What does restriction feel like?

[Penpen 28]

I'm not sleeved yet but have read soooo many post on this forum. You all have so much good input...even ones like myself that haven't been sleeved yet! So I have a question... What exactly does restriction feel like? Does it just feel like you are full? Or does it feel like your stomach is going to bust open? Does it hurt?

[swizzly 901]

At first you can't really feel it coz your tummy's numb or something. So you get these weird signals like a hiccup or a tightness in your chest, and you just know you're done. Now I get a semi-normal full feeling again (I had a very strong full signal before surgery) and it is just clear that there is NO MORE ROOM. I like to stop a bit before that because it's like Thanksgiving full after half a cup of food. Trippy, that's what it is. To be that full and HAVE NO TANGIBLE food BABY.

It's awesome.

[kellyw74 258]

I am only 11 days post op and really at this point undereat so don't really know what it feels like to be full and I am still on full-liquids.

However, there have been a couple times I have drank too fast or eaten too fast and I get a real tight feeling in my chest. It feels like pressure and I have to get up and walk around a bit and it subsides! It is uncomfortable and really lets me know that I need to slow down and take my time!

I try to watch the clock when I am eating and take a bite every 2-3 minutes. That way I know I am good to go, I guess sometimes, I just forget that I was just sleeved.

Good luck to you!

Kelly

[Beadingnurse 116]

I am apparently a slow learner but I have finally figured out the hard way (throwing up) that my signal that I am full is a SLIGHT pressure in my chest...just under where the bottom of my bra hits. It is a subtle difference. Nothing like before surgery when I could feel my stomach stretching and getting full.

It isn't a bad thing...it is just different and you will have to learn your signals. I also get hiccups but that is once I have eaten too much and when I get the hiccups I know the next step is that I am going to vomit. So hiccups are NOT a good sign for me!

[twoboysandagirl 109]

That is a great question. I should have asked that before my surgery.

I feel kind of like I need to burp and then I know I am done.

But I kind of think everyone is a bit different.

[Lakelady 2]

I think its less pleasant than full felt before pre-op and higher up in the chest. But hungry is way less intense so thats really the best part And it varies widely for no apparent reason. Last night I ate 1.5 flautas de pollo slowly and was comfortable and sometimes just Fluid fills me up. I was out with a friend last night who doesn't know about my surgery so it was nice to eat "normally"

[1tracy 1]

A question I have wondered also. I am meeting my surgeon on Thur. and I am looking to be sleeved the end of June-early July!

I have wondered if restriction right after post op is scary? Does some people feel as if they can't breath or swallow? Has anyone panicked?

I am a little or a lot scared

Not too scared to pass up on life though!!

[MegInNOLA 531]

For one thing, I feel my stomach much higher in my body now--it's kind of right near the heart, whereas before, it seemed much lower (probably was, to expand so much!). Now, when I eat, I tend to burp just a little with almost every bite--I know when I feel like I need to burp but almost can't that I need to stop. If I ignore that, either because I'm eating too fast or just not being mindful with how much I'm eating (like when I first started on mushies), I get a feeling of food being caught in my throat, and it hurts, and I know that I'm going to have to throw up.

If you eat slowly, chew well, and pay attention, you really won't be able to miss when it's time to stop; at least for me, a couple of lessons in, I was pretty serious about paying attention. :-)

I still have problems with throwing up, but I think it's because my sleeve is kind of picky about texture still. I handle soft, slippery, liquidy foods great, but other stuff, not so much. It's all a learning process.

[Penpen 28]

Thank you all for your input! This makes me feel better. I was afraid I wouldn't know when to stop, like now, and I'd bust my stomach open or something. Lol. I like the idea of feeling in control...knowing that I will have a sign or two when to stop and possibly not even wanting all the food anyways.

[ldydrgnkpr 49]

I hic cup once and then for some weird reason I get post nasal drip. But yes the restriction is there. I do feel it. When I eat dense Protein I only takes 3 ounces and I'm done. I can't even get a vege in after that. Which is fine. Not complaining.

Deb

[Lila21 36]

For me the full feeling is much like it was before, but with much less food. I have only had to vomit once, and that was (I think) because I had drank a bunch of Water too soon before eating. But, generally, I try to eat fairly slowly and stop eating when I start to feel full. If I eat too fast, sometimes, I feel stuffed and get the hiccups. Your worry that you could accidently bust your stomach open seems pretty impossible to me. I start to feel full, and my stomach says, "NO." In that way, I guess it's a little different than before surgery. Before surgery, I could know that I had plenty to eat and just keep on eating. Now, my stomach protests greatly, and I just simply wouldn't want to eat anymore because it becomes uncomfortable.

[kellyw74 258]

The first time I felt my restriction was with grits. I was on full-liquids and thought if I made them not so runny, I would feel a little more satisfied. I took about two bites and it was like they were stuck in my chest. I did get panicky and didn't know what to do.

I was scared and thought I screwed myself up! I could breathe, but it was so weird, like it was stuck, I was only a week or so out and just knew i was gonna hurl!! I didn't, but it was sure learning lesson! You have to find what works for you. I can drink a lot faster and more than most people can that are 2 weeks out from surgery as I am, but there are those that can eat more than me. Everyone is different!

Good luck to you!

Kelly

A question I have wondered also. I am meeting my surgeon on Thur. and I am looking to be sleeved the end of June-early July!

I have wondered if restriction right after post op is scary? Does some people feel as if they can't breath or swallow? Has anyone panicked?

I am a little or a lot scared

Not too scared to pass up on life though!!

[1tracy 1]

Thank you Kelly. Best wishes on your journey!

The first time I felt my restriction was with grits. I was on full-liquids and thought if I made them not so runny, I would feel a little more satisfied. I took about two bites and it was like they were stuck in my chest. I did get panicky and didn't know what to do.

I was scared and thought I screwed myself up! I could breathe, but it was so weird, like it was stuck, I was only a week or so out and just knew i was gonna hurl!! I didn't, but it was sure learning lesson! You have to find what works for you. I can drink a lot faster and more than most people can that are 2 weeks out from surgery as I am, but there are those that can eat more than me. Everyone is different!

Good luck to you!

Kelly