what does FULL feel like?

[greeneyes 0]

sorry to ask so many questions....

So I tried to nibble on something that wasnt on my list to eat...few tiny pieces of veggie burger. Maybe it was to solid. Manybe I took one more bite then I should have...BUT i find myself (like now) getting this feeling in my throat. Like something is stuck or just sitting in my chest. Is this a full feeling? because i have yet to feel full the way I used to (ya know feeling stuffed in your stomach). Is there a difference??? HELP:sad0:

[ouroborous 519]

Yeah, that's about what full feels like.

For me, there are two feelings: full, and overfull.

Full (I think) feels like it used to feel when I needed to burp. Sort of a pressure in my stomach; my instinct is to burp, but if I try to make myself burp, I'll bring up food.

Overfull feels like a solid lump in my throat and chest. It's fairly unpleasant, and it's my body's way of saying "stop eating [or drinking] NOW."

[Lillie24 2]

I am also still learning my "full" signals... So this post interests me

[Tiffykins 672]

Don't ever feel like you ask too many questions, we all ask a bunch of questions. It's the best way to learn about all this stuff.

To me what you are describing, sounds like an overly full feeling. If the food isn't on the approved list, it could also be too soon for your body to easily digest it.

I try really hard to never get to that point because that feeling is very unpleasant. You can try to walk around, and get the food to move.

I have to take a minimum of 20 minutes to eat because if I eat any faster my brain doesn't tell my body that it's full and I end up overeating. If I overeat, I feel like crap, and crampy.

This is an interesting article with scientific studies listed to back up the 20 minute rule for eating.

HowStuffWorks "Could I Lose Weight Just by Eating Slower?"

Here's the particular paragraphs referring to eating slower, and the stomach/intestine to brain connection.

So what's the scientific reasoning behind the results? It's the same as the common-knowledge reasoning. Essentially, people who eat very quickly are overshooting their actual point of satiety. Since the feeling "I am full" comes from the brain, not from the stomach, the amount of food in your stomach is not the only factor involved in the satiety process. It takes time for the body to tell the brain that it has had enough food; and only when the body has sent this signal to the brain can the brain activate the satiety response (which originates in the hypothalamus) that makes us stop eating. Some experts claim it can take up to 20 minutes for the body's signal to reach the brain. So in theory, someone who takes one bite a minute may only overshoot her fullness by 20 bites of food, while someone who takes five bites a minute eats 100 bites more than her body really wants before the satiety signal makes it to the brain.

Twenty minutes seems like a very long time for a signal to reach the brain; but as it turns out, the signal is coming from the intestines, not from the stomach. It takes time for the food we eat to move from the stomach to the intestines, which could explain why it takes so long for our fullness to register with the brain.

[greeneyes 0]

I just dont understand why we get this "full" feeling in our throats. It honestly just feels like im backed up and the food hasnt even made it to my stomach yet. Not to be gross but sometimes I need to throw up a little to relieve that pressure. Thanks for the help guys <3

[M_Bigga_M 0]

I Agree Totally with Ouroborous. I also experience the same thing today at 2 weeks out. Kind of made me scared to eat anything else. Don't want to damage my stomach / staples....:001_tt2:

[Tiffykins 672]

I just dont understand why we get this "full" feeling in our throats. It honestly just feels like im backed up and the food hasnt even made it to my stomach yet. Not to be gross but sometimes I need to throw up a little to relieve that pressure. Thanks for the help guys <3

The food probably is backed up a little. You may be taking that next bite too soon.

It'll get better, just take it super slow, and if you have to sit your fork down in between bites to help you eat slower.

[breezy 8]

This thread is interesting to me, too, because I never seem to have that comfortable full feeling like I did before the sleeve. I feel empty before I eat. The bites are slightly uncomfortable going down, then it seems that at one point, the bites take longer to go down and that's when I feel like I'd better stop. I haven't eaten too much yet -- to the point of vomiting or extreme discomfort. When I stop eating, I just feel uncomfortable for a little while, like something is too high in my throat, but it goes away pretty quickly.

I've got to admit I've had some thoughts of wishing I had my old stomach back recently. I'm almost at 2 mos. and I thought I would have an easier time eating solid foods by now. The only thing I can do comfortably is have some warm tomatoe Soup.

But I've lost 34 lbs, so that seems to balance things out for me!

[Mommydog14 1]

I was told that for the first few months after surgery, we really don't get a full signal until it's too late. Something to do with nerves in the stomach. I've taken to weighing my food, so I know that I'm not eating too much. I've figured out that I can eat 2 and half to 3 ounces of solid Protein, and then I'm "full".

[greeneyes 0]

I have been measuring my food and I notice certain foods I cant eat as much of. When I eat refried Beans or cottage cheese I can get down three ounces pretty well. BUT when I try to eat meat or tiny scallops or thinks like that I cant get down more than an ounce. Is this normal?? I mean I really struggle to get enough of the dense Protein in and its all things I can have at 3 weeks....according to my dotor...any advice????

[ouroborous 519]

I have been measuring my food and I notice certain foods I cant eat as much of. When I eat refried Beans or cottage cheese I can get down three ounces pretty well. BUT when I try to eat meat or tiny scallops or thinks like that I cant get down more than an ounce. Is this normal?? I mean I really struggle to get enough of the dense Protein in and its all things I can have at 3 weeks....according to my dotor...any advice????

That's completely normal. There will always be foods that are easier than others.

I think some people call mushy foods like refried Beans and cottage cheese "slider" foods because it slides right through the sleeve... (at least I THINK that's why they're called that).

Just listen to your body, honestly, and you'll be fine. If it tells you to stop, STOP.

[Tiffykins 672]

I have been measuring my food and I notice certain foods I cant eat as much of. When I eat refried Beans or cottage cheese I can get down three ounces pretty well. BUT when I try to eat meat or tiny scallops or thinks like that I cant get down more than an ounce. Is this normal?? I mean I really struggle to get enough of the dense Protein in and its all things I can have at 3 weeks....according to my dotor...any advice????

You may have to puree, or mush the dense Proteins up before eating them.

I stayed on mushies for the majority of my meals all the way through the first 2-3 months post op. I could eat some dense Proteins, but it would take a long time for me to chew everything down. My body just wasn't ready for solids even when they were chewed to a mush. I had to make sure everything was soft, and lived on tuna/chicken/egg salad.

Refried Beans, yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, boiled fruits and veggies are all pretty much sliders because our stomachs just move them right on through to the intestines.

I blend my chicken and tuna salads with my cheapo mini food processor. It made getting in my Protein much easier, and I didn't ever get that stuck, stuffed, sternum discomfort feeling by doing this.

[Mommydog14 1]

I'm four weeks post-op and just started to try some solid food. I have had no problems with shrimp and moist chicken breast, but I do eat slowly and chew the heck out it. My Dr. does not allow solids until a month post op, so maybe you're starting too soon.

[greeneyes 0]

Thanks for the advice..maybe I should slow down on some of the dense Protein. I think i will stick to more mush foods for another week or 2...

[kalew 0]

I have that feeling in my throat if I eat too fast or not chew enough. It has been really hard to keep eating slow. We had company this weekend and I would forget and really had to concentrate, get up and do something else to slow down. Not had any problem eating anything, even ate a little piece of chocolate because I was constipated and thought it would speed things up... it didn't.

Doing well though, first day that I have not had any pain!!! now they just itch!! ha ha