1 wk, 1 day post op...I want to EAT, not drink

[hsm71 2]

I need some inspiration...I've had this love/hate relationship with food for the past 25 years! I've always been a stress/emotional/bored eater. In 2013 I had the Lapband...day of surgery weight 319. After 2 years, and for the first time in my adult life I saw 199 on scale. That was absolutely the most amazing feeling I'd had (weight related) in my adult life! A couple of months after that, things changed drastically, I began having complications with the band and ended up in the hospital for a week...discharged with all the Fluid removed from the band. Frustration and anger set in and the weight began to pile back on. Today I am 1 week and 1 day post op from band to sleeve revision. The original plan was band to bypass...during surgery, due to extensive scar tissue from the band and complications with my intestines, my surgeon went with the sleeve...which he had discussed with me prior to surgery, saying that could potentially happen. I kept my hopes up for a successful band to bypass...#1 reason being that I felt like I "needed" that restriction! I don't remember feeling hungry after the Lapband! I'm only a week post op and I'm hungry! I don't know what to do! I don't remember feeling this emotional after the Lapband! I read and I read and I read...I know that everything says follow your Drs post op diet to the "T" or you could damage your "new" stomach. Last night I made the mistake of getting on the scale. Morning of revision surgery I was 302...last night my scale read 297...I was devastated! Per dr recommendations, full liquids are to start today...in my hungry, desperation, feelings of failure...you name it...pity party, party of 1 ????...I ate about 4 teaspoons full of low fat cottage cheese. Now I'm beating myself up and I'm terrified that I'm not going to get this right!

Can anyone offer me some advise on how to deal with this emotional roller coaster I feel like I'm on and how to deal with wanting to EAT, not drink?!

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[suzzzzz 1,005]

sugar free popsicles were a great help to me with the wanting to chew. Definitely stick to your plan because it is not worth the risk of a serious complication. Visualize your stomach all swollen and held together with staples if you have to. It needs some TLC right now! It does get better. This is just a tiny bit of time.

[Hellya 144]

You can do this. It's hard, but you can do it.

I got on the scale right away, too, but at this point, the scale isn't going to show you the real story. Your body is healing and it has to do different things, including hold on to Water, to do that.

Is the moment of relief you think is going to happen when you eat something worth the risk of having to go back into surgery?

What helped me was Soup. I made some vegetable Soup and I blended it AND strained it and it felt satisfying. If that fits in with your surgeon's plan, I would try that.

Again, you can do this. You can. It's temporary and you will come out on the other side stronger.

[ella37 455]

My doc told me that some people actually gain the first week due to Fluid retention.

As far as the liquid thing.. it SUCKS. I don't think you'll find anyone on here that enjoyed it, but it's a necessary part of healing. Can you have any yogurt or anything on full liquids?

[elisa5150 212]

Get to a counselor. You've gone through some significant changes and things haven't gone as you wished. The sleeve can be as effective as the bypass. Go talk about your feelings, your challenges and your goals. Give your emotions a healthy outlet.

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[_bribri1001 62]

I'm glad to see someone else on here say how much they miss food right after surgery. I am 5 day post op and all I think about is food lol. I'm on full liquids and have no desire to bengie eat but I just want a bit of things you know just a taste. We all slip sometimes but at least know the mistake. You are almost there. WE are almost there!

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[Vinasu 621]

I was dying for food the first two weeks also. Week two was the hardest part of the entire journey. Once I got to purees, though, everything eased up.

Chewing is a major part of digestion, and your body wants to do it. When you can chew and get mouth feel back, it'll all get easier.

I though I was starving week two. Turns out, I wasn't hungry at all. I just wanted to chew food and swallow it. That first mouthful of ricotta was amazing.

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[hsm71 2]

Thanks so much y'all! Just getting feedback from people I know are going thru the same things I'm going thru at the same time feels good. My husband and family are a great support system, but they aren't feeling the same things I'm feeling. Side note: had actual daggers been coming out of my eyes last night, my husband would have needed some serious medical attention! After trying to make me feel better and asking what he could do for me, and me growling back at him "you can get me food or shut your pie hole, your choice!"...he left me alone.

