ChunkCat

I woke up in recovery hungry, genuinely hungry. I would have eaten seafood if they'd offered it and I hate seafood. I'm one of that minority that didn't lose my hunger, in fact, I wasn't hungry before, it came back after surgery! Not fair! LOL I find hydration is important for controlling hunger. I had to have a stern talk with my body about how shakes are nourishment and head hunger was complicating the picture because I just wanted to chew on something. Sugar free popsicles helped. I was on liquids for 2 weeks post surgery, strict liquids, no cream of wheat or yogurt or pudding. I agree with Arabesque, distraction is your friend. As is drinking your shakes on a schedule and hydrating all throughout the day... I saved my popsicles for the evening, when I'm most used to eating a meal. Your doctor is mistaken if they assume being hydrated or having shakes takes care of hunger. It doesn't for everyone. Each body is different. Just remind yourself this is a finite period of time. Try warm broths to alternate between the cold, sweet shakes.

Awww, I'm sorry you have one more hoop to jump through! My advice for dealing with it is to let yourself honor that it sucks, that it is a frustration you don't want to deal with. Be mad about it! And once all the feelings ease, then put it in perspective. You'll lose weight better if you are getting better sleep. You'll have more energy with better sleep. You'll have your CPAP in the hospital with you in case you need it in recovery instead of having to use a hospital machine. And this need for CPAP is one more reason this surgery will be good for you and your body. Using it now is good caretaking and will make it that much sweeter when you can say goodbye to it because you don't need it anymore.

Oh, nice prep work!! Good luck with hitting your water goals! So glad your surgery went well!

I didn't lose my hunger with surgery, it is still here. In fact, I woke up from surgery in the recovery room hungry. 😂 However, my taste buds have changed. It happened about 2 weeks out. I can't taste sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It sure does make holiday treats less tempting. My brain hunger is a lot quieter too, I'm assuming that's from the surgical effects on GLP-1 in the body...similar mechanism to what quiets head hunger on the meds. I don't know how long this effect will last. I had the DS so it alters more of your anatomy than a sleeve does, and there are metabolic benefits to that alteration. So I'm hoping it is an effect that stays around for a while.

Congratulations! It sounds like your surgery was very successful! I'm so happy for you! Yes, as a forum, the majority of people posting here are doing so because they have problems. But the regulars here are generally happy with their respective surgeries. Yeah, snacking creeps up on you. I find it hard to snack because I can't drink and eat at the same time, so I have to stick to the mealtimes and then be done so I have enough time to get in all my water! Are you still doing that? Returning to that habit might help you break the snack cycle. Drinking your calories is sneaky too, it is so easy to go overboard. Those beers do have calories!! LOL

Anesthesia can mess with our bodies for a while after surgery, and it has been clinically shown that major surgery can trigger depressive episodes in people. What you are experiencing is completely normal even though it sucks. Add to that hormonal changes, and body changes, and changes in the nutrients you get, and recovering from a major surgery and yeah, you could feel pretty down! I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op. Some days are good and some days aren't so good. I've heard the first 3 months are really challenging and the first year takes a lot of resilience and adjustment. Next time your husband starts with the "this is what you wanted" I'd kindly remind him that those words are not supportive and guilt trips are not necessary. That you are cognizant of the fact that you wanted bariatric surgery to lose weight and improve your health, but NONE of us can even begin to understand the fullness of an experience before we actually have it...and living this experience is feeling challenging right now. Even the BEST things for us often come with distinct downsides. You are allowed to be upset! You are allowed to say this is a struggle! What would be more supportive of him would be for him to validate your feelings and assure you that things won't always feel like this, but while they do, he's there for you. I'm sure he's doing what he can, but everyone deserves feedback when their words are making it harder for you to deal with what you are dealing with. I too feel a little off kilter from the world right now. Any surgery brings grief with it when it alters your body. Let yourself grieve. You are in a liminal space right now, transforming from one version of yourself to another. Much like the caterpillar who winds itself into a cocoon, you have had to bury yourself into this new experience, and you will never be the same. Some parts of you have to die so that other parts of you can blossom forth and live. When you finally come out of this cocoon, flying will be so thrilling!! But in the meantime, the transformation sucks! LOL I don't think caterpillars think the process is fun either...

