Deedle Dee

I have had an awful lot of "head hunger" and have had to force myself to eat only at the kitchen table in order to avoid some of my eating triggers. Sometimes it helps to talk to a nutritionist familiar with weight-loss surgery and get some ideas about how to relearn the way we deal with food. I am having to go back to the basics, but know this surgery is the best tool for me!

I remember being hungry during the liquid part of recovery. (It didn't help that it was right before Christmas!) It is a tough time but you will feel better soon. Right now you don't feel good, you are missing your comfort foods and you think that maybe you will feel this hunger forever. Take heart, it will improve and you'll come through to the other side! Also, for the constipation I mixed in 2 tsp. of Benefiber in a protein shake or other drink of my choice. I also mixed in Miralax for a couple of days until the Big event!

I also have sleep apnea and had that problem post-op. I tried the dissolving Gas-X and it worked great. Good Luck!

Thank you,Shan! I printed this for future reference. You rock!

I am almost 3 months out and I'm hungry within 2 hours after I eat. I don't think it's "head" hunger. My worry is that it is getting harder and harder to keep my eating under control. I have to "white-knuckle" it in order to wait until a scheduled snack or meal. I DO NOT want to fall back into my old patterns! Any ideas?

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! It is so true that we are the ones who need to utilize this tool. It is our decision whether we will go back to old patterns. We can be in each others corner and keep providing insight and encouragement. Thank heaven for this website!

I have to admit that I have been sloppy about my water and my carbs. I guess I need to go back to the basics and keep track of what I'm doing. Hopefully it will help with the hunger issue. Thanks for all of your input!

I sometimes feel hungry 2-3 hours after eating. Are there any foods that can help the fullness last longer?

I slept in our recliner. It was so comfortable! No pulling on the drainage tubes, and it was easier to get up when I needed to.

Since I've lost weight, I've developed droopy arm "wings" that resemble a flying squirrel (but not as cute)! I've been working out and fear that it won't be enough. Any advice?

Hi, there! I also have back pain at times. It is due to gas. Sometimes the gas presses on a nerve and you feel the pain in your back. You might like to try Gas-X or some acid reducing medication.

I was sleeved in December and have been lucky enough to have escaped throwing up. I was wondering if it like PBing (productive burping) where it has no bile, or is it like regular throwing up?

I've read quite a few posts where people say they don't get hungry anymore. I still get truly hungry (not "head hunger"). Am I normal? (Not mentally, just physically!)

Thank you so much for all of the great input! I took my Prilosec a long time before I had anything else and it has seemed to help. I also forgot to mention that I am diabetic, so eating every three hours is best. I am working on finding my new "normal". So far, I'm so thrilled with my sleeve and appreciate my fellow sleevers!

Unfortunately, I am already on a PPI and still feel hungry. Bummer! Any ideas?

I had itchiness and a rash around my incisions and it was due to an allergic reaction to the adhesive in the surgical tape and/or steri-strips. You should ask your dr. and see what he/she thinks. Good luck (I know what a drag it is)!

Hey, everyone! I was wondering what size pills we can take after we are past the six week healing period. I take Metformin and hate cutting it in half and it would be so cool to get it down in one swallow.

Thank you for your answer! It sure will help to be able to swallow them whole.

P.S. The hiatal hernia was repaired when the band was removed and the Sleeve performed. My doctor said the band is successful in only 1/3 of patients!

Hi! I was banded in '06 and did fine for the first 5 months. After that time, I had too much restriction and would PB (which lasted for hours and hurt like heck). Sometimes I got to where I couldn't swallow spit and then I had to have the fluid removed from my band. Each time this happened (which was many) I had to pay $180 to have the band filled again. Last summer I had an endoscopy and discovered that I had a hiatal hernia. Once again the fluid was removed from my band, but I still had the PBing when the hernia would slide up inside the band. It has been great to have it removed and I'm loving my sleeve!

. I have soup quite a bit. Usually about 1 1/2 cups (with chicken, beans and vegies). I can probably eat that much because part of it is liquid; other times I eat about a cup. I am 7 weeks out. So far I've lost 28 pounds since the day after Thanksgiving.

I would wake up startled, too. My reason was different than yours. I was waking up because the pain meds knocked me out so much that when I tried to sip some water, I would hold it then fall asleep and dump it on myself! That definitely startled me awake!

Just a note to those of you having surgery soon. My doctor prescribed an anti-nausea patch (for the night before) and had me take an anti-nausea pill (with a small sip of water) the morning of surgery. I had no nausea and it probably saved me from throwing up and possible hurting my stomach. I hope this helps you guys!

Hi, All! I was wondering if any of you can recommend an efficient but gentle laxative.