josephsmom

This is a great post. Thank you for sharing.

Hi BajanSleeve, I'm sorry you're struggling. I have had some similar problems. Before surgery I heard over and over again that I wouldn't be hungry, that I'd have to struggle to get in enough calories/protein/water, etc., and the weight loss would be rapid and relatively easy for at least a year. That has not been my experience at all. I have been HUNGRY every day, and I also haven't felt as much restriction as I expected. My weight loss has been slower than I thought it would be. I am working hard to try and accept these 3 things instead of being angry or upset about them. It's not easy. I feel cheated sometimes. As for food choices, I go through a lot of trial and error to find the right combinations of things so I feel satisfied and don't get hungry again a short time later. I think you will feel much better when you are able to tolerate meat or eggs and when you can exercise. My team recommends eating protein first, then vegetables, then carbs. That usually works well for me. Maybe that would work for you too, instead of mixing your foods together. It won't hurt and it might help. Please keep trying new things and don't give up. Good luck!

This is my 8th day post gastric sleeve, and I just don't think I am having the intended results. Throughout my pre-op classes, I kept hearing that sleeve patients have a complete lack of hunger due to the loss of the part of the stomach that secretes ghrelin. I heard I would have no desire to eat and would have to force myself (with difficulty) to consume the required fluids, protein, and calories. This is just not happening. I am HUNGRY all the time. I consume the small amounts of purees and protein drinks that my stomach will allow; I stop because I begin to feel pain, not because I am no longer hungry., Due to my pre-existing lactose intolerance and IBS, it all "goes through me" very quickly, and then I am HUNGRY again. I think about food ALL THE TIME. Even in the hospital, the morning after surgery, I woke up dreaming of pizza and Italian rainbow cookies. The only thing preventing me from eating everything in sight is fear that I'll rupture my staple line or have a blockage. I really don't think the surgery is helping me as intended; this feels like a starvation diet and nothing more at this point. Has this happened to anyone else? Does it get better? PLEASE HELP! THANKS!

Hi, I am the OP of the "Not sure it's working" thread from last week. I've noticed some improvements since then, and I want to share them in case they might help someone else. I've cut down to one protein shake a day. I now add peanut powder to that one protein shake, and it helps immensely! It cuts down the sweetness while I'm drinking it, and also eliminates the sickly-sweet aftertaste. I mix it up with my immersion blender, and I like the texture better that way too. I tried blending 1/2 of a banana into the shake, but I didn't care for that. I'm going to stick with the peanut powder. My only other milk-based protein comes from shredded aged Cheddar cheese (which has very little lactose), melted over a small serving of mashed potatoes or pureed beans. My other protein sources are hard-boiled eggs, tuna, or salmon pureed with a little bit of light mayo, and some hummus here and there. In the past I have found that beans and mayo-based salads triggered my irritable bowel, but so far I am doing okay with these small amounts. I find I feel much better and less hungry with these savory flavors than I did when everything was sweet. It also helps to eat something warm at least once a day. I've had good luck with tomato and egg drop soups "as is," and with green pea and lentil soups that I've put through the blender. I haven't done much with puree-ing fruits and vegetables yet. If I've met my protein goal but still need more calories, I have some 100% fruit juice. I "chase" that with a tiny bit of something savory to avoid the sweet aftertaste. That seems to be key. I've cut out Jello and popsicles; I associate those with being sick. I've found a couple of flavors of diet iced tea and Crystal Light that are nice alternatives to plain water but are not too sweet. All in all, it has been tremendously helpful to reduce the protein shakes and add in some real food, and to find a better balance between sweet and savory flavors. Even though the foods are pureed, and the calories are still very low, I feel less like I am on a starvation diet now. The foods do not pass through as quickly, and I am not as hungry. Thanks again to everyone who offered support or advice; it was all very helpful.

If you are really worried you've damaged your pouch, maybe it would help to check in with your doctor. Maybe the doctor's reassurance would decrease your worry and help stop the spiral. Good luck!

I was sleeved on 5/15. Although it is too soon for me to say whether or not I regret it, I am certainly disillusioned. Let me tell you what I've learned so far; maybe it will help you. First, you will be strongly discouraged from taking aspirin or any other NSAIDS for the rest of your life. If you have any kind of chronic pain issue, this could be a problem. Second, not everybody has the complete lack of hunger that you hear about. I have been very hungry. Third, if you have any kind of digestive issues (lactose intolerance, irritable bowel, no gallbladder, etc.), the post-op diet can be extremely challenging. I went into it thinking the weight loss would be effortless for the first 12-18 months: so little hunger that you have to work to get in the necessary calories and protein, and the weight just falls off. This has NOT been my experience at all. Although I have lost 20 pounds between my pre-op fast week and my 10 post-op days, I have a lot of hunger, and I also have been overwhelmed by the amount of thinking, planning, preparing, and trial-and-error has gone into this so far. I definitely have not experienced that "magic" that many people describe. I hope it comes for me eventually, and I hope it happens for you. All the best to you on your journey!

Thank you, Azmassage, I will try that. I should have done what you did: experiment with different protein sources BEFORE surgery. You were very wise to do that. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Hello again, and many thanks to all of you for your thoughtful and helpful responses. I have been on other forums in the past where veterans were unhelpful or even downright mean to newbies, so I am very grateful for all of your generous hearts. Maybe I do have head hunger, cravings, etc. But I am also HUNGRY...as in shaking and light-headed...as in it's a good thing I still have 11 more days off from work...as in I don't know how I'm ever going to have the energy to go to the gym again. I think the biggest problem is with my lactose intolerance and irritable bowel. I am not exaggerating...every little thing I eat or drink goes straight through within minutes. Yes, I am remembering not to eat and drink at the same time. But I am emptying immediately and then getting hungry all over again. Maybe I failed to explain to my bariatric team just how severe my lactose intolerance and IBS were, but honestly I feel they thought I was exaggerating and didn't take me seriously enough. They did not work with me to develop a post-op plan that wasn't milk-based, and I guess I didn't insist strongly enough. Or I chose to be satisfied with their explanation that their standard plan works for most people. Or I heard what I wanted to hear; I guess we all do that at times. The bottom line is that I am HUNGRY and I'm having trouble keeping anything in my stomach long enough to be satisfied. I am clearly not having the "no ghrelin=no hunger" effect. I will have to keep trying new things, and I will ask for a different dietitian the next time I call my bariatric clinic for help. I am disappointed that this process became difficult so quickly; I really believed I would have a honeymoon period where the weight would drop off without hunger. Again, many thanks to all of you. I hope tomorrow will be better.

Many thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions.

Hello, I am lactose intolerant. After 1 week pre-op and almost 1 week post-op, I am having trouble tolerating my "lactose-free," milk-based protein shakes. Could someone please recommend non-dairy sources of high protein that are suitable for Step 1? I would prefer savory flavors to sweet at this point. Thanks for your help!

Thanks to you both. I definitely will call my dietitian tomorrow, but your suggestions will help to tide me over for today.