Hi,

I had surgery on Feb 8th and I am able to start adding foods as tolerated. I know raw veggies are difficult but that aside I am wondering when people started to try salad. I love salads and I miss them :lol0:

Seems like it would be a difficult thing to get in but was wondering how you did?

Also, I know alot of people say they aren't hungry. I can't say that. I am! Then I go to eat, have just a very little and know I am done but it doesn't stay with me very long at all. Is that about how it goes this far out? Does your hunger go away right after surgery if it is going to or later?

Thanks for your input

Diane

I didn't try salads until I was allowed raw veggies which was 3 months post-op. As for the hunger thing, I honestly never felt nor feel hungry. Liquids/mushies don't stay with me as long, but I don't get hungry.

The only time I experienced what you are explaining is early out before I was on Prilosec. Once I got on it, that sensation of emptiness went away. It always happened an hour or two after eating.

What does hungry feel like to you?

Is it that feeling in your mind like "I wish I had something to eat' or "That really sounds good"

or is it your stomach growling and aching?

You will be able to eat salads again. It took me about 5.5 months out to eat vegetables raw. I started with baby spinach leaves at Applebees. It was part of a salad with grilled shrimp and bacon/vinegarette dressing. I loved the raw leaves and now I eat baby spinach leaves at home with dribbles of this peppery mango-coconut dressing. Be patient with the new way of eating. A little at a time things come back. Green leafy raw vegetables (as in salads) are rich in nutrients and further out they won't fill you up so quickly as would chicken or other dense foods. So you can have your protein and salads too!

What does hungry feel like to you?

Is it that feeling in your mind like "I wish I had something to eat' or "That really sounds good"

or is it your stomach growling and aching?

I have thought about that to try to make sure I am not just wanting to eat instead of needing to. It feels like an empty hungry feeling to me, thats the best way I can describe it. (I am on an acid reducer)

I had my surgery a day after you and I did have salad a couple times now and I did fine. I couldn't eat much though. I ate it with grilled chicken. It was so great. Some things I eat are very heavy in my stomach like Beans. It is like I take a couple bites and feel like I can't eat for hours. It wasn't like that with salad though. Also, I ate some steamed spinach a little undercooked, that might satisfy you if you cannot eat salad yet. I've eaten tomatoes here and there and that was fine for me. But I just don't feel like there are many raw veggies I could handle and I stopped there.

I take prilosec when I need it, but most days I don't. But I also feel hungry. It is hard to describe how things have and have not changed. I eat less, that I know. It has taken a while to adjust to that mentally but I feel like I'm there. I need to focus on Water and exercise because my weight loss has really slowed. But hunger is generally still there for me and feels the same as before, I just don't want the same foods if it feels like they might make me sick. I don't sit around craving pizza or chinese food, but I want food when I'm hungry.

Hi Diane,

As far as salads, I have not tried yet. My surgery was on Feb. 11th. However, as far as the hunger feeling, I definitely have those. It's an "empty stomach" feeling. I get them like 3 hrs after I eat. When I do it, it's no more then 4 oz and I feel full again. I will definitely take Tiffy's advice and switch to Prilosec instead of Pepcid. I'm hoping that will help.

I started eating tiny salads as soon as I was off mushies and have had no problem. I don't have anything but lettuce and a few shredded carrots (as far as veggies go) right now. I'm going to wait awhile to add back the broccoli, etc. I put on a tiny bit of shredded cheese and lowfat dressing and feel like I'm in heaven! I had a lapband, and wasn't able to eat salads for 3.5 years. That was something I missed so much and am so happy I can eat them again! :confused1:

I started eating salads at about six weeks out and I did fine. It actually went down really well,(much better than chicken) just make sure you chew it up good! I love my salads too!!

I am still hungry too, not all the time, but I do get that empty, aching feeling once in awhile. It is frustrating!! I take nexium, and that seemed to help alot, before I was starving all the time!!

I hope your hunger subsides soon, and good luck with that salad! Mmmmm....

Follow your doctor's dietary restrictions for when to add raw vegetables such as salad. Mine said no raw vegetables until 16 weeks after surgery. I contacted them at 10 weeks after surgery and asked..they made sure to find out if I was tolerating other foods without any problems and then gave approval to use tender lettuces and finely chopped raw vegetables with the instructions to chew very well.

This is a decision for your surgeon to make!

i waited almost 3 months. i LOVE salads. they are so good. almost have them everyday for lunch or for dinner. hope everyone is happy with their sleeve...

Can I get you to send me your list of when to eat what? I had my surgery in Colombia and they really didn't give a detailed list like I see you refer to in many threads. Thanks again.