How does the gastric sleeve actually "work"? I am 4 days post op and VERY hungry.

[redheadedpamela 0]

Bloated too, of course. There must be something I'm not getting. When I had the lapband, I KNEW if I overate (or came close to it) because it would come back up. But what happens with the sleeve? What feelings do you get when you know you shouldn't eat anymore? I am so scared that I will fail at this too.

Pam

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I'm 6 weeks out.

At four days post-op you are still a cocktail of drugs and anesthesia and gas so that is what you will be feeling right now. Once you start sipping anything stronger than Clear Liquids you will most definitely be able to"tell" when enough is enough, for me I felt that with clears too. I suppose every person's signal is different but for me that early out it was very painful pressure in the spot where the new stomach is. If I took too large a gulp I would feel that same pain but instead it would be in my esophagus. If you are worried that you will find a way to "cheat" the sleeve because there is no real dumping, don't worry, pain is a VERY good behavior modifier! And once you are on solids there is the risk of "sliming", a hideous experience I recently had with a food I have already eaten post-op.

[CraftyChristie 62]

Okay FIRSTLY my friend I want you to hear this.

YOU DID NOT FAIL AT THE BAND. THE BAND FAILED YOU.

YOU DID NOT FAIL AT DIETS. DIETS FAILED YOU.

This is important because you are placing blame and guilt on yourself that you do not deserve.

Secondly. I was also VERY hungry the first two weeks after my sleeve. It seems hit or miss, some people deal with hunger and some don't. My hubby and I both did. So did my friend who is almost 3 weeks post op right now. It's okay, it sucks but you WILL get through it. While you are in this liquids phase, you won't feel too much restriction unless you chug stuff which you probably won't :huh0:

Once you get on soft foods you will start to feel it, and even more so on solid foods. If you eat a bite too many you will feel pressure in your chest, like a bad heartburn or just a major pressure in your sternum. It's very uncomfortable and once you have felt it a few times, you learn to stop eating before you get to that point. The nutritionists and nurses in our surgeon's office stress, you do not WANT to feel that... you want to stop eating before you feel it. You will experience it most in the first couple of weeks on solid foods when you are learning. I have only felt it once in the past month and a half when I accidentally ate too much turkey (it was only 2 oz! I can usually eat more than that.)

That's the other thing is different foods will make you feel different, you can't always eat the same amount even if it seems similar. chicken and turkey, pretty similar, but it affected me differently. Also, 2 oz of chicken might fit comfortably today, and not tomorrow. So treat every meal like it's the first, and proceed carefully.

Hang in there, the hunger gets better. Promise!

[Carrie 4]

Pretty much what Christie said. So get used to being hungry.

[CraftyChristie 62]

Well I wouldn't say get used to it... in a week or two it will be much better

[LittleSteve 5]

Your stomach has stretch receptors so when food touches them, a message is sent to the brain telling you to stop eating. I believe you just have to relearn what full is.

when I am eating I can go from hungry to the I don`t want any more very quickly. I have to stop right then or I get the can`t move for a week feeling.

For me its very obvious, easy to anticipate and satisfying. I also still get hungry and eat every 2-3 hrs but for some reason and without trying I no longer crave junk food.< /p>

[redheadedpamela 0]

thanks so much for the good words. I guess I just thought it would be more drastic than this. And yes, I guess once I did sort of "chug" some liquids, and it felt funny in one spot for a second. (like one cramp of gas). I have a 36 bouggi (sp?) (that stick they use for sizing your stomach to stitch around), but I really wanted a 32, but doc wouldn't do it. Said he used to use 32, and people couldn't swallow. I've heard this sleeve gets to feeling more and more "natural" in the weeks to follow. But right now, I can still swig 3 or 4 swallows of Water from a bottle of water just like I've always been able to. Let's see. Maybe I'll lose a lot of weight in my arms and legs.............NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I'm 7 weeks out and I can moderately chug beverages, eat raw vegetables (just a little I'm testing), and take regular size bites. I had a 32 bougie. If I eat plain high Protein like chicken or steak and chew thoroughly I can get in about 3-4 ounces.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Okay FIRSTLY my friend I want you to hear this.