I'm so glad that work is going well! You look fantastic and all professional!! I hope it continues to be awesome... I am so sorry you have the BRCA gene. I had a cancer gene panel done this summer due to the endometrial cancer I had. I found out I have the CHEK2 gene, which is lower risk than the BRCA gene, but still high risk enough to consider an elective mastectomy. I've considered going that route if I have to have a boob lift post weight loss... I saw the oncologist this morning to talk about taking a round of tamoxifin to reduce my risk. It was informative!! It is possible they could do both the hysterectomy and the hernia repair at the same time if the doctors are in the same system. GYN surgeries often coordinate with other surgeons so their patients only have to go under once. You will be shocked at how light your pelvis feels post surgery, I still marvel at it! I love not having that monthly visitor, I didn't really understand how much energy it was taking for me for 2 weeks out of the month. And my iron levels stabilized really nicely post surgery. If you need any support don't hesitate to message me! I found recovery from the hysterectomy similar to my DS surgery, though I was sore longer with the hysterectomy...

I did a few days before. Pics and measurements! Measurements are super important for when the scale stalls!!

Duplicate post.

Not strange at all! Anesthesia can affect our mood and takes a while to get out of the system. Then the weight loss itself releases hormones that can trigger PMS on steroids 24/7 in some people. Plus, you just had a major surgery, depression is not unusual after major surgery. And on top of it all, bariatric surgery is stressful! The water and protein requirements are a full time job that first month at least! I'm 3 weeks out. It gets better once you can add food. Just focus on that water! If you get all your water in you'll feel a little better. Food will make you feel better still and will help you feel a little more normal. Hang in there! And if by change you are on psych meds you may need to talk to your psych if you continue to have mood issues, you may need a change in dosage. It's less common in the sleeve but it does happen for some people...

I like the Thai flavors from Kettle & Fire. They are expensive so I recommend just trying one or two, but they were better than the others I tried and have a nice amount of protein.

Also, take really tiny bites, slowly. Smaller than your thumbnail. My nutritionist told me that often when we throw up a food it has more to do with how we ate it than it has to do with the actual food. And weirdly, I've found this to be quite true...

Potatoes are rather thick and goopy and heavy, I can see how they'd cause issues. My stomach seems to be very picky about what it wants to tolerate. I got quite sick with ricotta and sauce, and refried beans with sour cream. But fresh mozzarella cheese is fine. 😂🙄 I wouldn't worry too much yet. Try some thinned yogurt or thinned pudding.

This makes me so happy for you!!! I know you've been struggling. 15 inches is a lot!! I bet that really feels good. Decorate that tree! Your mental health and physical health is definitely more important than any number! ❤️

Have you tried water flavoring packets, decaf coffee, and decaf tea? Those have really saved me from boredom. I'm still nauseous sometimes and plain water seems to trigger it. So I use these jolly rancher flavoring packets because they are sweet sour and the combo really cuts the nausea for me. Sugar free Tang is good too. I dilute them twice what the packet says, one per water bottle (mine holds 4 cups) and it is enough that my nausea isn't triggered. It makes getting things down MUCH easier. Iced tea is easy to get down too.

@Arabesque I just want you to know remembering your posts about eating speed over the months have really helped me post op! I thought I was taking small sips and small bites but my body taught me that what I thought was small was not small enough, so to half it. That helped immensely. I also take my time chewing like you suggest, and put my fork down, and every bite or two check to see if I'm feeling any signals of fullness yet, which are hard to feel this early out so I really have to listen to them. Yesterday was my first time eating out since my surgery. I got mahi mahi. I was worried I'd be bored while my partner ate this huge salad with salmon, but it turns out that the time it took them to eat that whole salad was the time it took me to eat a few ounces of the fish and a few green beans and asparagus. I wasn't bored waiting for them, if anything I was bored of chewing because the mahi mahi turned out to be drier and denser than my post surgery taste buds like! LOL We were done at the same time! But it really made me wonder about all the posts I see here of not enjoying eating out anymore because three bites and you are done in 5 minutes. They must not be eating the way the dietician in my program has drilled into our heads. I felt completely normal eating out, I just didn't drink with my meal and I had more leftover than most people would. The server didn't bat an eye. It was a lovely experience and made me feel relieved I could still enjoy it post surgery, even in the soft food stage! Anyway, all that to say thank you for the great advice you (and everyone else) give to us newbies. It DOES make a difference! I'm really grateful for it. I feel like I'm ahead of the curve...

Good luck!! You can do it!! Just remind yourself of your whys and your goals when you are tempted. And bring nutritious snacks so that you have something to substitute that you like when hunger strikes or someone is trying to push something tempting on you!

