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I've stared having bad food dreams about 5 days post-op. They're mostly about sneaking and eating food that I know I can't have yet. I've been following my diet fine and I'm not hungry during the day but during my dreams, I'm ravenous. Anyone else having dreams like this?

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We have an ingrained need to chew. The process of chewing release enzymes that help to break down food.

The last time you had something to eat, did you give any thought to how long you chewed? Most likely not, as chewing is done, for most people, almost as a habit or unconscious reflex. As soon as a piece of food enters your mouth, you chew and swallow, probably far too quickly.

The chewing process, also known as mastication, is actually extremely important, however, and serves as the first step in your digestive process.

Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer you chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food, making digestion easier on your stomach and small intestine. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example. Saliva also helps to lubricate your food so it’s easier on your esophagus.

Long story short - You have a subconscious need to chew. It may not be the food that you really miss but the act of chewing that is driving you crazy. If that is the problem then it should alleviate once you transition into the solid food stage.

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We have an ingrained need to chew. The process of chewing release enzymes that help to break down food.
The last time you had something to eat, did you give any thought to how long you chewed? Most likely not, as chewing is done, for most people, almost as a habit or unconscious reflex. As soon as a piece of food enters your mouth, you chew and swallow, probably far too quickly.
The chewing process, also known as mastication, is actually extremely important, however, and serves as the first step in your digestive process.
Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the longer you chew, the more time these enzymes have to start breaking down your food, making digestion easier on your stomach and small intestine. One of these enzymes is lingual lipase, an enzyme that helps break down fats, for example. Saliva also helps to lubricate your food so it’s easier on your esophagus.
Long story short - You have a subconscious need to chew. It may not be the food that you really miss but the act of chewing that is driving you crazy. If that is the problem then it should alleviate once you transition into the solid food stage.

I don't have the desire when I'm awake. Only when I'm asleep and dreaming. I'm not even hungry during the day. I have to fight to get my Protein and Fluid in. But thank you for that. I do think my subconscious wants to chew.

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Many patients after surgery describe hunger as "head hunger" or a false hunger.

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery and I did not experience this condition. But here is a link to a thread about this issue with sleeve patients. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/191057-false-hunger-from-acid/ Generally various individuals said that head hunger was caused by acid in your stomach. The solution they found was to take a proton-pump inhibitor such as omeprazole (also called over the counter Prilosec) to alleviate the condition. In my case even though I had gastric bypass, my surgeon had me on omeprazole for a year after surgery to allow my stomach to heal properly.

At this point since you are only 5 days post-op, I wouldn't worry too much at this point. It could be head hunger or it could be a strong desire to chew.

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I'm not worried about it. Just wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing the same kind of dreams. Since I'm only seven days post-op, I figured someone experienced it as well. But thank you again.

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Oh, It will happen. It is your subconscious coming to the surface and trying to make you give into your wants. Honestly, I had a dream about going into the Supermarket full of Edy's Ice Cream with a spoon and opening all the Ice Cream and taking a spoon full, eating it and then putting them back in their place :lol: .

I do not think it is something to truly worry about. As long as you are doing what is needed to succeed you should be fine.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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