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Feeling full on the sleeve. What it like?



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The full feeling, what a great question, IT was something I wondered about at first too and I never imagined that it would come in stages.

the first few days I was literally disgusted with all kind of liquid and didnt have the urge to eat, I didnt even felt empty, like someone just switched down the tv. But still liquid went through and I still didnt feel either hungry or full, there was still pain when I drink too fast but that was it.

Then the first 2 month came the challenge, at first it took just 3 small bites of everything to feel like I am scared and I just dont want anymore, then the scared feeling went away and I upped my intake a little bit and here I felt like the chest pain that I should stop.

Then by the 3rd month when I went for another extra bite I felt like I wil throw up and to be honest sometimes I gave in and head up to throwing up.

After these errors and trials I learned my limits and suddenly the final stage arrived were I really felt like I am satisfied and I dont need more, u will get the full sensation by then and the extra bite will cause u discomfort.

Burping came in but after I finish eating not while, also if u go for more food u will have extra saliva in ur mouth afterwards "thats a sign that u went for too much or just ate too fast"

Everyone is different and also every food has different effect, with more dense food u will feel it better sooner but wth liquids and mushies u will be able to have more bites.

best of luck figuring it out:)

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I'm less than 2 full weeks out and I am on full liquids. I thought my full feeling was a lump at the back of my throat but that turned out to be overproduction of acid. At this point, when I have had too much liquid I get a pain at the bottom of my ribs and I hiccup.

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10 months post-op and I just *know* when I'm done. I have spent a LOT (and I mean a LOT) of time measuring my food so that I can "retrain my brain" to know what a normal sleever portion size is. I'm fairly good at eyeballing it, but when in doubt I STILL measure. And I always choose to underfill my sleeve. I don't have hunger, so there is no reason to eat more than what I need. I keep my dense Protein (beef, chicken, fish, etc.) to about 3-4oz. Sometimes (rarely, but more often when I'm eating out) I can push it to about 5oz. without being uncomfortable.

You will learn what the limit is because you will feel it. Early out when you are on liquids and even super-soft mushies, you might not be able to feel it yet. This is an excellent time to measure that food. Measure as much as possible and underfill...my best advice.

My surgeon was shocked that I'm still eating 3-4oz because he sees it time and time again for people pushing the limits of what their stomach (be it band, bypass or sleeve) can take. I think a lot of that is due to hunger. No hunger means I don't need to push the upper limits of what my sleeve can hold. Hope that helps!

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The first few months, I described the full feeling as "needing to loosen my bra"! I kept saying that everyone else might need to loosen their belt but I was the odd ball that felt like my bra was tight.

Now (5 months out) it's more of a traditional full feeling. I try to stop at "content" and not get to "stuffed". However that "stuffed" feeling feels like I am full up to my throat. Not a pleasant feeling and I try to avoid it.

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question: I always feel extra saliva.. and im just thinking im hungry all the time.. not sure how long ago you posted this... i am curious if anyone has extra saliva production??

The full feeling, what a great question, IT was something I wondered about at first too and I never imagined that it would come in stages.

the first few days I was literally disgusted with all kind of liquid and didnt have the urge to eat, I didnt even felt empty, like someone just switched down the tv. But still liquid went through and I still didnt feel either hungry or full, there was still pain when I drink too fast but that was it.

Then the first 2 month came the challenge, at first it took just 3 small bites of everything to feel like I am scared and I just dont want anymore, then the scared feeling went away and I upped my intake a little bit and here I felt like the chest pain that I should stop.

Then by the 3rd month when I went for another extra bite I felt like I wil throw up and to be honest sometimes I gave in and head up to throwing up.

After these errors and trials I learned my limits and suddenly the final stage arrived were I really felt like I am satisfied and I dont need more, u will get the full sensation by then and the extra bite will cause u discomfort.

Burping came in but after I finish eating not while, also if u go for more food u will have extra saliva in ur mouth afterwards "thats a sign that u went for too much or just ate too fast"

Everyone is different and also every food has different effect, with more dense food u will feel it better sooner but wth liquids and mushies u will be able to have more bites.

best of luck figuring it out:)

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You know that Thanksgiving Full where you've eaten to the point where you feel sick, and it feels like every nook and cranny in your gut is stuffed with food? It's not like that. :lol:

Think about it--your stomach, the stretchy "feed bag" part of it, is gone, and right now not only do you have a skinny little tube for a stomach, it's not gonna stretch. Plus, there'll be swelling in there for a good long while, before it completely goes away.

For me, early on (when "full" was 1-2 oz. of refried beans), it was just pressure right there where the stomach is, kinda between the ribs, feeling like it maybe could chuck right back up through the esophagus (which thankfully only happened a couple of times). As the swelling goes down that feeling subsides, unless you overeat, but "full" is still in that same area... you'll never have the bloated, distended abdomen again. Which is awesome, 'cause you don't have to unbutton your pants after eating anymore!

This is exactly what full feels like to me as well. I honestly don't even remember what the old "real" full sensation even feels like anymore. I haven't felt that since before 2008, pre Lap-Band. Eventually I guess that will be true for all of us. You do get used to the new full sensations.

Right now drinking fluids only you're likely to not feel full. When you get to more solids, you will start to feel it. I've noticed there are two post op camps, those who can eat/drink like normal and those who absolutely can't. I was in the CAN'T camp for sure.

All the best!

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The first few months, I described the full feeling as "needing to loosen my bra"! I kept saying that everyone else might need to loosen their belt but I was the odd ball that felt like my bra was tight.

Now (5 months out) it's more of a traditional full feeling. I try to stop at "content" and not get to "stuffed". However that "stuffed" feeling feels like I am full up to my throat. Not a pleasant feeling and I try to avoid it.

Lanette,

OMG! This is me! I am at 4 weeks and wearing sport bra for more than my excercise time is very bad juju! It presses too much against my sleevezilla! Also, if after I eat (under or over) I want to loosen my bra. Infact, today driving home (2 1/2 hr drive) I unhooked my bra just so I could be comfortable. Nice to know someone else has this experience too..lol

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Thanks for the reply's guys :) really informative and ive moved on to mush and i now know what full feels like but is it bad that i still want to eat sometimes? I know its mental but i feel like having a proper meal . I hope it gets easier with time .

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Reading a book about the Sleeve & the doctor says, "That uncomfortable feeling in your stomach...YOUR FULL!"

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