I'm confused. :confused1: ( I always am!) I'm on day 3 post op, and I can't tell what's hunger?? Is that normal?? My tummy grumbles and just feels really swollen. Will the signals become more clear? I figure I must be hungry. I haven't eaten since Sunday night, and all i've eaten was 156 cals yesterday. Is this common? I get a burning sensation in my stomach sometimes (like the way it felt when I was hungry) except I have no mental desire to eat.

Bah.

That's the truth, sweetie! How are things coming along for you?

I'm doing well, thanks. Am in week 6. Getting used to solids a little at a time.

I remember having diarrhea for the entire first week...it seems to be normal for a lot of post-op sleevers. Just keep the clear fluids coming...that's the key at the beginning.

Your stomach is kind of in shock, and you won't feel "hunger". Be careful to not overfill it, even with liquids, because the last thing you want is a leak. Slow small sips, burp between, sip some more.

I'm 10 months out and down 101 lbs. I wasn't hungry for the first 10 days. Like others have said, don't worry about feeling hungry. Just get your fluids/protein in. Also, I struggled at first with how it felt be full. It IS a different fullness feeling than you remember. But you will learn (sometimes the hard way) when you've had too much. Follow the program you were given first and foremost. If you are not on solids yet (and to anyone else reading this), DON'T eat solids before you are supposed to. You wouldn't feed an infant steak, so don't feed your baby stomach something you should not. On my post-op program, I had "egg" day on day 14 (clears before then), and I could only eat 3 bites of a scrambeld egg and felt terrible. It's just to introduce your body and stomach to food again. But this takes time. Granted this time is not fun, but necessary. It won't last long. Really!

Cajun- you're so right about over doing it, even on liquids. It happened last night, and the heart burn was so intense I thought I was having a heart attack!! (not really, that's an exaggeration). Ugh. It taught me to drink slooooooowly. I can't wait to move on. But am being very patient!

Netherfield-

Thank you for posting that. It's very reassuring to hear that I'm not the only one who can't seem to get the signal right away. 101 lbs in 10 months- that is amazing and I'm so happy for you. You must be in heaven! I can't wait to be there with you some day. What have your struggles been? Are you still getting full quickly? Details details!

-Ruby

You know I never had lactose intolerance so I am not sure what the symptoms are after taking in milk products. Do things get better when you make shakes with no milk?

Seetie: You need to take some powdered Fiber and drink a lot of fluids. The constipation can get serious. Trust me on this.

I'm 9 months out and down 150 pounds...... and I STILL have trouble knowing when I'm full.

I sometimes push the envelope, and take one bite too many and then I'm miserable. It's a learning process, listen to your body- but it doesn't happen overnight.

I don't have "hunger" signals....... I have no hunger. Every now and then I might get the feeling like i want to eat. I do have "head hunger". Think something sounds good... try it.... and YUCK.

My biggest problem to overcome was NOT eating.... even if I'm not hungry per/say... I eat 3 times a day. I don't always do this like I should... I might skip dinner if it gets too late...... but I do try to eat three times a day.

RubyT- so you want details, huh? When I look back on it, I really haven't had a lot of struggles. That's really true! My advice is to not just get so bogged down on this week, especially if you haven't lost what you'd like. I still get mad when I hit a stall but I increase my exercise or zig-zag my calorie intake for the week. I tend to end similiar things every day. I was always that way though, so I need to mix it up.

Unlike Chancie, I do get hungry. What is nice though is that the hunger pains are not as acute as before and I know I can go for a couple more hours if need be and just drink something. Sometimes we just get stuck -- like traveling and we just can't eat on schedule. I do feel hunger but I can go longer without food. No, I don't get full as fast as those early days. Now I can eat one egg and even a piece of toast. I can eat about half a sandwich -- not those overstuffed sandwiches in restuarants -- but one you'd make at home. I typically will eat a few bites with the bread and then the bread makes me feel full too fast, so I just eat the stuff in the middle. Pasta also makes me feel very full and I can't and don't eat it very much. Some people don't feel this way, so you will just have to listen to your own body. Eating out is nice though, as there are always leftovers and sometimes I can get 4 meals out of one! I love that.

I don't miss eating a lot of food, but I do miss being able to try different foods. For instance at Thanksgiving, if I want to try to eat more than three types of food, I literally will have to take a teaspoon of each and no more. I still have a hard time at potlucks in taking too much. It's hard to take a tiny portion sometimes.

At one point or another you will eat a bite or two too much and you learn the hard way not to do that again if you can. For me I have to go lie down and moan and groan for 30 minutes to an hour.

The benefits are so great now....just moving about is so much easier, liking to exercise, wearing regular clothes and looking so much better in them. Seeing yourself differently, noticing the difference in how others see you and treat you...one of the things I love best is having a lap!!! I love a lap! Or sitting comfortably in any booth or chair. Although I am still not done, I have 13 lbs more to goal, and yet 13 lbs doesn't seem like much, at this point my weight loss has slowed down, and 13 lbs seems like a lot now!

If you have other questions, or if anyone else reading this does, just ask. I'm not online everyday, so if you do ask me and I don't get right back to you, I am not being rude. Perhaps sending a private message may be the easiest instead of trying to find a thread again.

Great success to you! Enjoy the journey!