Differentiating between fullness and hunger

[White Sale 339]

Good evening, all.

I'm on day 2 of the puree/soft food stage, PO day 16. I'm doing my best to listen to my new stomach for feelings of being hungry before a meal and being full afterward. They feel the same right now - it's rather bizarre.

I've been measuring my meals and following the diet plan.

Anyone have a similar experience early on? Did it resolve itself? Any tips?

Thanks!

[pvechiola 195]

Good evening, all.

I'm on day 2 of the puree/soft food stage, PO day 16. I'm doing my best to listen to my new stomach for feelings of being hungry before a meal and being full afterward. They feel the same right now - it's rather bizarre.

I've been measuring my meals and following the diet plan.

Anyone have a similar experience early on? Did it resolve itself? Any tips?

Thanks!

The information says soft/pureed foods, I'm wondering can you use baby food jars for like bananas or applesauce? Do they allow that or what are you eating for the soft foods part?

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[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@White Sale

You shouldn't be hungry at all, mainly because your nerves aren't even reconnected. Are you taking a PPI and antacid?

[White Sale 339]

@@pvechiola - right now everything i'm having is in my diet plan: hummus w/ Protein, strained Soups w/protein, Premier Protein shakes, lots of Water, SF popsicles. Not sure why you suggest baby food jars? Currently using the teeniest GladWare available.

@@White Sale

You shouldn't be hungry at all, mainly because your nerves aren't even reconnected. Are you taking a PPI and antacid?

I am taking Prilosec as per my surgeon.

I am hungry - I think. I truly cannot tell right now. That's why I'm sticking to a schedule and measuring meals to the book. I'm having my first follow-op appointment next week, so I'll ask my doctor about it. Not sure how cut nerves would effect the hormone production of undisturbed/remaining stomach cells.

[johnsondebbie 1]

I am having the same type of reaction. I'm having a hard time telling if it's hunger or not. I woke up this morning and I know I was hungry but ended up throwing up acid. I am conflicted with all of this as well,

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[gretchendavida 1]

I am having the same type of reaction. I'm having a hard time telling if it's hunger or not. I woke up this morning and I know I was hungry but ended up throwing up acid. I am conflicted with all of this as well,

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Did you have sleeve or bypass

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[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@pvechiola - right now everything i'm having is in my diet plan: hummus w/ Protein, strained Soups w/protein, Premier Protein shakes, lots of Water, SF popsicles. Not sure why you suggest baby food jars? Currently using the teeniest GladWare available.

@@White Sale

You shouldn't be hungry at all, mainly because your nerves aren't even reconnected. Are you taking a PPI and antacid?

I am taking Prilosec as per my surgeon.

I am hungry - I think. I truly cannot tell right now. That's why I'm sticking to a schedule and measuring meals to the book. I'm having my first follow-op appointment next week, so I'll ask my doctor about it. Not sure how cut nerves would effect the hormone production of undisturbed/remaining stomach cells.

I re-read what you wrote and it doesn't seem like you are complaining about being hungry all the time like a person with acid issues but you are complaining about always feeling the same and not feeling hungry or full? Am I understanding you correctly? If so that is pretty normal, that is why cut nerves matter. You don't have a lot of sensation in that area, and your body is also freaking out trying to repair itself because you just had major surgery.

Cut nerves means you don't really have much feeling there. So you can't tell if you are full or not. Full is not something you want to shoot for especially early on because it hurts. A lot of people know they are full or close to it by hiccups, or their nose running, not a feeling in their stomach, at least early on. So it is better to just eat your measured/weighed portions and track your Protein goal.

If you are feeling churning in your stomach all the time, that means you have too much acid production and you might need to increase your PPI.

[SpiritedOne 35]

@@pvechiola - right now everything i'm having is in my diet plan: hummus w/ Protein, strained Soups w/protein, Premier Protein shakes, lots of Water, SF popsicles. Not sure why you suggest baby food jars? Currently using the teeniest GladWare available.

@@White Sale

You shouldn't be hungry at all, mainly because your nerves aren't even reconnected. Are you taking a PPI and antacid?

I am taking Prilosec as per my surgeon.

