I'm starving . . .

[Sassola 0]

I was banded on 12/31/2010... I know helluva way to start the New Year. So, I'm 2 weeks 6 days post op... The stomach pain itself is gone but I get this excruciating pain shooting under my left breast through my ribs when I am hungry (or at least that is what I am hoping).... Problem is, I'm constantly hungry and therefore constantly in pain. I polished off the Lortab last night just to get to sleep.

The hunger isn't "Oh I better eat..." It's more of my stomach sounds like it's trying to eat itself. I ate lunch 90 minutes ago - 2.5 ounces of tuna and approximately 6-8ounces of chicken barley Soup. It took me almost 30 minutes to eat that and I was full, I didn't drink anything and then within 30 minutes, my stomach sounds like I haven't eaten in a year and I get pain shooting through my ribs. So at that point I decided, I'll eat a yogurt just to top it off because all the swelling is gone and everything is draining through pretty quick. I ate the yogurt while reading some of the posts and wouldn't you know it.... I'm freaking hungry again.... Its not that "Oh I just need to eat" hunger but people standing around me can hear my stomach growling.

I've had 16 ounces of food in less than 2 hours and I am still hungry. If I wanted to starve to death I wouldn't have subjected myself to surgery. I don't get a fill until next week, I am hoping and praying this pain in my side and my hunger go the hell away once I get that fill. Drinking Protein Water now.... yum.

If anyone else has experienced this left side pain with hunger or without hunger, they could be mutually exclusive, please let me know when and if it resolves.........

[Jess55 97]

Well one comment, you said you didn't drink anything, but you did drink. Soup is liquid, if you are allowed to eat solid food, I would not reccomend soup. That may be partly why you are hungry

[Sassola 0]

I should have been more specific about the Soup. It's the thick goopy stuff that really doesn't have any stock with more of a pudding or yogurt consistency.

Thank you for your input.

[Melissannde 41]

During my 2 weeks before my first post op check, I had stomach pains that would not let me sleep (and not very good pain meds.. I envy you your lortab.). I got a cup of yogurt and ate just enough to ease my tummy pains so I could sleep. I had to do this every couple of hours during the night. It's not really the way we're supposed to eat post banding, but sometimes you do what you have to do.

I would go ahead and call the doctor's office and talk to them about your discomfort/pain now.. why wait another week to be hurting?

[oly 1]

I was banded on 12/31/2010... I know helluva way to start the New Year. So, I'm 2 weeks 6 days post op... The stomach pain itself is gone but I get this excruciating pain shooting under my left breast through my ribs when I am hungry (or at least that is what I am hoping).... Problem is, I'm constantly hungry and therefore constantly in pain. I polished off the Lortab last night just to get to sleep.

The hunger isn't "Oh I better eat..." It's more of my stomach sounds like it's trying to eat itself. I ate lunch 90 minutes ago - 2.5 ounces of tuna and approximately 6-8ounces of chicken barley Soup. It took me almost 30 minutes to eat that and I was full, I didn't drink anything and then within 30 minutes, my stomach sounds like I haven't eaten in a year and I get pain shooting through my ribs. So at that point I decided, I'll eat a yogurt just to top it off because all the swelling is gone and everything is draining through pretty quick. I ate the yogurt while reading some of the posts and wouldn't you know it.... I'm freaking hungry again.... Its not that "Oh I just need to eat" hunger but people standing around me can hear my stomach growling.

I've had 16 ounces of food in less than 2 hours and I am still hungry. If I wanted to starve to death I wouldn't have subjected myself to surgery. I don't get a fill until next week, I am hoping and praying this pain in my side and my hunger go the hell away once I get that fill. Drinking Protein Water now.... yum.

If anyone else has experienced this left side pain with hunger or without hunger, they could be mutually exclusive, please let me know when and if it resolves.........

Hi,

I was banded Dec 21, and am waiting for my first fill. I thought by now i would be losing and fell full. I do not, and I can eat about anything under the sun without any problems. I get my first fill on the 27th of this month. I also hurt on my left side, its where my port is. I wrote to my doctor the other night and he said it is normal bo be tender. I don't like where my port is, I am a flight attendant and when I hand things to passengers I have to becareful I don't bumps the seats. I have no problem drinking Water, it goes right down. I keep worrying that I am going to be the first person this does not work for. I am an emotional eater, so it doesn't matter whether I am hungry or not. I hope the band will stop me. I hope this makes you feel better about your situation! :-)

[sparkplug 106]

Hi,

I was banded Dec 21, and am waiting for my first fill. I thought by now i would be losing and fell full. I do not, and I can eat about anything under the sun without any problems. I get my first fill on the 27th of this month. I also hurt on my left side, its where my port is. I wrote to my doctor the other night and he said it is normal bo be tender. I don't like where my port is, I am a flight attendant and when I hand things to passengers I have to becareful I don't bumps the seats. I have no problem drinking Water, it goes right down. I keep worrying that I am going to be the first person this does not work for. I am an emotional eater, so it doesn't matter whether I am hungry or not. I hope the band will stop me. I hope this makes you feel better about your situation! :-)

I was banded on 12/20/08, I am to goal with losing 90 pds and have been maintaining for the last year or so. It is a struggle with my head hunger, it never goes away, but I love wearing a size 8-10 and having people say how nice I look and what an accomplishment I have made! I have added possibly another 10-20 years on my life by losing that weight and am off all meds. I do occasionally get hungry when it is not time to eat and I do my best to ignore it and do something to get my mind off of eating. I walk twice a day for 20 minutes on my breaks for exercise and do loads of yard work at home on weekends. Soon we will have our pool opened (live in Arizona) and exercise is more fun being thin than when I was struggling with the extra 90 pds. I had this done at Christmas time because this was my Christmas gift TO ME! I was refused the first two times by insurance and the third time only gave me 2 weeks notice before they squeezed me in on a full schedule by the surgeon. You guys can do this and will do it if you really want.

I constantly get gas and have to make sure to keep my gas x strips with me at all times. In the beginning it had lodged in my shoulder and it moved all over my stomach which was painful because of the surgery combined with it. Check with your Dr. and if he says all is okay, it is that nasty gas giving you all the trouble. Once you are on solids, it should get better because it helps to move it down and out where it should be. Good luck and hang in there. If I can do it anybody can do it, I just turned 58 and would give anything to have a tt down the line.

[Acadia 20]

I'm two weeks out and my stomach gurgles and growls to the point where anyone around me can hear it. I've woken up starving to the point where I felt sick and had to eat something to help my stomach stop (I keep Muscle Milk around for this reason). For me I've learned that small Pasta shells (whole grain) chewed well stay in both stomach parts better and keep me full longer. Potato works as well.

If I eat Soup though I don't get as full - unless it's something like potato soup with chunks of potato or smashed Tomato Soup with whole grain crackers. Something that takes time to digest.

pudding, yogurt, anything like that will slip right through the stoma into your large stomach.

You may want to start writing down how you feel after you eat each food and start to increase the foods that keep you fuller longer.

Drinking before (up to 15 minutes prior), during, or after (up to 30 minutes after) or eating soft foods (sliders) will help you empty your pouch much faster so try to avoid any liquids (anything you could eat during your liquid or mushy phases) for 15 minutes prior and 30 minutes after.