Question:
ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT EAT EAT ALL DAY LONG

I am 6 months post-op and all I want to do is eat eat eat and nothing but bad bad foods. I can eat any amounts of sugar and fat without any adverse reactions. Even when I start off my day drinking lots of water and doing my protein I still eat everything else. I am down 113lbs but a lot of that is due to the fact that I had a stricture for the first 4 months after surgery.(kinda wish I still had it) I had a LAP, RNY. How does one know if they have a leak in there stoma? HELP.    — ann M. (posted on June 3, 2002)

June 3, 2002
Hi, Ann. This is not an answer to your question on stoma, but an observation. I am three days and a wake-up from surgery, so take this with a grain of salt...in other words, I haven't been there yet. Is it possible your desire to eat all day and eating "bad" stuff is triggered by the emotional comfort of food? I just know from dieting all my life, even when I knew I was sabotaging myself, I just couldn't help it -- I was out of control and eating out of boredom, loneliness, stress, etc. I really want to be sucessful with this surgery and really analyze my reasons for overeating and finding my emotional support from God, not food. That is my plan for success and I hope I have the strength to address all the aspects of obesity and how I got there. I know a lot of it is physical and I am not downplaying that at all. Maybe your problem is purely physical, I don't know. I just wanted to throw this at you and give you some "food for thought." Whatever the problem is, I hope you can get it resolved quickly and painlessly. I can imagine the panic post-ops must feel to have gone through so much and then feel like something is wrong. May God bless you and cause you to succeed beyond your wildest dreams as you continue your journey!
   — KRISTI K.

June 3, 2002
Hi Ann! I have been where you are! 7 mos out for me fell at Halloween. That, combined with the normal ability to eat more (suddenly!) and the normal increase in my sugar tolerance, created some very unhealthy eating habits for me! I did the "wrong thing" for a couple of months, but decided that I didn't want to eat that way because it made me feel crappy. Here's what I did--it worked for me, but everybody's different: I upped my protein to 100 grams a day, I drank more water, and I started eating a protein bar as my mid-morning snack. For some reason--maybe because they are sweet--eating that protein bar at that time of the morning helped curb my sweet cravings. I also started eating more frequently--every two hours if I was hungry--trying to focus on protein for snacks. I went on to lose the rest of the way down to goal. It is normal to suddenly be able to eat more and for your hunger to return right around 6-7 months. It is disappointing, but it is normal. =)Hope this helps!
   — ctyst

June 3, 2002
How much in protein supps are you getting in? What form? That is what controls my appetite today, at 8 yrs postie. Leak in the stoma? If it leaked, you'd be in ER. You mean a staple line disruption?
   — vitalady

June 4, 2002
I had hopes theis question would get more responses beccause I am in the same situation. Able to eat ANYTHING, and always hungry. Lately I have woke up at 4 am from hunger. :(My blood sugars are up and I am worried.
   — bob-haller

June 5, 2002
I find I have days where all I want to do is eat all day. What I have been doing is eating more meals but smaller portions. I also added extra protein in between when I just feel like I need more of something. That usually takes care of it. If all else fails, I get in front of the mirror and look at the wonderful 8 1/2 inch scar I have from surgery. I then give myself a pep talk about all of the work I have done and what all I went through to get where I am. Please do not beat up on yourself. Just take things 1 day at a time. You CAN get back on track. Realize that your new life includes being able to make healthy food choices. I know it isn't easy. I struggle with it daily and feel that I will need to keep myself 'in check' for the rest of my life. Email me privately if you need someone to talk to. Best of luck and congrats on the awesome weight loss so far!
   — Ginger J.

June 5, 2002
I often go through this especially when I have too little to do (am unemployed). I eat something I know will not go down well. Usually carrots. Then I feel too sick to eat the bad things. It's the best I can do. I am not strong enough to overcome the cravings just mentally. I need my tool.
   — faybay

June 5, 2002
I'm glad to see that I'm not alone. I go through periods like this, where I just want to eat and eat. And I too find it often happens when I'm hanging around at home bored. OR it happens when I try to deprive myself of something for too long. I too can eat anything nowadays. But I try to curb myself. But if I go long periods without something and tell myself its "bad", then later I'll go through spurts of like 2 weeks where I have to have it everyday. And I think your worries about leaks because of a stricture repair are normal. I too worried that maybe they stretched me too big because I could eat more. I had it checked out and I'm right where I should be for this many months out (for my dr. at least). A cup and a half of food. Basically...I think we just have to realize that this "tool" does not solve all. We have to continue to be cognizant of what we are doing and eating. Not necessarily "diet"...but be aware. For instance, if I eat ice cream 3 days in a row, I work extra hard in the gym. It works for me. That's what's important...find out what works for you! Best of luck.
   — Tracy L.