hunger Surgery 8/29/13 questioning things I am feeling

[Guest ApplesnChiliPowder]

Hi All! I just had VSG on 8/29 and I am doing great, or so they tell me. I was up walking the same night as surgery, I was getting in all my Water the day I got home. I have been off pain medication since the day after surgery and I have felt very little pain since. I was encouraged to start my Protein shakes a couple days early by my doctor and to even start introducing some of the full liquid foods. It all sounds great but I have had a few hiccups along the way.

I had the air and still do sometimes, nothing like the first two days and usually I can move it around with some stretching and creative Water drinking. I had my hour of doubt and depression over my choice and what I have done to myself as it is referred to in the forums, but even that passed pretty quickly.

My biggest issue started today. I have been "enjoying" my full liquids, cheesy mashed taters, Protein drinks (premier proteins) Tomato basil bisque w/added unflavored Isopure (gives it a slight meat taste), and even a little sugar free vanilla pudding. The thing is every time I have seen food up until this point I have smiled at the good smells and remembered tastes but have had no drive to eat, that changed today. Today I had 3/4 cup of half tomato basil bisque and 1/4 cup of milk (again with Isopure mixed in) and I was not only able to eat it all (did take a while approx 45 minutes) but I found myself pursuing more food not to long after I finished. I even went so far as to have a couple small tastes of spaghetti sauce (and a chunk of the sausage) my family had for dinner. Mind you I chewed it incessantly so it was pretty much pureed but it wasn't enough, I found myself seeking out some sugar free pudding. (No problems with eating any of it BTW).

I am suddenly freaked out that the surgery was a bust because I was pleasantly full yet at the same time wanting to binge eat. I have spent a long time fighting my weight and I was sure this was the way to do it. Of course it will still be work, I have no illusions about that, but why am I suddenly seeing food with craving and desire instead of the disinterested appeal it had yesterday? Has anyone had this happen?

My weight is shedding pretty nicely for being so new to post op but I am scared if I keep finding this inner binger that it will stop soon and even go backwards again.

Insight please!

[Arts137 1,811]

The surgery removed 80 to 85% of your stomach. It did NOT change anything in your head. There are folks (and they are not on this board, sadly), that gain all the lost weight back AFTER the sleeve. HOW??? You can defeat the sleeve. You seem to recognize the issue, so you are ahead of the game. As Laura says, "keep your head in the game" and while you WILL think about "binging", and having "just a little of this", you don't have to do it!!!

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Right now your new tummy is still numb and you may not feel that you are overdoing it. Stop, please, before you damage your new stitch line. Measure your food out, give yourself 30 minutes to eat it and when that time is passed, stop.

While you are on full liquids and pureed, you will not feel the restriction as much because liquid tends to pass through your sleeve faster than solids will. You will feel much more restriction in a few weeks. Until then, you have to control your intake.

This is mind over matter and your desire to binge is in your head. I suggest that you seek the help of your NUT or counselor to figure out an action plan to get over your need to binge. This is something MANY MANY of us here struggle with, so do not feel alone.

And lay off the sausage. Seriously.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

There is a huge difference between head hunger and the real thing. Telling yourself you are still hungry after you have eaten is part of the old you.. Like all of us you have to deal with the reasons why you are a binger and what brought you to this point.

I watch my husband eat a lot at meal times and I know that I used to eat more then him....scares me now when I think about it..But! I now know why I did what I did and am working hard to fix my head along with my body..

The sleeve is a tool that you need to use to help you deal with the issues....Stick to the program and if you find it unbearable eat some fruit...It really has become quite sweet to me after 10 months out!

[nervousnelly 24]

I can't believe you are able to eat that. I was done the 27th and yesterday I had for the first time ButterNut Squash Soups very watered down and strained and after four spoons I had to quit it. You have no tightness or anything?

I am working on not thinking about food all the time ~ scary how much I used too

When you feel hungry, have a Protein Shake and than realized you are good for a while no need to eat.

Good luck and be careful what you put in your healing pouch...

[SeaLegs 38]

It sounds like you are a good healer, so maybe some of the internal swelling went down and you feel different. If this keeps up, check in with your support team.

Please be careful...any of those seeds and gristly things that they put in sausage could get stuck in and irritate your suture line.

Hang in there!