So, when I lay on my back, I think I can feel how my stomach takes up less space. It actually feels like there is less "stuff" in there... sort of an empty spot where the rest of the stomach used to be.... anyone else notice this?

I think it's a mental thing....the nervous system in your internal organs is quite different from the one on the surface of your body, so you can't localize sensation very well. Kind of how people who have heart attacks can't pinpoint to the little spot on their heart that's dying.

I'd guess mental thing too. I certainly can't notice a psychical difference in size where my tummy used to be.

I think it's a mental thing....the nervous system in your internal organs is quite different from the one on the surface of your body, so you can't localize sensation very well. Kind of how people who have heart attacks can't pinpoint to the little spot on their heart that's dying.

Could be, or even just the sensations from the surgery itself, but when I lay down.....theres an "empty" feeling, just a little.... almost related to how it used to feel when I had not had anything to eat in a long while... and my stomach would be shrunk a little... perhaps thats it.... I am on liquids, so maybe thats it.

I have noticed that my entire abdomen was smaller following surgery. I attributed this to the fact that my stomach was indeed physically smaller which led to me not cramming so much food in it and my intestines and stomach were not overtly distended from over eating every night. But otherwise, I agree with the others. Unless your a physician trained in palpating the internal organs, it's hard to tell where all of them are. :-)

My theory is sensations left over from surgery. Your liver is moved out of the way, stomach poked and prodded and fat cut away and then up to 85% of your stomach is cut away, while the organs don't have nerve cells on the surface like skin does the stomach does (did) have have nerves internally - which are sheered off where the organ is removed. I can imagine the brain is used to getting signals from that area and now that it's gone is "feeling" the lack of response it normally gets. Maybe it's something like the phantom limb sensations that amputees have?

oooooh, phantom stomach! Sounds like a horror flick! hahaha