Is this Normal? Advice Please!

[P.chan 0]

Hi Everyone,

So, It's been 6 days since my surgery. To be honest, I am feeling physically a bit better but I am so HUNGRY. I feel like I get hunger headaches. I have made thick soups..boiling potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and blending everything into a thick soup... I made smoothies too..even using a table spoon of ice cream, just for the extra filling. But, even i can't believe that sometimes I am so hungry, I eat 2 bowls of Soup at one time. What on earth is wrong with me??? I feel so guilty and sad for eating but there is this big hunger pain in my stomach. What does that mean? My filling is 4cc.

Should I be this hungry? Tomorrow is my day 7. What should I really eat to feel full for a longer time? is it normal to eat or drink a shake/ glass of milk or juice every 1.5 -2 hours? I have been drinking lots of non fat and soy milk. it's given me a bit of diarrhea. I can drink 2 L of Water now throughout the day...

[Tamie2169 2]

Hi,

You are mentioning all kinds of foods, but I didn't see anything about the Protein you should be eating. How much Protein are you getting a day? I was told to get in 60+ every day and that it was the protein that makes you feel full. Plus, it seems that you are eating foods that are not recommended for day 6, but more like the second week after surgery. Didn't your doctor or dietician/nutritionalists give you a list of foods to eat after your surgery? And the time table to be eating them? The last thing you want is to eat too much and get pains in your shoulder/neck due to the band pressing on the nerves! I had them from trying to eat too much of the Protein shakes at one time and ended up in the emergency room! Do not go over what the doctor is recommending for you stage in the healing process.

As for the diarrhea its probably because of all the milk and milk products you are consuming. I was told that if this happened to either cut out the milk products or go get some medicine from the pharmacy for diarrhea (over the counter stuff, anything you like!) But once again I would say call your doctor!! You paid for them to help you through this process. They should be available to you 24 hours a day! Do not hesitate to bug the heck out of them to get your answers and have your concerns talked about !! I called my doctor at all times of the day and night and he was extremely patient and answered all of my questions. Please call them and see what they can recommend for what is happening to you.

[onmyway11 43]

I'm also on day 6. I was on Clear liquids day before 2 days after and now just carnation instant Breakfast 4 oz 8x a day. Besides being completely bored I feel like I'm not feeling well bc I'm only getting what? 600 cals a day? Anyone else feel this way?

I'm a rule follower so I won't cheat too afraid anyway to damage my band but I did have to just move a container of really good looking humus to the back of the fridge

Protein is most def a huge help in keeping you feeling less hungry. Protein first is my doctors motto.

[P.chan 0]

Hi Tamie,

thanks for your reply. But my doctor said to be on liquids and Soups are fine for the first week. For the first 5 days I was on very light soups...only last night, i made this sort of thick potato Soup.< /p>

I believe my Proteins are coming from my soymilk, milk and yogurt. I drink about 4-5 glasses of milk each day..plus 2-3 smoothies.

Can you tellme what your eating time table looks like?

thanks so much

Hi,

You are mentioning all kinds of foods, but I didn't see anything about the Protein you should be eating. How much Protein are you getting a day? I was told to get in 60+ every day and that it was the protein that makes you feel full. Plus, it seems that you are eating foods that are not recommended for day 6, but more like the second week after surgery. Didn't your doctor or dietician/nutritionalists give you a list of foods to eat after your surgery? And the time table to be eating them? The last thing you want is to eat too much and get pains in your shoulder/neck due to the band pressing on the nerves! I had them from trying to eat too much of the protein shakes at one time and ended up in the emergency room! Do not go over what the doctor is recommending for you stage in the healing process.

As for the diarrhea its probably because of all the milk and milk products you are consuming. I was told that if this happened to either cut out the milk products or go get some medicine from the pharmacy for diarrhea (over the counter stuff, anything you like!) But once again I would say call your doctor!! You paid for them to help you through this process. They should be available to you 24 hours a day! Do not hesitate to bug the heck out of them to get your answers and have your concerns talked about !! I called my doctor at all times of the day and night and he was extremely patient and answered all of my questions. Please call them and see what they can recommend for what is happening to you.

[roziecakes 20]

My doctor had me on a ton of Protein afterward, and I think that's why I ultimately wasn't that hungry. I did have hunger pangs, and I felt dizzy some of the time from hunger, but once I got the protein down I felt fine for several hours at a time. I think that drinking little bits every two hours or so isn't that big of a deal though. I think if you're truly hungry you should have a little bit of something.

[honk 780]

I don't think you are getting enough Protein from just milk for another 100 calories you could be getting another 24 g. of protein by adding whey isolate power to the milk. On day 8 I was allowed to move to full liquids (which it sounds like you are on now, prior to that I was on Clear Liquids like broth). In addition to say Tomato Soup I was also taking Protein Shakes. Yes, you do get hungry after a few hours. One way to help this is to have your Soup and then when you feel hungry an hour later have the Protein Shake. Spread out your eating. And as for eating two bowls of soup I think that is too much. My doctor said 8 oz of soup and trust me that is less then a bowl. More like a small coffee cup (not mug). In fact I recommend you measure out 8 oz with a measuring cup and put it in your smallest coffee cup so you know how much 8 Oz is.

[54Shirley 105]

I AGREE ! yOU SAY LIQUIDS ! WELL,,, shakes ARE LIQUIDS, AND THE Protein HELPS KILL THE HUNGER BEAST. (NOT ALL THE WAY) BUT IT HELPS. Sorry about the CAPS..

