Question:
5 days out: Feel like Im starving.

and I guess theres no question about that. Today is my first day on full liquid. How long did it take for you to "divorce" food (one way Ive heard of putting it) where it is no longer something you miss. Thanks for listening--Marilayne Millwood    — Marilayne M. (posted on November 1, 2002)

November 1, 2002
As I recall, it took me about a month to make the mental adjustment with my eating, i.e. eating purely to fuel my body rather than eating for pleasure, out of boredom, etc. Don't worry - it will come with time.
   — Terissa R.

November 1, 2002
It gets better, and it takes a while to get into a new routine. Soon you will be seeing some results and begin to think of something other than food. I am about 10 weeks post op. The first several weeks are the hardest. Good luck to you & welcome to your BRAND NEW LIFE. You will do great and will be so pleased with your weight loss.
   — Valerie B.

November 1, 2002
Hey Marilayne -- I'm 11 days out, and know exactly where you're at. It DOES get better (I found) once you start full liquids -- especially if your doc lets you eat things with more substance, like cottage cheese, yogurt, thicker soups, fudgsicles. Just remember that as long as you stick within the guidelines, you'll be fine. If you have an extra 1/2 c. of cottage cheese, you'll still lose weight. It will get easier. Good luck!
   — Tamara K.

November 1, 2002
I went through the same thing. I kept thinking, "I'm not supposed to be this hungry." I felt like I was starving. I saw a Krisy Kreems sign and burst into tears. Then I ran into an old friend, who had had the surgery, and she said go ahead and eat something, so I did, and I felt tons better. Just a bite of a cheese stick, chewed to liquid, tasted great and made me feel so much better. It's kind of like it relieved a "hollow" feeling in my stomach. By 5 days out, I was experimenting with little bits of sensible food, like soft scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese. I'm now 4 weeks post-op, and everything has gotten so much easier. The hardest part is not to eat too much at a time. Hang in there, try a nibble of something that will give you some satiety, and you'll feel better every day. Good luck!
   — Mari S.

November 1, 2002
I cried for two weeks. I was so hungry and I thought I was starving to death. And no one seemed to care that I was only eating 2 bites of food a day. No one really felt sorry for me, because it was MY choice to get the surgery. I was so depressed and just wanted to eat so bad. You will get through this though. I promise. You may not believe me, but soon this will pass, and you will most likely have to force yourself to eat. It took me about a month or more before I felt better. Hang in there, and keep the faith. Good Luck. (open RNY 7/23/02 -80 lbs)
   — Shawnie S.

November 1, 2002
The way it was explained to me made a lot of sense. Ever heard of phantom limb syndrome? This is when you've had something amputated and you can still "feel" it. They say it's the same with the stomach portion we're no longer using. We still feel that "need" to fill it though it no longer requires food. Anyway - it will likely pass - but in the mean time the denser your food the better to feel full. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 6, 2002
I felt very ill until I was started on regular food. [Read my profile]. Once I started eating real food at about one week out, I started feeling immensely better. Now at 8 1/2 months out, I actually feel full after eating. I never felt full while on liquids or puree. In fact, I just felt like crap.
   — Kathy J.