The struggles 6 weeks post-op

[Butterflyhigh 504]

I am very happy I did this surgery. I was a self-pay and spent two years researching WLS. So this decision was definitely something I put a lot of thought, time, and commitment towards. I've been having a picture perfect recovery. I don't want to sound ungrateful.

But...some days are nothing but frustration! Everything has to be so well planned...What to have for Breakfast. When to start eating since it takes me 30 minutes to get even 1/4 cup in. Reminding myself to drink liquids. Stop drinking liquids because it's my planned eating hour. Look at the clock to see if it's snack time.

Anything at all that does go in the stomach starts a one hour process of belching, stomach rumbling, feeling food in my sleeve and esophagus opening, and feelings of general yuckiness.

Then there are the days when I am actually hungry...really hungry, and all I want to do is eat a dang sandwich but instead I have to spend 30 minutes eating cottage cheese with a baby spoon.

I've also started to realize that some of my uncomfortable full feelings after eating may be indigestion (which I've never in my life had to deal with) but I'm not sure if that's it or not.

I went to Niagara Falls last week with my eldest daughter and all I could eat were Protein bars, shakes, and a half a cup of french onion Soup. At the Hard Rock Cafe I had two bites of my kid's ice cream and then paid for it for another hour.

I know this sounds like whining, and it is. But my questions is WHEN???

When will the Olympic style belching stop?

When will I be able to eat small but still normal sized amounts (like more than three bites)?

When will I feel "normal" for one entire day?

Will I eventually stop mourning the loss of the ability to eat full sized meals?

95% of the time I am a positive & optimistic person, but now there are days when I am just down, sad, and missing my old ways.

I'm getting ready for work and have one hour before I have to leave. Better start working on consuming an entire Protein shake and gearing up for the after affects. Sigh.

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

I'm 5 weeks out and really haven't had any complications -- most food is fine and I haven't had nausea. But, I can empathize with some of your points.

My tummy rumbles forever after eating anything! My electricity was out over the weekend -- no TV = quiet house. I sat down and ate and it was just hilarious how loud and active my tummy was. Gurgling, squirting, churning... it's really strange and I guess perfectly normal.

I've been out to eat and it feels a little crazy -- I took my boys to Red Robin and they ordered those gigantic gloppy burgers and I ordered a $2 add on patty and only ate about 2/3.

About the timing of it all... it is a little challenging. I watch the clock... about 30 minutes before I want to eat, I stop drinking. I look at the clock when I stop eating and wait 30 minutes and then start the drinking again. Basically I'm either eating or drinking all day long. I eat Breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack (just before getting in the car to go home), dinner and a night snack. It does get easier as I get further out because I'm getting the routine down. I'm not always precise about the 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after but I'm pretty close. (time to start drinking now -- just finished breakfast).

One thing I've learned about in therapy and life is to watch the language we use. In your post you talk about eating "full-sized" meals. We have to readjust what a "normal" meal is. A giant plate of Pasta with sauce and meatballs is NEVER going to be "normal" for WLS patients again. It's what got us overweight in the first place. Americans have a very distorted idea of what a portion should be. Take a look at this graphic:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/portion-sizes-infographic_n_1539804.html

Try telling yourself this is your new normal. Try to focus on what is right about the new style of eating instead of wishing you could eat the old way. The way you used to eat is directly related to the weight you were, so this is the new way of eating for your new body.

I'm bypass, so I expect dumping if I eat high sugar/fat foods but I have seen on the boards here it can also happen with sleeve patients. However, I actually had a kiddie scoop of sugar free fat free vanilla black cherry ice cream and it was great and I tolerated it well (even though it is going to be a once a month treat if even that much).

I think you're still so early on that you're body is still adjusting. I believe you will feel MUCH MORE normal soon. I'm 5 weeks out now (early June surgery) and I can say I do feel "normal" -- I just have to be careful about what size portions I eat and I focus on Protein, Protein, protein. The couple of times we've eaten out I always manage to find something to eat (chicken breast, hamburger patty, beans).

Best wishes!

Edited July 17, 2014 by Ginger Snaps

[blondebomb 580]

To me if I start longing for" normal" portions. ..my normal portions is wat got me fat in the first place..we will not have the size stomach of what others eat unless we try an eat like others again. This is the thinking process the psychological part that is head hungry thinking that can get us in trouble an down the road we can end up goin thru this for nothing an gain everything back. That would b unsuccessful. I have had a" I just want that" moment myself an I have to tell myself that's the unhealthy route. I want to be a success an maintain. Stopping old habit behavior an thinking is 24 7 commitment. I'm just making a note that's why it's a long process to go thru medically an psychological retraining our thinking for this to work. I don't think about times to eat since I add Protein to everything but everyone's different an wrk schedule different families an so forth...we can do this! Lifetime of bad choices an eating habits takes time me included if we needed to make a psych app to help let's do it...have a good day!!

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

I forgot to mention one other thing about the mental game... I want to exercise early in the mornings because that's always what worked for me to maintain a habit of exercising. So, every morning when that alarm goes off, I have this argument in my head: "I don't want to get up" "I need to get up and exercise" "but I don't want to get up" "It's too early I'll just skip today"....

My new strategy is when the argument starts (I don't want to get up) the first thing I argue back is "I want my new body!"

It's really important in life to try to turn your self talk around so it's not destructive to you.

[SweetnLow718 0]

<p>I am very happy I did this surgery. I was a self-pay and spent two years researching WLS. .....Anything at all that does go in the stomach starts a one hour process of belching, stomach rumbling, feeling food in my sleeve and esophagus opening, and feelings of general yuckiness. </p> <p> </p> <p>Then there are the days when I am actually hungry...really hungry, and all I want to do is eat a dang sandwich but instead I have to spend 30 minutes eating cottage cheese with a baby spoon. </p> <p> </p> <p>I've also started to realize that some of my uncomfortable full feelings after eating may be indigestion (which I've never in my life had to deal with) but I'm not sure if that's it or not. </p> <p> </p> <p>I went to Niagara Falls last week with my eldest daughter and all I could eat were Protein bars, shakes, and a half a cup of french onion Soup. At the Hard Rock Cafe I had two bites of my kid's ice cream and then paid for it for another hour.</p> <p> </p> <p>I know this sounds like whining, and it is. But my questions is WHEN??? </p> <p>When will the Olympic style belching stop?</p> <p>When will I be able to eat small but still normal sized amounts (like more than three bites)?</p> <p>When will I feel "normal" for one entire day?</p> <p>Will I eventually stop mourning the loss of the ability to eat full sized meals? </p> <p> </p> <p>95% of the time I am a positive & optimistic person, but now there are days when I am just down, sad, and missing my old ways.

I am 3 wks out and understand that we must reprogram our minds, change our self talk, and embrace a new 'normal.' However, I'd really appreciate some response to the questions that ButterflyHigh asks. I have a hard time consuming most things, Protein Shakes, yogurt, etc. I've felt 'yucky' nausea tummy. I thought it was temporary, and hope it is....but no longer know what's normal. And after this, plus a week of Constipation, I'm felling a bit of frustration too and can relate to the questions ButterflyHigh asks. So, please give me some hope. Thanks!!!