help i'm starving

halloween2124 · February 20, 2007

Hey everyone. i'm 5 days post op and hungry all the time. My taste for sweets has diminished, and I'm finding that I'd rather BE hungry than do liquids. I can have shakes and smoothies and cream Soups, but only Soup that doesnt' give me gas is potato soup and I feel like if I eat it AGAIN I will hurl. I've tried smoothies that i've made on my own and I prefer them but I get hungry again within several hours. I don't really think I could be "cheating" but I"m wondering if I should try to move up to more solid foods like yogurt or pudding, but I don't want to compromise the band. I've had no problems getting anything down but I don't see how the band is going to do me any good if i'm starving all the time. On my liquid diet I drank constantly (so I wouldn't be hungry) which worked but now I don't want to wash all the food through the band.

I've been drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, a slim fast protien shake for Breakfast, a large shake or smoothie throughout the day (small amounts at a time), then lots of Water and gatorade.

When my stomach growls it HURTS! Is there SOMETHING I can mix in that will fill me up?

rhickso · February 20, 2007

Hang in there ... it gets much easier. I was banded on Halloween of 06 and thought I was going to die with just the liquids ... I started eating some thicker liquids and did just fine. I have lost 50 pounds - Christmas slowed my weight loss down tremendously - lots of cheating on my part.

I ate yogurt, pudding, cream of wheat, oatmeal :hungry: and Jello within 2 days of my surgery. You will just have to try SMALL amounts to see what you can tolerate. You do NOT want to overeat and vomit - that hurts at your stage in the pouch game! Eat small amount VERY SLOWLY and chill out - you are going to love your pouch - give yourself a chance to adjust!

TX_Kimmie · February 20, 2007

I was able to tolerate french onion Soup (strained out the chunks) and Tomato basil. Those helped me through. I banded on Feb 5th. I was able to eat sugar free Jello in my first week. Was nice to have something with flavor. Hope that helps. I am only a little bit ahead of you and I can promise it gets better. But will mention, my first two weeks were quite difficult. Hang in there. Lots of support on these boards. Take care.

bretta717 · February 21, 2007

I felt the same way, and my food cravings were horrible because I was so hungry. I called my Dr and the office sd that if I was keeping everything down and not having problems to go ahead and move to the soft foods portion SLOWLY, for 1 meal a day. Once I had oatmeal on Friday, I was fine. I also think this is a good time to start learning what you body feels like when it is full, which has been a different feeling for me. If you feel comfortable, call your Dr and tell them how you feel. The band is a tool not a torture device. We are not meant to be hungry, but definatly need to allow enough time to heal.

juliegeraci · February 27, 2007

My doctor said I could eat anything that passed through a straw. Creamy Soup really helped me feel satisfied. I just avoided the chicken if there was chicken in it. Good luck.

sumlike2h8 · February 27, 2007

I stuck to liquids for the first week. However, I did include some yogurt and applesauce into my diet in that phase. Week 2 I ate pretty much whatever I felt like, I just put it in my food processor. Didn't look great, but after weeks of Soup and broth it was a dream come true. I'm now starting on week 4, have never puked or felt ill and I eat everything I used to except I have not had ground beef or pork. I did have a piece of round steak made in the crock pot with a sauce and that went very well. I personallt think you could have cottage cheese, yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, applesauce, ice cream, whatever. Oh sure, they say not to eat ice cream, but lets face it, If you're living on 400 calories a day via soup, a little ice cream won't kill you and you'll feel much better. Just my opinions and it worked for me. I am still scared to try salad and brocolli or raw veggies, I think I'll wait till week 7 for those. Good luck and you'll get through it!

Karlee · February 28, 2007

hey Halloween 2124 I am also 5 days post op and so far I am able to eat

egg drop soup/protein skake with banana/crystal light/sugar free jello/sugar free popsicle/very runny creamy of wheat/with dried blueberry cook into it for flavor and then strain out/lots of water/vegetable Soup and chicken soup puree with a hand blender and I am not hungry maybe it

you sipsipsip all day in between each meal this will help for you

GayleTX · February 28, 2007

You are probably okay if you progress to something a little more substantial....just don't go nuts - one step at a time.

You will be a more satisfied with your shakes if you'll use some that are made for bariatric patients....slim fast just doesn't quite do it for us. There are several good brands on the market, so do your homework and get something that will stay with you and nourish you.

I assume you realize that your band has not yet been 'turned on'....it's just 'installed.' When you get your first fill you will be on your way to making it work for you, but it may take 3-5 fills to get enough restriction to help as much as you need/want. In the meantime we have to be strong and eat right and de-carb our bodies so we won't have the cravings.

bosteph · February 28, 2007

You didn't say anything about your Protein intake...

While on liquids it is really important to get your Protein up to at least 50g per day. That will also help you to feel fuller. My saving grace was skim milk. That always helped me feel fuller.

Good luck and congratulations on your band!