Hello friends...I'm 15 days post op and have lost 23 pounds. My first question is....is 23 pounds normal or should it be more? Second of all...I don't know what the heck all these feelings I'm having are! Am I hungry or is it mental hunger? When I eat, I don't get satisfied, I get pain. I hurt in my chest after about 1/4 cup of any kind of food. Is this normal. I feel like I'm learning to eat all over again. Thanks!

Danielle

Well, first of all, the amount you lose in xxxx number of days is all relative. I think you are doing FANTASTIC!!!

As far as the pain after a 1/4 of a cup...I don't know what to say. I generally eat 2oz per meal (give or take) and I do not normally experience pain. One time, however, I had too many turkey meatballs and did experience pain. I didn't throw up but felt hot, sweaty and my chest was in pain, and it took about 30 mins. to pass.

Have you tried LESS than 1/4 of a cup and do you still experience pain with a smaller amount? If you don't maybe for you, right now, 1/4 cup is too much. Hard to say. I would def. talk to your dr. if you are having pain after every meal. You are still very newly sleeved, so any concerns should def. be brought up!

Are you eating slowly and taking very small bites? It's very important to chew the food very well when you are new.

Try taking itty bitty bites and chewing it very well. Wait between bites and see how it's sitting. You have to learn to eat differently when you are newly sleeved.

Your new tummy is still quite swollen at only 15 days. I had lost 21 lbs by day 11 and could only take in very small amounts of food, maybe 1/4 cup at a time. You really have to take tiny bites and chew them to death and then wait in between bites to make sure it goes down ok and settles well. My surgeon said that the pain in your chest is actually esophogeal spasms that occur. This can happen if you eat even one bite too much. Your insides are healing and it definitely does get better. I'm almost 9 weeks out now and it is much easier to eat now. I can consume about 1 cup of food and I am very satisfied and full. You will learn to be careful about taking in too much food because it will hurt and does take 20-30 minutes to subside as the food begins to digest. Just take it easy with your new stomach and I promise it really does get better :-)

I am 12 days post-op and still on full liquids! I can drink about 30cc at a time and be okay but if I try more I get the "pain" but it passes really quickly so I make sure I wait about 3-5 mins between drinks. The full feeling I have is right at the end of my breastbone the top of my stomach and it's painful but again, it's always passed pretty quick!

What foods are you eating?

I am 12 days post-op and still on full liquids! I can drink about 30cc at a time and be okay but if I try more I get the "pain" but it passes really quickly so I make sure I wait about 3-5 mins between drinks. The full feeling I have is right at the end of my breastbone the top of my stomach and it's painful but again, it's always passed pretty quick!

What foods are you eating?

Dawn,

When did your dr say it was ok to move onto pureed or mushy foods? Just curious cuz mine is not til week 3 & I'm SO tired of soups! What all are you eating on full liquids, maybe you can give me some ideas!

Rhonda

I was on Clear Liquids for 1 week, full liquids will be for 2 weeks and then onto blended/pureed for 1 week then mushy for 1 week and then onto soilds after that as long as everything goes as planned! I meet with the NUT on Wed. so we'll see what she says!

I don't like Soup so I've been doing a lot of pudding and jello! Today though I made a very small batch of chili and I'm going to liquify it and see what I think!!!

Hi Danielle. You asked what hungry feels like. I had my surgery on 11/17/10 so I am 10 days out. I can relate to your question because I am confused too. After 3 days on clear liquids I am now on full liquids and I'm hungry. I have at least 4 more days before I get to the puree stage and I'm SO ready. I talked to the nutritionist a few days ago and she said she would be surprised if I am experiencing actual physical hunger and told me to drink some Water and go for a walk when I feel that way. Well I can tell you that my body is not requesting a drink of water and a walk; it wants calories. That said, I am deferring to her knowledge and experience and toughing it out. I'm pretty sure that as I adjust to my new stomach I will return to some new normal and figure out these urges and sensations. It's just strange to have to second-guess feelings that seemed pretty clear-cut before.

Marlena