I am hungry - I think. I truly cannot tell right now. That's why I'm sticking to a schedule and measuring meals to the book. I'm having my first follow-op appointment next week, so I'll ask my doctor about it. Not sure how cut nerves would effect the hormone production of undisturbed/remaining stomach cells.

I re-read what you wrote and it doesn't seem like you are complaining about being hungry all the time like a person with acid issues but you are complaining about always feeling the same and not feeling hungry or full? Am I understanding you correctly? If so that is pretty normal, that is why cut nerves matter. You don't have a lot of sensation in that area, and your body is also freaking out trying to repair itself because you just had major surgery.

Cut nerves means you don't really have much feeling there. So you can't tell if you are full or not. Full is not something you want to shoot for especially early on because it hurts. A lot of people know they are full or close to it by hiccups, or their nose running, not a feeling in their stomach, at least early on. So it is better to just eat your measured/weighed portions and track your Protein goal.

If you are feeling churning in your stomach all the time, that means you have too much acid production and you might need to increase your PPI.

Thank you so much for this response. I am two and ahalf weeks post op and I have been wondering if the sleeve was even working because I haven't really felt much of anything. I measure my portions, watch calories and try to get all of my protein but am having an issue with the Water. I feel like I'm eating a lot but when I track it, it really isn't much. Maybe 600 calories. I appreciate reading others experiences and advice and this one really helped. Thank you again.

[White Sale 339]

Thanks for the responses. Since I can't tell whether or not I'm hungry or full right now, I'm just eating measured amounts on a schedule. This way I know I won't be overeating. I've not experienced nausea, sweats, vomiting, or tachycardia, so I don't think I've overeaten yet.

Hopefully, with time, I'll learn what my new pouch is trying to tell me!

[ShelterDog64 2,364]

@@White Sale I never felt restriction in my sleeve until I was on a regular diet. Soft/mushies didn't trigger it at all, and even now, if I eat yogurt or cottage cheese, I get no 'stop' sensation...but dense Proteins? Definitely. You're doing the right thing, measuring and sticking to your plan.

[White Sale 339]

@@White Sale I never felt restriction in my sleeve until I was on a regular diet. Soft/mushies didn't trigger it at all, and even now, if I eat yogurt or cottage cheese, I get no 'stop' sensation...but dense Proteins? Definitely. You're doing the right thing, measuring and sticking to your plan.

Thank you, ShelterDog64. I'm comforted knowing that you, too, didn't experience restriction during the pureed/soft foods stage. I'm oddly looking forward to feeling the sensation of restriction.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Well no one unless they are stuffing themselves is going to feel restriction with liquids or mushies.

The thing is you don't want to learn to rely on restriction for setting your portions because as you heal restriction will change.

You just want to count your Protein an measure (hopefully weigh) your portions and just eat and track your proper portion amount.

This topic keeps coming up all the time and I really wonder what kind of education if any programs are really offering about immediate post-op eating.

Edited January 6, 2017 by OutsideMatchInside

[dodlbug 23]

My stomach isn't telling me when it's hungry untill it's too late, and I get sick. I've been going by the clock to avoid vomiting.

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[White Sale 339]

Well no one unless they are stuffing themselves is going to feel restriction with liquids or mushies.

The thing is you don't want to learn to rely on restriction for setting your portions because as you heal restriction will change.

You just want to count your Protein an measure (hopefully weigh) your portions and just eat and track your proper portion amount.

This topic keeps coming up all the time and I really wonder what kind of education if any programs are really offering about immediate post-op eating.

That last line struck me. I was given, have read, and have re-read, and entire 3 ring binder of information regarding the surgery and post-op life.

The information provided to me says that everyone varies regarding the sensations they experience post-op. One person may feel satisfied, another not.

That's where a forum such as this can be so useful - to read about the experiences of others. Otherwise, what's the point?

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I didn't say that to come off as rude. It is just a common topic. My nurse in the hospital was 6 months post op from the sleeve. He gave me more tips and tricks about eating and postoperative than was in my binder.

When I first started posting here there was a lot of discussion about full feelings and how to tell. Since that time a lot of vets have left and there are fewer people to answer those questions. Like this thread in the past would have had a lot more vets posting it.

It is just frustrating that a lot of knowledge is being lost, or not shared here anymore.