AMS3188

To my newly bypassed friends: I'm just over a week out, and I think I am feeling hungry :/ I didn't cheat at all on the liquids the first week, but since I've been allowed to add cottage cheese and yogurt I've been eating a little more than recommended. They say I should be sticking to a tablespoon max at a time, but I can easily eat 1/4 cup already. I know I'm not supposed to push it, but I'm terribly tempted to eat more and taboo foods. I'm starting to wonder if they really did the surgery at all, haha. I thought I wouldn't be hungry during this time, but I really thought I wouldn't be able to eat much. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Maybe this is all head hunger, but I don't really know how to tell. I want to eat, I seem to be able to eat. I guess I'm just wondering why I did all this in the first place...

@@MadisonsMommy Glad to know I'm not the only one, haha. All of my incisions are itching, but one has gotten a big red ring around it, and doesn't feel like the others, so I think I'm going to have to call my surgeon for some antibiotics, blah.

@@gina171 The hospital bariatric nurse actually told me to stop all Vitamins, and even some of my regular meds about two weeks prior to surgery. I wondered why too, but it didn't turn out to be a huge problem so I never asked. Just a general update, my blues seem to mellowing out just a bit. It's been exactly one week since my surgery, and besides feeling down, what's really getting to me is itching... is anyone else having intense itching around their incision sites? Any tricks not to scratch. I'm afraid I will scratch off the glue in my sleep. Also, how are you all doing on the hunger front? Anyone feeling hungry yet? How can you tell the difference between head hunger and real hunger?

Finally made it home after about four days in the hospital. I'm actually feeling quite sad and depressed. It may sound crazy, but I kind of miss the hospital. Things are improving physically, but I really hope things start to improve emotionally soon. Has anyone else felt this way?

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to let ya'll know that I made it through to the other side. Still in the hospital tonight, but might go home tomorrow. It's been more painful than I had hoped, but at least the nurses have been very sweet. Thanks to you all for your support. Amy

@@Djmohr Haha, well, at least I know what I'm in for, I guess. Maybe I can chew on some ice? At least I'll get to have a Protein Shake in the not so distant future. After almost six days with pretty much no food, I'm even excited for that lol. I leave for my surgery in about 6 hours, and I'm really starting to get nervous, but I'm kind of amazed I have done so well sticking to the preop diet. I guess I'm stronger than I think.

@@Dawnie Doo I know right? I totally feel like I'm gearing up for the big game of something, too! I leave for the hospital in 6 hours! Eeek. It seems like I won't be doing too much sleeping tonight after all. I'm starting to get pretty darn nervous. It really makes me feel better to know that you ladies are out there cheering me on! I will let you all know how it went as soon as I can. To my other 8/8 friends, be brave!

@@Djmohr Thanks for your thoughtful encouragement. It's really good to hear from someone who has been through it all. I think you replied to another of my posts and for some reason it seems to have dissipated off my feed so I never responded, but thank you for your encouragement there too! I think you're right that people who have not tried the liquid diet can't really understand how it feels. My dad offered me brussel sprouts as a joke tonight, because he was sure I would say "oh yuck"! I told him that I would chew on the carpet right now if it meant not feeling hungry, lol!

Thanks for the ideas! I think I'm starting to get the hang of it now. I'm trying to use the time to really focus on my "coping skills" outside of eating or smoking, lol. Not to be too sappy, but I think there is so much emotional baggage I have used food to cover that I have been starving myself spiritually in other ways. I'm trying to think of feeding myself with self-care instead of calories, but of course it's a challenge. It's nice to know I can find support on here.

@@Sharyn I hear you! I'm at the end of day 3 of clear liquids, and I'm basically avoiding my entire family so that I don't snap at them. Honestly, I've decided to use this time to try to "feed" myself in other ways. I'm taking long bubble baths, meditating, taking myself out to the movies, getting a pedicure, etc. Since I can't indulge in food, I'm treating myself in other ways. Hope your hunger gets better!

I'm just a few days out myself, and I have chosen to be pretty open about it, mostly because I didn't want to act ashamed of having the surgery. I guess I wanted to jump the gun and be proud before anyone could really shame me. That's just my method though. I can see why telling fewer people can be better. One thing that bugs me is people telling me not to have the surgery or telling me about people they know who have had the surgery and "failed." Does anyone else get these kinds of comments? How do you handle them? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yikes! I thought I had it bad. Have you started the diet yet? How are you coping? Thank goodness they make different flavors of broth...

Hi There, So I was hoping anyone might have some tips about surviving the pre-op diet. I know surgeons have different recommendations, but mine is had me do 1 week of zero carbs, which I just finished, and now clear sugar-free liquids only for 4 days. I struggled with no carbs in the beginning, but now I'm wishing I had the Protein back, haha. Emotionally, I am handling the restrictions a bit better, but now that I've shifted to almost no calories, I'm feeling a lot of physical symptoms. My stomach is aching with hunger, and I am also dealing with headaches and low energy. Is anyone else going through similar things? Any advice from people who've made it through? My surgeon is being really rigid because they still want me to lose 7lbs in the next few days before surgery, so I really can't even think of cheating Has anyone had success distracting themselves from the diet? I'm just trying not to think about the next four days because it's too overwhelming to imagine not eating at all :/ Any advice is totally welcome. Thanks!

@@melbell2222 I hear you! My surgeon originally told me I had to lose 10 lbs, but in the months of waiting for appointments etc. I gained 4 lbs. So my "final" appointment was last Wednesday, and now I have just over one week to lose 14 lbs I've lost 7 as of today, so the surgeon said he will make the final decision at the hospital on surge day depending on my weight and how my abdomen feels... Needless to say, I am also worried. Worried and hungry, lol. Hang in there!