I am not even 1 week out and I dreamt about food today. I woke up and all I want to do is chew or taste something. Is this normal? It doesn't help that I live in a no -WLS home so I'm subject to smell whatever's cooking. I thought the surgery would take away the hormone that causes hunger... Is this in my head? I'm so sad.

I would watch cooking shows all the time. I couldn't wait to eat. Then I got to where I could have pureed foods. It was a let down. Nothing tasted good. I am 7 weeks post op and some food taste okay, but I just don't get the same "high" from food that I did before. Which is good. Now I basically force myself to eat. The head hunger is vicious and messes with you.

I'm 4 months out and my husband just cooked some hamburger patties and it's killing me. I'm feeling "real" hunger. I haven't dumped on anything so I could eat a hamburger patty but I've already ate my supper.

I feel actual hunger every now and then, but for the most part it's head hunger. I can't stomach many foods... They make me want to vomit (the taste or texture - not like dumping or anything like that) I get the majority of my Protein from shakes and Protein Bars.

~RNY 1.19.15

Dear Starbucks, my heart goes out to you, I can feel that terrible feeling as I'm reading your post. I was a raging food addict with zero control to the point of distraction all my life. It wasn't until I was experiencing these same feelings after my surgery, that I knew I needed to deal with This issue. I found a psychiatrist that was adept at dealing with eating disorders and compulsive behaviours. I went on a drug called Topamax. This is often used in addiction therapies. I was very sceptical,as I have tried many things but, I no longer feel that screaming food monster in my head any more! It just shut it up! I still have cravings of course, but, I have control, something I never could have dreamed of having in my lifetime! Do yourself a favour and have a talk with your doc about maybe considering this as an option to add to your treatment plan. It changed my life, and its such a blessing to not have that monkey on my back now and hate hearing of your struggling as I did so long. Good luck and hang in,keep talking ,were all here listening.

The urge to chew food is a common desire after surgery. Chewing is part of the digestive process. It is part of the way we are wired. See http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/07/31/chewing-foods.aspx This is a short term problem. It will soon go away as you transition into solid foods.

I had a few extremely literal dreams in the first couple of weeks in which was eating greasy and delicious hamburgers or pizzas. Those stopped once I was able to chew and eat a greater variety of actual foods. I still have cravings and urges, but the bad foods no longer haunt my dreams.

I agree with James (obviously a Bypass ROCKSTARR in his own right!!..AWSOME job on your WL James!) It will pass, I has that with the band and now with the pre op diet. My heart goes out to you , but just hang tough, and keep reaching out to others who understand, just like you have been. ALL of us have been there, feeling like we would be the only zombie on the walking dead to ever raid the hostess factory and never eat anyone's face! lol You'll get passed this and do great and Ill be right behind you in about a week and you'll have to talk me down! lol

Dear Starbucks, my heart goes out to you, I can feel that terrible feeling as I'm reading your post. I was a raging food addict with zero control to the point of distraction all my life. It wasn't until I was experiencing these same feelings after my surgery, that I knew I needed to deal with This issue. I found a psychiatrist that was adept at dealing with eating disorders and compulsive behaviours. I went on a drug called Topamax. This is often used in addiction therapies. I was very sceptical,as I have tried many things but, I no longer feel that screaming food monster in my head any more! It just shut it up! I still have cravings of course, but, I have control, something I never could have dreamed of having in my lifetime! Do yourself a favour and have a talk with your doc about maybe considering this as an option to add to your treatment plan. It changed my life, and its such a blessing to not have that monkey on my back now and hate hearing of your struggling as I did so long. Good luck and hang in,keep talking ,were all here listening.

Im on topamax for migraines it's interesting you're using an anticonvulsant for food addiction what is your dosage if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you!

I do have epilepsy, so, I do need an anti conclusive anyway but, I went from teg to this for the off label indications it has. I take 200 mg a day. I don't feel tired but do have that slight mental lag, that annoying on the tip of my young, but can't remember thing. It is used as often as subtext in rehab I later found out. My stepmother is a nurse practitioner at a very large institute here and says they use it with good results.

At a week out, it's definitely in your head. The first six weeks were tough for me. It was great to move to each stage, but it quickly got old as I wanted real food. My doctor advanced me to the full bariatric diet after 6 weeks, and it has been much better since then.

It'll get better, but it will also take time. As bad as it may be for now, you'll get through it.

@@armywife79,

I typically hate anecdoctal stories about *other* people who've have WLS but my cousin had the bypass many years ago. She struggled with drug addiction as well. How she passed a psych eval is really beyond me but that's neither here not there. Anyways, she lost all but 40 of the pounds she wanted to loose and stayed there for many years. up and down just a bit. not consistent and she did have a couple of relapses in there. but they started her on the topomax and she instantly dropped the last 40 pounds and has been doing very well since...

Thanks Mis, I'm so glad to hear that! I think she will keep on seeing progress if she works with the docs and keeps up with the meds. I told my nutritionist about how passionate I am about using addiction methods of drugs and psychotherapy to help us out because, food does become and addiction to us like anything else. I was so SHOCKED that this was the first they had ever heard of this drug being used to control compulsive eating in patients after WLS. The whole team actually had a meeting on this very topic and now are beginning to use it on patients who are struggling. I was happy I could shed light on this drug to this office because as you have seen, it can be a game changer for some people who just cant shake their compulsive behaviors even with best intentions. Science is a wonderful thing!

@@armywife79,

Its funny because I think she was given the drug for the drug addiction, but its just magically resolved the eating issue as a side benefit. I'm going the PM some other questions if that's ok