LUCK

I do get hungry very often but just a little something makes it go away. I snack ALL the time, so much that people make fun of me. I still love to eat! I also have much better luck eating dry foods, like crackers, crunchy things, etc. My weakness is chicken salad with Old London bagel crisps. I still have to work on drinking enough because I am not a big fan of Water, etc.

A little Xanax is not going to hurt you on an as needed basis. I would try grinding my chicken (like chicken salad). Strings (shredded) chicken would be difficult to swallow. The world is not going to end if you put a little light mayo and mix it in there to help it go down. Chicken salad is my favorite thing to eat. I buy it locally and it is kind of like putty and has very little mayo in it but tons of protein. Take heart in knowing that very soon you can have anything in moderation. Try to focus on something else because your anxiety will get away from you if not. Positive thoughts!

You are not self centered silly. You sound alot like me and I know your symptoms are very real but I also know that sometimes I can focus too much about something and work myself into a tizzy. Stress can do some crazy things and they are all "real". Try more hot liquids. Also, although you are not supposed to drink AND eat at the same time, I would still take tiny sips of water, etc. while I ate because it felt that things would get stuck in my throat. NOBODY should follow my lead on this but I still drink coffee and some coke, etc. It has not stretched out my stomach or anything like that. Of course, moderation... I promise it will get easier! Do not say you are in a bad place...keep telling yourself you are in a good place because you are so lucky to be where you are right now.

Your welcome. No, didn't follow low carb diet. I tried to eat sensibly but didn't always follow the rules. As long as I got my protein in and wanted to eat a couple of oreos I would. Now I probably eat too many sweets but I am getting back on track with more vegetables and fruit. I need to lose a couple of pounds....I know...that sounds pitiful doesn't it? I knew that I was not ever going to follow a low carb diet the rest of my life so I eat anything, just in moderation.

It will get easier. I did not have the trouble you are having. At first it was difficult but got easier with time. Again, saltines and cheddar cheese saved my life! For some reason it was the perfect consistency for me because it wasn't runny and it wasn't hard to swallow after dissolving it in my mouth. Can't say enough about it. Not to mention it took the hunger and weakness away. All of this is very emotional and possibly you are just stressed out about it all and finding it difficult to swallow. I know it sounds crazy but I had the same symptoms when I got a divorce.. I couldn't swallow and everything got stuck in my throat...stress related. If they don't see anything then possibly it is a mental thing and maybe relaxing more about it will help you. I promise, it gets very easy and you will have no regrets!

I had to have food so I read up on what other doctors approved and although I am not suggesting this I ate saltines and cheese. Once chewed they literally dissolve in your mouth and are considered a soft solid. If you paid for your surgery out of pocket because your insurance didn't approve it and you have ANY complications from the surgery your health insurance probably wouldn't pay for it and a leak or whatever could cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars so that in itself should be enough to make you behave.. Your stomach is in NO way healed and you could do yourself major harm so stick to your plan, you can do it!

I've decided to put my two cents in since I read that there are not many postings from older VSG patients. Although I didn't have as much as weight as most to lose I had a family history of diabetes, stroke, cancer, etc. I had my surgery in May of 2007. It was the best thing I ever did. I went from roughly 220 pounds to 146. I am 5'7" and went from a size 16 to a size 4-6. Two and 1/2 years later I have to use a little more discipline when it comes to eating but it has truly been a breeze. I can eat anything I want in moderation and when I misbehave, I gain a couple of pounds but it is fairly easy to lose. I had been overweight for about 20 or so years.