I'm 6 days post-op. Not in pain and able to walk just fine.

HOWEVER I feel like I am in a constant deprivation mode - I'm still on full liquids for another week and every little whiff of food smells so good. Cooking for the kids it's all I can do not to snarf down a chicken nugget.

I know the health risks, and so I won't eat anything I shouldn't but I just have to know if this gets easier. Perhaps when more foods are allowed? But even then I understand how much restriction and control is necessary to succeed.

I am so grumpy and even hate to leave the house so I don't have to be confronted with these temptations.

Thanks.

Yes it gets easier and yes you will feel more restriction once you advance to soft foods. Hang in there!

SORRY, MY CAPS LOCK IS STUCK.

I'M 5-WEEKS POSTOP, AND FOUND BOTH THE PRE- AND POST-OP PLANS TO BE *COMPLETELY* OVER THE TOP WITH RESTRICTIONS. I "SKIPPED" A WEEK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND NEVER STAYED PRECISELY ON SCHEDULE AT ANY POINT. AT FIVE WEEKS, I EAT EVERYTHING, NOT PUREES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RED meat BECAUSE I'VE FOUND IT TERRIBLY HARD TO DIGEST. JUST CHEW WELL AND EAT SLOWLY. I THINK THOSE WHO COMPOSE THE food PLANS ARE EATING-DISORDERED.

THIS IS NOT INTENDED AS ADVICE, JUST ONE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE.

Those first few weeks were miserable. I wasn't hungry, I just wanted food and felt deprived. As soon as you can start soft food, it will taste like the most amazing thing you've ever eaten. That's how I felt about each stage. So it gets easier as soon as you can start eating food. Even once I started eating, I felt deprived by the quantity of food I wanted versus what I could handle. That went away too, it was head hunger.

It gets way easier, I went from hunger to getting frequent stomach aches, to having to remember to eat now, it's very surreal, you know it's you, but can't grasp how it happens, my wife used to say "I hate stopping to eat" I understand that now, I was sleeved on June 10th and the only liquid I could tolerate and craved was tomato soup, I never feel deprived and my cravings are healthy ones like shrimp, oysters, cheese etc. I also am strong enough to only cheat once a month, and that's easy cause after 3 months out I only take in 4-5oz at a time, your doing great, don't get discouraged, ironically some of those things like chicken nuggets may not be even wanted after you heal, I hate McDonald's, the smell, taste, my senses seemed to been tweaked after my surgery and I can even tell if meat is sour, and oil is old, apparently I'm not alone in this according to other veterans....... YOU GOT THIS!!!!!

Laguerr13

I crave tomato soup all the time! I add lemon and its delish.

Thank you all for your encouragement! It makes me feel soooo much better.

I got into this head space where I'm panicking that I can't do this and what have I got myself into, etc.

But I can make it now. Phew!

Great advice so far. Yes it gets easier but I must say... that first meal was so important to me. I really planned what I was going to have - and Salmon with string Beans was fantastic..... so so yummy....

In fact, I really love the smell of food now. I take the time to smell food before I get it. My other senses (other than taste) really are stronger now.

I'm sorry you're having these temptations and feelings. My doc told me way before surgery that removing the larger part of my stomach also removed the part that secreted the hormone Ghrelin - which is responsible for hunger pangs. Now, maybe this is psychological, but I went into surgery believing I wouldn't have hunger pangs after - and I don't! The smell doesn't bother me (and I really thought it would) - but I still mute the TV and bypass FB posts with recipes, but I truly have NO hunger pangs whatsoever. I looked around the web to see if my doc was just trying to psych me out, but it turns out the sleeve actually does remove the greater portion of the hormone.

Edited September 27, 201510 yr by HeidiA

@@HeidiA

Yup, your doc is correct. It's one of the reasons the surgery works so well. I RARELY ever feel true hunger anymore. Some still do, but just between you and me, I think it's head hunger.

Thanks for the info!

I'm 10'days post op and I can attest that I'm no longer hungry!

Whoo hoo!

I was suppose to wait until day 14 to begin soft foods but I just couldn't wait any longer. My head hunger was horrible so I had my first soft food on Friday 10 days post op and it felt like heaven. I never thought cottage cheese would taste so damn good!! I'm now eating creamy soups, baby food (fruits) and I ate my first yogurt this morning. So far my tummy is behaving. It will get better...absolutely!!