Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Approaching sleeve date. How does it feel to be missing .75% of stomach?



Recommended Posts

I'm with laura, you will fill up very fast - especially during the first month. Your new stomach will still be swollen and you won't be able to hold very much at one sitting. Other than the amount I could eat, I didn't notice my missing stomach.

It was like a dream come true for me. Swapping from eating 1lb or more of food per meal to eating only a couple of teaspoons to make me feel full gave me a lot of joy. Although as my new stomach healed I could eat more at a meal, at 12 months, I only eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal.

Oh, and you won't get that gradual "oooh I'm getting full" feeling. I go from, "I can eat one more bite" to "Too full!" in just one bite. So I had to eat small bites until I learned how much I could safely eat before getting too full. I quickly learned, after a few "one bite too many" meals, to pay attention to how much and how fast I was eating. :-P

You might check out my blog post about it: http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31139-5-weeks-post-op-still-teaching-myself-to-eat-slowly/

Edited by joatsaint

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Actually, if you did not have some sort of fear at having 75% of your stomach removed you wouldn't be normal. It is very scary and very permanent.

Let me tell you, it is so worth it. I am a little over a month out from my surgery and I feel great. Your stomach feels as if you just finish eating at an all you can eat buffet, stuffed, but all you have consumed is a half cup of no fat cottage cheese. I seem to want to eat things that I need to fuel my body instead of what tastes and looks good. I love being in control of portions.......because my stomach makes me be in control.

Good luck.........exciting.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Can you actually tell there is a void in that section where the removed stomach was. And is there any pain sensation emanating from the cutting and stapling of the stomach. (or is it just the holes that hurt)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You cannot feel a void, as I think everything just settles nicely back into place and no phantom limb syndrome..

The pain that you feel is mostly from the incision sites. Now your stomach will be making all sorts of noises but for the most part is numb, that's why it is so important to measure liquids and Proteins carefully. You will not feel fullness for several weeks sometimes.

Edited by laura-ven

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks to every one who wrote. It is so good to hear your descriptions. That sense of a void is what I am talking about. For instance, people who have a leg or arm removed have a phantom sense of it still being there. At least some people report this. But since I am not aware of my stomach and its displacement of space in my body, I din't know if I would feel that void after the surgery. I appreciate also descriptions of your first post surgery day. Would welcome others' thought in this. I believe that in the long run it is worth it!! But every trip begins with that first step. I want to know what that first step. Is. Thanks everybody.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You won't feel your stomach is "missing". Your brain knows it isn't there, but it doesn't feel any different.

I was surprised at how quickly I fill up - I'm amazed that 1/2 an egg and 1/2 a turkey sausage patty fills me up at Breakfast time. It's surreal the first few times you sit down to a meal and you think, "seriously, this is all I get?" Then you leave some on the plate because you can't finish it.

I felt empowered once I started adding food into my diet. Empowered because I know that 1/4 cup of food is going to fill me up and I don't feel like crap from doing the latest fad diet.

It's an amazing process.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You won't feel your stomach is "missing". Your brain knows it isn't there, but it doesn't feel any different.

I was surprised at how quickly I fill up - I'm amazed that 1/2 an egg and 1/2 a turkey sausage patty fills me up at Breakfast time. It's surreal the first few times you sit down to a meal and you think, "seriously, this is all I get?" Then you leave some on the plate because you can't finish it.

I felt empowered once I started adding food into my diet. Empowered because I know that 1/4 cup of food is going to fill me up and I don't feel like crap from doing the latest fad diet.

It's an amazing process.

Thanks for providing this helpful comment. Your reflection is concrete and nicely descriptor. Thanks for taking time to write.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You cannot feel a void, as I think everything just settles nicely back into place and no phantom limb syndrome..<br>

The pain that you feel is mostly from the incision sites. Now your stomach will be making all sorts of noises but for the most part is numb, that's why it is so important to measure liquids and Proteins carefully. You will not feel fullness for several weeks sometimes.

Noises I can deal with. Good note on measuring. Thanks.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Can you actually tell there is a void in that section where the removed stomach was. And is there any pain sensation emanating from the cutting and stapling of the stomach. (or is it just the holes that hurt)

Thanks for adding these questions. I wondered the same things.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Actually, if you did not have some sort of fear at having 75% of your stomach removed you wouldn't be normal. It is very scary and very permanent.

Let me tell you, it is so worth it. I am a little over a month out from my surgery and I feel great. Your stomach feels as if you just finish eating at an all you can eat buffet, stuffed, but all you have consumed is a half cup of no fat cottage cheese. I seem to want to eat things that I need to fuel my body instead of what tastes and looks good. I love being in control of portions.......because my stomach makes me be in control.

Good luck.........exciting.

Great description about how it feels. Thanks for that and also the encouragement:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm with laura, you will fill up very fast - especially during the first month. Your new stomach will still be swollen and you won't be able to hold very much at one sitting. Other than the amount I could eat, I didn't notice my missing stomach.

It was like a dream come true for me. Swapping from eating 1lb or more of food per meal to eating only a couple of teaspoons to make me feel full gave me a lot of joy. Although as my new stomach healed I could eat more at a meal, at 12 months, I only eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups per meal.

Oh, and you won't get that gradual "oooh I'm getting full" feeling. I go from, "I can eat one more bite" to "Too full!" in just one bite. So I had to eat small bites until I learned how much I could safely eat before getting too full. I quickly learned, after a few "one bite too many" meals, to pay attention to how much and how fast I was eating. :-P

You might check out my blog post about it: http://www.bariatricpal.com/blog/9018/entry-31139-5-weeks-post-op-still-teaching-myself-to-eat-slowly/

Thanks for your log ad detailed post. Sooo helpful. Thanks also for the like ink.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't feel a void where my stomach was. I just feel great. I am one that has a sleeve of steel. Nothing my little tummy doesn't like. Thats a blessing and a curse. I have to be responsible for everything I put in it. I can't depend on oh, my sleeve doesn't like this or that. Nope, it all goes down just fine.

Only difference besides of course, not being able to eat mass quantities of food is that I make the most amazing noises. I burp in techno noises and my stomach plays punk rock! Last week I made some repeated noises with my burps and stomach, my husband turns to me and asks, "did your surgeon lose a cell phone in you?" We about died laughing!

You will love your sleeve and you won't notice that something is missing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

    • Sandra Austin Tx

      I’m 6 days post op as of today. I had the gastric bypass 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • RacMag  »  bhogue925

      Hi, I’m new here. I’m currently on the liver shrinking diet. So far so good, but I have to say I haven’t found a protein shake I like. Anyone have any suggestions please? My surgery date is September 17th. 
      · 2 replies
      1. BlondePatriotInCDA

        Fairlife Core are by far the best. They taste just as they are - chocolate milk. You can either get the 26 grams or the 42 grams (harder to find and more expensive). For straight protein look at Bulksuppliments.com ..they have really good whey proteins and offer auto ship plus they test for purity. No taste or smell...

      2. BlondePatriotInCDA

        Fairlife has strawberry, vanilla and of course chocolate. No more calories than other protein drinks. Stay away from Premiere, they're dealing with lawsuits due to not being honest about protein content.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×