As a healthcare professional, intellectually I know all these things. I don't work in the Bariatric field, but healthcare is normal every day life for me. It's definitely easier to tell a patient what he/she should and shouldn't do and feel confident in your knowledge. But when you're on the other side of the "table", it's no where near as easy! People in healthcare aren't very good patients, unfortunately. Because of the field I work in, I do see a therapist regularly. After hearing other people's problems day in and day out, I need a "mental health" check up once every month or so. I'll be seeing her tomorrow. Excellent advise @@elisa5150!

As for my week 2 "full liquid" diet...I'm allowed to add cream Soups (no lumps or clumps), sugar free pudding, skim/light milk and Protein shakes. I looked at my week 1-4 progression and "meats/protein", i.e. low fat cottage cheese, yogurts, soft eggs, etc. don't start until next week. One thing that's on there that surprises me is canned tuna/chicken with light mayo. Has anyone tried that at 3 weeks out? Sounds great, but I don't want to try to walk before I crawl.

Y'all are awesome! I don't feel quite as alone going into this new chapter in my life!

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[Armygalbonnie 643]

This hunger you are feeling can definitely be acid!! I'm dealing with the same thing. I started a new stomach coating medicine today and I pray it helps. I have 8 more days of liquids. I want food too but the idea of damage terrifies me and I'm very dedicated to my surgeon's plan. Please talk to your Dr about the possibility that this may be acid.

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[CarenL 35]

Had my sleeve done on 10/20. Week two of full liquids was torture as I also desperately wanted to chew something! I ended up having a little small curd cottage cheese that second week with no ill effects. Yesterday I graduated to puréed foods. I am so excited! Hang in there you can do this too!

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[OzRoo 1,492]

When I was on the liquid phase, and felt hungry most of the time, my Dietician advised me to keep adding Protein powder to my liquids.

I bought neutral flavour Protein Powder, so I could add it to Soups (cream soups). This helped a bit.

I was also told that the gnawing type hunger sensations are acid. I was sent home with acid reducers, but I had to change to a stronger one later, and that really helped me.

As to the canned tuna, I was told that providing I can break it with my tongue, or mash it with a fork, then it would be OK. Canned chicken wasn't mentioned.

How about Refried Beans?

Good luck!

I found the first 2 weeks post op, the toughest, but I got through it!

[OzRoo 1,492]

Oh, and week 3 till week 5, I was on Purees.

I was adding runny yoghurt and stock to my purees. Stock to savoury purees to make them more runny.

Canned tuna, refried Beans etc I was allowed from week 6 (Soft/Mushy stage)

[hsm71 2]

Now that y'all are suggesting acid could potentially be an issue, I just realized that pre op my surgeon prescribed Pepcid along with pain, nausea and blood thinner medications for post op. When I picked up my meds, pre op, and saw the Pepcid, I didn't really know what that was for so I just put it aside and haven't touched it since. The RX was written 1 tab by mouth twice daily...I will get it out and add it to my routine tonight! Y'all are amazing, thank you SO much!

As for my "soft food diet" starting next Monday...my guide does not say everything HAS to be puréed...it states "soft-able to mash with fork". Starting week 7 is when is states no longer "liquid" "soft food" diet. I'm just surprised that meats i.e. tuna/chicken/fish can be introduced at week 3. I know my guide says it's ok, but I will double check with my surgeon before I attempt it!

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[Armygalbonnie 643]

How can you feel devastated with 5 lbs of weight loss?!?!

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[Hammer_Down 631]

For myself, I found hunger eased up around the end of week 1. I was so happy just to be able to have something other than Water (sugar free junk just makes me crave carbs, so I have avoided them).

I'm now getting ready to start purées. I was dying for this moment during week 1 on Clear Liquids, and now I don't really care. I'm not hungry.