Mental Challenges!

[Comeflywithme 402]

I was sleeved last Monday (5/5) and starting to actually feel hunger. Is this a mental thing or is it normal? I'm on the Clear Liquids diet and my family ordered food today for Mother's Day. I stayed in my bedroom so didn't see it or smell it but it was sooooo tough knowing they were in the dining room eating Outback! This mental challenge is hard!!! . Anybody else has had mental challenges so early on?

[McButterpants 2,846]

A lot of new sleevers mistake acid for hunger. I did as well. Once I took a proton pump inhibitor (approved by my doc), that feeling went away.

I find that hunger feel different now - it's more like "empty" than what hunger felt like before surgery. I know when I should feel hungry, so when I get that feeling, I pop a Tums and it goes away.

Best of luck to you!

[Comeflywithme 402]

Thank you McButter!

[Josh2xh 70]

I can't stop thinking about fast food. I walk past a Del taco everyday and I just think about having something. I know if I did I wouldn't just regret it but I would be back in the hospital. The thought of another surgery is helpful to address the cravings.

But strangely enough, instead of running out of the room when a food commercial comes on, I started watching the food network. I know this sounds dumb but it really helped me. This is definitely TMI but I related it to watching porn. You know your aren't going to have whatever is going on the TV but you can still enjoy it.

Not sure this makes sense but it helped me somehow.

[Comeflywithme 402]

Thanks for your honest reply Josh, OK its nirmal then.

[danaevett 179]

A lot of new sleevers mistake acid for hunger. I did as well. Once I took a proton pump inhibitor (approved by my doc), that feeling went away.

I find that hunger feel different now - it's more like "empty" than what hunger felt like before surgery. I know when I should feel hungry, so when I get that feeling, I pop a Tums and it goes away.

Best of luck to you!

What is a proton pump inhibitor and what does it do?

[Josh2xh 70]

PPI is an anti reflux and heartburn medication. Prilosec or it's generic is probably the most common.

If you have stomach acid coming up and burning your throat while your sleep, or nausea, you should probably buy some prilosec from your drug store. If you take it every day it's cheaper to have your Doctor write a prescription for the generic.

[Diana2014 24]

The genética for Prilosec it's omeprazole you can find it at SAMs club it is wonderful

[Pretty_In_Purple 112]

The genética for Prilosec it's omeprazole you can find it at SAMs club it is wonderful

I agree! I take it (omeprazole) daily and never have heartburn.

[Jennifer2575 55]

I can't stop thinking about fast food. I walk past a Del taco everyday and I just think about having something. I know if I did I wouldn't just regret it but I would be back in the hospital. The thought of another surgery is helpful to address the cravings. But strangely enough, instead of running out of the room when a food commercial comes on, I started watching the food network. I know this sounds dumb but it really helped me. This is definitely TMI but I related it to watching porn. You know your aren't going to have whatever is going on the TV but you can still enjoy it. Not sure this makes sense but it helped me somehow.

same here!! I watch shows on tv as well and they satisfy me!! Weird huh! Diners drive in and dives is my favorite!

[krystle. k 26]

I was sleeved 5/5 as well . Mothers day was tough on me I'm in a ton of pain because he found other problems he had to operate on I was just kind of emotional went to the bathroom and pulled myself together.

[LivingFree! 478]

Hi comeflywithme,

Sure, it wouldn't hurt to ask your surgeon if a PPI would be ok for you. Many surgeons do send their patients home with an initial prescription. But you may or may not really need one. Not everyone produces excess acid that causes hunger. Assuming you are following your liquid diet plan as directed, it's normal that you are going to start experiencing hunger as you heal and get ready to progress to the next stage of eating. Sure, some of it's "head hunger" but probably most of it is real "hunger hunger!" Your body and brain have been used to having bunches more food in it for a lot of years--right??? I would just encourage you to talk to your surgeon's office and tell them what you're experiencing. They may even offer you suggestions that are not printed on the written diet you've been given until it's time for your next eating stage.

I know these first few eating stages are so tough and challenging (but please remember, they are very temporary), and the rewards that are just around the corner are going to be so worth it. Just try to focus on getting to the next stage, and then the next stage, and then finally when you get to soft foods stage, and THEN regular foods. Yay!

Can I offer you one liitle head game that I used from the very beginning that I still use even today after 3 years? Of course everybody is different, but sometimes if we can find little mind tricks of our own that work for us, it can make a world of difference in conquering stuff that frustrates us. So here goes:

When you were talking about having to isolate yourself from your family while they were eating so you wouldn't see or smell the food--- In an situation like that where you're feeling "different" or "deprived" could you learn to start telling yourself instead of stuff like:

"I CANT HAVE that"

Could you learn to tell your brain that:

I CHOOSE not to have that (fill in the blank ______________) (right now) or (for these next few months) or (while I'm learning my new eating habits) or (until I learn what my dangerous food triggers really are) etc, etc etc.

For me it just really helped me not feel like I was always in the "being punished mode," but instead I was the one IN CONTROL and made the CHOICE to not eat foods that I knew were not healthy and not helping me achieve my weight loss surgery goals.

Just a thought I wanted to share because it impacted me so much in staying strong against cravings. Good luck. Keep on healing and most of all, have fun!!!

[pinkbarbie 101]

I can't stop thinking about fast food. I walk past a Del taco everyday and I just think about having something. I know if I did I wouldn't just regret it but I would be back in the hospital. The thought of another surgery is helpful to address the cravings. But strangely enough, instead of running out of the room when a food commercial comes on, I started watching the food network. I know this sounds dumb but it really helped me. This is definitely TMI but I related it to watching porn. You know your aren't going to have whatever is going on the TV but you can still enjoy it. Not sure this makes sense but it helped me somehow.

I watch it as well and it totally helps!!!!

[Comeflywithme 402]

Thank you!!!!!!!

[gettinbacktome 104]

I watch a lot of food shows and commercials. LOL I have a family of all men. Hubby and 3 boys and I cook for them. I will be 4 weeks out on the 21st and I am on full liquids. It can be difficult at times to cook knowing I can't eat. I just try to make sure I have whatever I am eating or rather sipping on ready and prepared. And trust me..I will be honest..I am one that has tried to eat food that my sleeve was not ready for. Its not fun. My best advice is to follow your doctors plan and prepare for the tough times. It will get better.