You say you get your Protein from Milk. So you are trying to get Protein in liquid form...... Milk can cause BAD runs.... It's bad enough that it's Fluid in, and Fluid out, but you need some Protein to tame that Beast.

60-80 Grams a day for a Woman and 80-100 for a Man.

I'll bet your not meeting that.

Also check out myfitnesspal.com for free, and it will log everything you are drinking. Then at the bottom it will tell you your calorie intake, and protein intake.

So if your home with some time on your hands... Take a look at it.

I am Losingintime on that site.

[P.chan 0]

Thanks for your advice everyone. I think I am really lacking Proteins. last night, I was so hungry, I blended some chicken with marinara sauce and ate that. I wasn't even hungry until about 10 this morning. Then I scrambled 2 eggs for Breakfast. I checked online and 2 eggs = 12 grams of proteins...so my mission today is to get at least 60. This whole experience is so new for me. is it more like Atkins after surgery? Today, I will make my first lunch. My doctor said 2nd week, I should have soft foods.

Any good ideas for my first meal? I'm thinking fish?

[sandiburn 23]

I got real hunger my first 2 weeks out. After I went to mushies it got a lot better. Hang in there. Keep drinking lots of Water. I also found that adding a Fiber sup to my shakes helped. I got it at GNC. It made the shakes real thick and kept me regular during the liquid stages. Killed 2 birds with one stone. Good luck with your journey.

[54Shirley 105]

Fish is always a good choice ! Just remember to chew until it is turned into mush, so pulverize it ! I'm still partial to the Mushie stuff. I find it easier going down. I like low fat string cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, in meats or sea food, I always use some kind of sauce ,cocktail, tarter,BBQ, Low Cal. Ranch.

This helps moisten the meats so they are not to dry when going down.

small bites from pencil Eraser size- dime size at the most. Also while you are chewing, it is a good time to learn to put the fork down. This is a good habit to get into. When you feel full, STOP ! your done.

Enjoy your meals today.

[Tamie2169 2]

Hi,

I would definitely recommend the GREEK yogurt. Most of it has at least 13 grams of Protein per serving. As for the mushies phase here is exactly what my doctor recommended: this was for week 2 of the post-op materials I received from my doctors office:

1. Any type of Protein Powder you want (add to anything you puree in a blender)

2. Blended Vegetables ad fruit (home made or baby food)

3. Vegetable juice - V-8 or similiar

4. 100% fruit juice (remember you can add the protein powder to the juices to make them thicker and add protein for your daily intake)

5. oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Cream of rice (these do NOT need to be blended)

6. Blended low-fat Soups

7. Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams

8. Blended peas, creamed corn

9. Baby foods - stages 1 and 2

10. Scramble eggs - well mashed

11. Low - fat cottage cheese, yogurt (recommended Greek kind beause of high intake of protein)

12. Blended, Water packed tuna or chicken

13. Blended, cooked lean meats - Chicken, tuckey, fihs, beef, pork, veal

Anything you put in a blender add the protein powder to it. My doctors office had special made protein powder that you could buy from them. Not only did one scoop had 20+ grams of protein (it was flavorless so you can add anything to it) but it also had 6 grams of fiber as well. Fiber helps you to feel full too. I went and got some powdered fiber to add to my drinks and they help me tremendously. At this stage you need to be adding the fiber in to help with feeling full as well as the protein. Yes- was told to eat every 3 hours At this stage the doctor said you will be feeling hungry all the time. To expect to feel hunger, a tremendous amount of hunger for the first 6 weeks after surgery. It was discussed over and over before the surgery, and was in everything that the doctors office gave to me. Said that the only way to overcome some of the hunger pains was to eat small portions every 3 hours during the day. So 1/2 cup of potatoes, then 3 hours later 1/2 cup of Protein Shake with blended fruits etc. Plus they wanted for you to drink 64 ounces of water.....on top of the food you were consuming. I never did get all the water down, felt like I was putting something in my mouth all day long, and when you talk on the phone for your job that is just NOT possible to do for 8 hours of the day. I did try and eat about every 3-4 hours during the day.

I'm just surprised that you did not get a recommendations list of foods you can or should be eating at this stage in your healing process. My doctor was very good about giving me all kinds of list to look at and follow for when I was post-op and the different weeks 1-4 after the surgery. Every week there was new foods to add or how you could now eat them. I still say you should be calling your doctors office and insist that they tell you what should be happening at this stage in your recovery. Good luck

[DawnMavity 0]

I'm also on day 6. I was on clear liquids day before 2 days after and now just carnation instant breakfast 4 oz 8x a day. Besides being completely bored I feel like I'm not feeling well bc I'm only getting what? 600 cals a day? Anyone else feel this way?

I'm a rule follower so I won't cheat too afraid anyway to damage my band but I did have to just move a container of really good looking humus to the back of the fridge

Protein is most def a huge help in keeping you feeling less hungry. Protein first is my doctors motto.

I am 15 days post op and am still only allowed Protein Shots, broth, and sugar-free Popsicles and Jello. My doctor says nothing more for 2 more weeks, and like you I am a rule follower. I am struggling with lack of energy and I get sick to my stomach if I do more than 10 or 15 minutes of activity.

I have talked to my surgeon, who is amazing, but she says I have to tough it out to protect the stomach and band from damage. I have to go out of town this week for work where I will be at a conference with a lot of people and food and I hope I am strong enough to stay the course.

I can't wait for my next appointment on 10/12 in the hopes of progressing to Soups or mushy foods.