfort, especially if it was pasta! Even now, I find myself testing the limits sometimes if the food is particularly good. The difference, honestly, is that now I'm really going to pay if I do it. I won't just feel uncomfortably stuffed to the point of not being able to move, like before. The uncomfortable feeling is much worse than before, it's like a stick lodged in your gut and it usually results in vomiting. Like you, I was someone who rarely vomited pre-op. Trust me, when you do this a few times, you DON'T want it to happen again, and you learn that way. It's like tough love behavior modification, LOL.
   — sandsonik

February 16, 2003
HUGE volume eater here before!! The few weeks after the surgery, I had this HORRIBLE head hunger. However, I was on 3 ounces of clear liquids per meal for that time. I was so depressed thinking I would never be able to eat again. I thought I was going to be doing 3 ounces a meal for the rest of my life. Must admit, it was NOT physical hunger. So far, and I know this changes, physical hunger is not a problem. Now that I can have a general diet, I try all the old favorites. I could not tolerate meat until just recently. I did okay with salad. I eat and am TOTALLY satisfied with such small amounts. I never push it because I get this weird feeling when I am 'full'. It's like that feeling you get about a food you last ate just before you got the flu and threw up. So far, and I hope this lasts, my head and my tummy are working together. Maybe it helps that I was never a snacker. Who could snack with my 2-3 people servings of the food I consumed???? I listen to my body and I have never pushed it. The desire to do so (push it) seems to have dissipated. Hope it will always be like this. For me, it's SUCH a mind thing! I hear from others that it later on becomes a struggle. This worries me because I have NO will power. I hope to keep my tummy small so I won't have a power struggle. Good luck to you!
   — Ginger M.

February 16, 2003
And here I thought I made up the term "volume eater"...I too worried that I ALWAYS went for that extra full feeling--Since the surgery 3 months ago--I still want to be full--that hasn't changed--but now nausea has become the new companion, so that's been introduced as the stop gap of when it's appropriate to leave the table--then I get busy doing whatever else I am on to do, and then later realize I am satisfied--not full but satisfied. I have my worries here too--you're talking to the girl who NEVER lost a pound-I used to always say my volume meter was broken, because I really did like feeling full. I made great choices, and ate lots of them!!! Fortunately for me, my surgeon is great about this, and does not get post-op diet crazy w/ restrictions--we are discharged on solids, and are to progress as trial and error with our diet--so I never had that full liquid only diet anguish. As of now, he has us on 1/2 cup "food" per meal. I try to stay at 2 cups per day. Some days are better than others. Overall, this surgery has been a Godsend for me. I wish you well.
   — Wannabe A.

February 16, 2003
I was definitely a volume eater also. I am post-op 4 months now and have vomitted 2 times from eating too much. What I do is serve myself only what I am allowed to eat (whatever that may be at that particular phase of post-op diet) - 4 oz of whatever and not allow myself to have any more on my plate. I also only make enough for my meal and not for leftovers. When I go out to dinner, it's hard not to order the appetizer, salad, dinner, AND dessert. To avoid the temptation, I only order an appetizer or I'll order a dinner, but cut away what I am allowed to have and pack away the rest. I don't allow them to bring the bread and I ask to substitute vegetables for the potato. Overeating is painful for me, but I do fear when I can eat more and it doesn't hurt. This is definitely a huge head issue for many of us and maybe best handled by a therapist if it can't be resolved without. Good luck to you.
   — Yolanda J.

February 16, 2003
Pain and vomiting are pretty good negitive reinforcements. After about the second or third time I got the pain and simply waited for the food to come back up I began to learn when to stop eating. It's truely like learning how to eat again. I could have won contests I could eat so much pre op. Now I just stop and I don't miss the "volume". You don't vomit now, but vomiting post op is different I think. It's more like "spitting up" like babies do. I think that you will find that it will happen to you if you eat too much, too fast or don't chew enough. This would be your best chance to stop the cycle of being a volume eater. It was what changed my eating habits forever. I say this assuming that you are having an RNY. I don't know about other procedures. GL!
   — Scott L.

February 16, 2003
Eggs-cellent question. ;) Like the other posters, I was a volume eater pre-op. Would eat myself into a stupor sometimes. And like you, I've rarely vomited in my life. During pre-op testing, they found a hiatal hernia that "self-corrects," which I strongly suspect is why I don't hurl (and still haven't, not even once, as a post-op, 8.5 months out). I have also never experienced pain from overeating as a post-op.<P>Fear is a great motivator ... and, I really wanted this surgery to work ... and, I don't want to tear myself up inside testing limits (because I am a *weenie* about pain). Plus, I've just been plain lucky. If you really feel that you will overstuff yourself almost pathologically (not accidentally) after surgery, then I agree with the posters who say, Watch Out, Get Counseling. If you feel you'll respond to the very threat of pain, or of messing up your surgery, then you might be fine.<P>I'll admit it's been weird giving up the overstuffed feeling. I do actually miss it sometimes (how stupid is that!), but I am not tempted to sabotage myself by actually overstuffing. (Grazing, however, is something I could see developing as a new hobby, so I'm watching THAT like a hawk.)<P>Luckily, once you're about 3 months post-op or so, you CAN drink a lot of liquids. They pass right through the pouch, so sometimes I find myself doing a LOT of water (and wondering if that's my old overstuffing mechanism in gear). Does no harm.<P>It's GOOD not to be overstuffed. It's WONDERFUL not to be fatigued and practically passed out on the couch from too much food (sound familiar?). Think of how good it will be to be free from that, and to STAY free from it. Those things can be good motivators for you. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

February 16, 2003
You know how people say you could lose weight if you would just stop eating when you're full? That doesn't work if you don't know that you're full, does it? I have not had surgery at this point, but I have lost 80 pounds since last March, and one of the things that's been most helpful to me is realizing that I have to stop eating when I'm still hungry. Sometimes really hungry. I eat a 'normal' portion, and then stop. About 20 minutes to a half an hour later, I feel satisfied. And I mean really satisfied - FULL - not just that my raging hunger decreased a little. It turns out my "fullness message" is extremely delayed. That is why I always seemed to go directly from still hungry to too-full-to-breath every time I ate. That being said, the hard part is making myself stop, when I WANT to keep eating because I'm depressed or happy or ovulating or God knows what else. It's a constant struggle. Best of luck to you.
   — Kim A.

February 17, 2003
If you stuff post-op , you'll do it once. It's beyond feeling uncomfortable just to take one extra bite and the food will come up quickly.
   — Kimmie C.

February 18, 2003
I was a big volume eater - ate till I was uncomfortable. Can't do it now - the pain is much worse!!!!! Pavlov's dogs is RIGHT on the money - I look at a big plate of Denny's food on a commercial that used to make me drool and now I say - OOOO that would hurt! Never thought I would get to that point! But I did.
   — Kristy J.




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