Yeah, you are going to want to set reminders on your phone to eat. Whether that is when to drink a shake (every 3-4 hours if you are on a pure liquid diet), or when to eat a meal or snack, if you are on a modified food diet. Forgetting to eat will lead to hunger and irritability. Make sure you hydrate too! Start practicing getting those 64 oz in now and it'll be easier to remember post surgery. You can't delay until evening once you've had the surgery, sipping and eating frequently will be a new way of life. I have issues with it because my ADHD makes me hyper focus and I lose time and forget to eat or drink, but setting timers and goals throughout the day will help break that habit. Good luck!

I noticed I was gritting my teeth a lot. I think part of it was caffeine, part was stress, but part of it was missing chewing things! Sugar free popsicles helped a lot in the evening with this... My TMJ specialist taught me this trick of holding the tip of your tongue between your teeth. Not biting down on it, but just resting it there on the edge. Mine usually rests there by resting against the back of my top teeth. Over time it breaks the habit of clenching because your tongue is in the way and it is also a nice neutral position for your mouth to rest in...

I've been reading it isn't uncommon to have to change shoe size when you are losing weight, especially if you carried any weight in your feet. I totally didn't expect that, it was the one clothing item I thought I could indulge in while losing weight! Now I know better. I haven't lost enough weight to change shoe sizes yet but I'm prepared for it now... LOL I hope you find some much comfier shoes, Skechers makes some nice slip on ones!!

Whoop, look at that weight loss!! Tearing it up BigZ! I'm so excited for you!

Did you have a bypass or sleeve? The sidebar says you had a bypass but it sounds like you had a sleeve? You might want to update that if it is wrong!

Okay, so I tried them for you! The things we do in the name of camaraderie and science. The calcium chews are the caramel Bariatric Fusion, they are pretty good! Better than Viactiv. LOL I could take them daily which is good since I have a giant bag. I also tried the Bariatric Advantage raspberry chew at my nutritionist appointment yesterday and probably like that one even better, it was like a fluffy Starburst. Now I really want to try the Celebrate ones! The Bari-melt vitamin I have is the ADEK one since that's what DS people are supposed to take. I actually liked it and I'm shocked because the chewable B complex I had from a different brand was awful. This one started melting in my mouth as soon as it hit my tongue, it's about the size of a fat nickel, melted really smoothly, tasted nice, and wasn't grainy feeling. It doesn't have anything more than ADEK so I still have to keep taking the B complex, but it'll get me through the first 30 days, then I'll start supplementing according to the Vitalady List that DS veterans use. I'm relieved it wasn't gross!!

@NickelChip I was the same way! Bought small bowls and plates (I love them!) these adorable snack boxes (love them too!) spoons that measure portions, toddler utensils, cookbooks, etc... The most useful item I bought besides those is a box of reusable baby food jars. They hold 4 oz which is perfect since I can only eat about 2-3oz at a time right now. I can prep meal servings in them and tuck them in the fridge and freezer for later. They are SO convenient and weren't that costly. I won't let myself buy clothes either so I had to direct my shopping gene somewhere! LOL One thing I did not buy but believe is invaluable is a FOOD SCALE. It is so, so, SO much easier to use than trying to cram food into a 1/4 cup measuring cup. This applies even more strongly once you get to the soft foods stage and are eating a bite of this and a bite of that. They aren't very expensive, you can get a nice quality one on Amazon, mine has lasted for years, I used to use it for baking! Also I found electrolyte powders invaluable for the cramps sometimes caused by going into ketosis. Make sure they are sugar free. And water flavoring powders, I like the Jolly Rancher ones because they are sweet sour, which helps my nausea, but some people like lemonade or crystal light. I also bought two double wall stainless steel 16 oz cups with lids. This proved to be brilliant because my post surgery stomach only likes really cold food or really hot food, not lukewarm. So I keep one filled with ice and pour drinks from my water bottle into it so I can keep track of how much I'm consuming. And I keep the other one filled with broth or decaf tea or decaf coffee. Having a variety of fluids to alternate is my best trick for actually getting in your allotment each day.

Yaaaaay!! As a fellow diabetic I am cheering you on!! Mine normalized after surgery too, I had the DS. Looking at those normal numbers feels way better than any food tasted. Such a relief. And wow on the weight loss! I don't know how much you have to lose but that's a massive chunk. Try to update your sidebar stats so we can see how far you've come!!