Question about the restriction feeling

[laurashelby 8]

I'm 2 weeks post-op and have just added a few soft foods (eggs and soft cheese) to my full liquid diet. I'm not sure if I've ever felt "full" yet. I've never had nausea, never thrown up and was just wondering if that feeling comes a bit later when I start eating more "real" food? Not that I want to feel anything horrible but I guess I was just wondering what it actually will feel like?

[Babbs 14,681]

I know I didn't really get restriction until I full on started with soft foods. I even wondered at times if the doctor even did the surgery, lol. I remember the first time I had refried Beans with a little cheese, I could only eat 2 or 3 spoon fulls and boy oh boy did I feel it then! For me, it's not the nice, comfortable full feeling of before surgery. It's a "tightness" feeling almost into your esophagus that says I'm full. I also start burping and even regurgitating ( I have GERD) when I have eaten too much. Hope that helps explain it!

[kabertoson 5]

I am a month out of surgery and I had the same issue. I never really felt full, but I stopped when I ate the right portion. I did get sick once, however, I think it was because I ate too fast. I also found that as long as I get my Protein in I don't feel hungry. Maybe I am being overly cautious. I just don't like feeling sick. Good luck! I am ready to begin introducing some real food, just in the right portions.

[laurashelby 8]

Thanks! Babbs....I was also starting to wonder if my doctor did the surgery! lol But I guess the 6 incision sites mean he did!

[beachgurl84 456]

I know I didn't really get restriction until I full on started with soft foods. I even wondered at times if the doctor even did the surgery, lol. I remember the first time I had refried Beans with a little cheese, I could only eat 2 or 3 spoon fulls and boy oh boy did I feel it then! For me, it's not the nice, comfortable full feeling of before surgery. It's a "tightness" feeling almost into your esophagus that says I'm full. I also start burping and even regurgitating ( I have GERD) when I have eaten too much. Hope that helps explain it!

I'm happy to know I'm not the only one wondering if the surgery actually happened?!?

You're exactly right! It's not that nice satisfying, full feeling I got before surgery. It's more of a pressure in my chest. Weird. I have yet to actually feel "full" in my stomach.

[laurashelby 8]

Heck....I'm not even sure where my stomach is anymore? haha

I slso have no problem drinking regularly like I used to. I don't have to "sip" as they said I would.

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I was advised that nerves are "injured" and may take as long as 6 weeks to recover.... so in early weeks eat by the measuring spoon/cup and clock!

[Recycled 2,182]

Counting on the "feeling full" effect can be a very imprecise method. I agree with CowgirlJane...... Measure/ or weigh everything....and stick to the measured amounts.

[JamieLogical 8,710]

Were you able to eat an entire scrambled egg? The first time I tried to eat one it took me 45 minutes and I still didn't finish it. I never felt nauseous or threw up even once since my surgery, but I have definitely felt overfull MANY MANY MANY times. It's something I'm working very hard to avoid, as it is quite unpleasant.

Edit: As others have said, the full feeling I get now is nothing like the full feeling I had pre-op. It's more in my chest/esophagus and is very uncomfortable. Not so much painful as just very constricted feeling.

Edited February 5, 2015 by JamieLogical

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

I was a band to sleeve revision so I suspect that my "sensations" are not quite the same... so take my remarks with a grain of salt... but my thought is that if you feel it in your esphogus you have had 1-2 too many bites. I strongly advocate eating by measuring spoon/cup early on, but as you start to eat more intuitively, strive for "no longer hungry" but prior to feeling that overly restricted feeling.

One of the ways to "cheat" the sleeve is to get used to that feeling of food backed up in your esophogus. As your sleeve matures over time your capacity will grow. If your capacity grows and you are also habitually eating to "overflow" I think that could create problems in maintenance.

Again - I am sensitive to this as a revisionista because that is one of the reasons band to sleeve revisions overall dont do as well. i became very familiar wiht "full esophogus" when i had the band and it is a very bad habit.

[stuknbama 10]

I, too, wondered if i had surgery. I am at 1mo, 20 days out and ive never felt nauseous, never felt full.....i hear people saying they can only eat a couple baby spoons full of food, but i have had an entire can of progresso soup.....i didnt think this was normal, but this thread proves im not the only one. My taste and smell was totally screwed, but i think its coming back. Im only down 28lbs from my surgery day. My surgeon said i was doing fine but he told me to cut my Premier Protein down to one drink a day instead of two. Thanks for this thread as it has settled my thoughts down a bit.