YOU DID NOT FAIL AT THE BAND. THE BAND FAILED YOU.

YOU DID NOT FAIL AT DIETS. DIETS FAILED YOU.

This is important because you are placing blame and guilt on yourself that you do not deserve.

Secondly. I was also VERY hungry the first two weeks after my sleeve. It seems hit or miss, some people deal with hunger and some don't. My hubby and I both did. So did my friend who is almost 3 weeks post op right now. It's okay, it sucks but you WILL get through it. While you are in this liquids phase, you won't feel too much restriction unless you chug stuff which you probably won't

Once you get on soft foods you will start to feel it, and even more so on solid foods. If you eat a bite too many you will feel pressure in your chest, like a bad heartburn or just a major pressure in your sternum. It's very uncomfortable and once you have felt it a few times, you learn to stop eating before you get to that point. The nutritionists and nurses in our surgeon's office stress, you do not WANT to feel that... you want to stop eating before you feel it. You will experience it most in the first couple of weeks on solid foods when you are learning. I have only felt it once in the past month and a half when I accidentally ate too much turkey (it was only 2 oz! I can usually eat more than that.)

That's the other thing is different foods will make you feel different, you can't always eat the same amount even if it seems similar. chicken and turkey, pretty similar, but it affected me differently. Also, 2 oz of chicken might fit comfortably today, and not tomorrow. So treat every meal like it's the first, and proceed carefully.

Hang in there, the hunger gets better. Promise!

Loved this post, thank you so much! I always have to take the hard way so I'm fully expecting to feel hunger post op. Hopefully not though!

Also, no way will I ever take blame for not being a success with the band. Nuh uh! We needed these surgeries for a reason! When you have something that is way too easy to cheat, you better believe most of us will be cheating. I love the idea with the sleeve of only eating 2oz of meat and that will be it.

It will be such a blessing.

[thinoneday 445]

Bloated too, of course. There must be something I'm not getting. When I had the lapband, I KNEW if I overate (or came close to it) because it would come back up. But what happens with the sleeve? What feelings do you get when you know you shouldn't eat anymore? I am so scared that I will fail at this too.

Pam

TRUST ME you will know. . .you get this weird extremely full (like you ate the whole turkey dinner) feeling after about 4 oz of solid food. . . the bad thing however is that you can wait for about 2 hours and then eat again. . .this can go on forever, this is where you have to relearn your bad habits. . . after you eat your "meal" you have be strong enough to wait until the next meal. . if you feel hungry inbetween meals you need to drink Water, crystal light, diet cokes, or whatever, but don't snack. . . after a while you can throw in a fresh peeled fruit. . . I'm 8 months out and have to so watch what i'm doing. . . it's so easy to go back to bad habits, right now i'm fighting night eating. . its tough, but i'm winning the battle. . . haven't gained anything (thank God) but the weight loss is really slow. . . good luck!

[ouroborous 519]

First, 32 fr bougie to 36 fr bougie is an almost imperceptible difference. Trust me; going from a 32 to a 36 didn't "sabotage" your weight loss.

Second, the sensation of hunger is very different for everyone -- both pre-sleeve and post-sleeve. One thing that's really hit me is that I'm hungry a LOT these days, but I just don't eat that much. It's like I've learned to turn it off, or at least down. I have to remind myself to eat, and that's new!

I'd recommend that you not worry about it too much. From what I've seen of the sleeve, you WILL lose weight (has there been a single person on here who's had the sleeve who hasn't lost a significant amount of weight?). It will surprise you the rate that it comes off... then plateaus... then comes off again. It will surprise you how much your relationship to food (and yes, you have a relationship to food) will change.

Just focus on getting well right now -- follow the doctor's orders to the letter, sip Water whenever you can, walk as much as you can. Try to wean off of the pain meds, and really listen to the new sensations in your body. You will literally have to re-learn how to eat and drink all over again, but the payoff is worth it.

[Maddie 9]

I see you have already gotten some really good advice, hang in there...it really will get easier.