Arrrrrrrrgh! That nasty old appetite.....I thought that was gone!~ - ThinnerTimes

cedesigns · 02-21-2005, 01:04 PM

Well I will be 3 months out in a few days and overall I think my experience has been pretty much on schedule. Nothing really unusual post op. first week, got up and walked and moved around just fine. Pain wasnt that bad. Went through the liquid diet, then cream soups, then puree'd. Everything hurt just like it was supposed to

. I had some dumping, and some throwing up, just enough to keep me aware of things <sigh>. Water was really difficult to drink, but that is finally getting easier. When I went on my cruise (post op 8 weeks) I was told by my doc I could eat whatever, as long as I stuck with the rules, no sweets, no bubbles, eat slow, chew, chew, chew, swallow slow. Keep my intake down to about 1/4 cup (sometimes up to 1/2cup) at a time. I ate just about everything you can think of and overall did fine. Again, I had a few mistakes, one was cheesecake...................OUCH! Now that was dumping at its finest!! LOL. The other was meat, it was too dry, and I needed to remember to eat something moist along side it. I just don't tolerate proteins well unless I eat them WITH something wet and moist. The best part has been that I really have not had an appetite. I was just not really hungry........................Until now! My appetite is definately coming back, and I am not sure that I am happy about that. It was nice just not wanting to eat. That sure made life easier. Now I feel my ole tummy rumbling, and I have the desire to go get something in there. Appetite spells disaster for me. Or it has in the past. Yesterday was a particularly bad day, I just wanted to eat all day. A little this, a little that, not much of anything, but I wanted to eat from morning to evening! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??? Please tell me I am not going to be the cookie monster again! I was hoping to just go on into the sunset without ever having an appetite again................That's not happening. Help you guys. Are you hungry? or is it just me!

Jeanie · 02-21-2005, 01:22 PM

I get hungry during the day also. I just eat a healthy snack. Fruit, string cheese, couple low fat crackers, something along those lines. I've always heard that it's better to eat 5 small meals than 3 HUGE meals. Just try to eat a healthy snack. You should be fine

, but make sure that you're really hungry. Sometimes you think you're hungry because your head says you are, but you're really not.

Dara · 02-21-2005, 01:29 PM

Carol:

I think that if your appetite has returned at three months post-op, it might be a little early. I think the average time that the appetite returns is about six months post-op. However, everyone is different. You might ask yourself a couple of questions that might help you figure it out. Are you sure the rumbling in your stomach isn't gas? Also, are you sure your desire to eat isn't something emotional rather than physical? Just food for thought.

If your appetite has indeed returned, I would recommend making sure you stick to the pouch rules religiously. This will ensure you are getting the proper nutrition and limiting the scope of your eating to healthy foods.

Good luck with your appetite. It's not easy!

Kelly · 02-21-2005, 01:35 PM

Oh man Carol, I do not have advise but just want you to know I am thinking of you during your obsticle. I will definately read everyones recommendations for me in the future. I think by sticking to the pouch rules you will be fine...easier said than done...I know. I can't even intake H20 like I am suppose to. lol. Hang in there, it will be OK. Be STRONGE! You CAN do it!

pamela · 02-21-2005, 01:57 PM

Carol, I am just about 3 months out, and my tummy grumbles all the time now. I think I know the difference between hunger growls and digestive growls...I hope anyways. I just try to eat something healthy and wait a bit and get into my water. I guess I am not normal anyways, cause Ive been able to tolerate at least a cup of food at a time, since I was about 4 weeks out, sometimes even a bit more. Sigh!!!

Pamela

Christina · 02-21-2005, 01:57 PM

In the pouch rules it does say that you should water load. Well, for me, personally I find that if I get a little hungry or want to snack (for the wrong reasons) then I usually fill up on water, tea, or some type of beverage. That usually curves my hunger. What I do is say that I drink an 8-16 oz glass of water or tea. If I am still hungry after that I allow myself a small healthy snack. If I am not, then I don't eat, period. I know it sucks to have an appetite back. Are you sure it is not head hunger? Just wondering, because it does seem a little premature for your real hunger to come back. However, like Dara said everyone is different. And darn it you don't want to win the prize for being hungry the fastest do you? I"m sorry you are going through this. Just know that you can get through it. You will do just great.. we have faith.. now you need to have faith in yourself and your pouch..

You're going to do just fine.. (((((((BIG HUGS)))))))))) headed your way..

JohnsWife4Life · 02-21-2005, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cedesigns

Well I will be 3 months out in a few days and overall I think my experience has been pretty much on schedule. Nothing really unusual post op. first week, got up and walked and moved around just fine. Pain wasnt that bad. Went through the liquid diet, then cream soups, then puree'd. Everything hurt just like it was supposed to

. I had some dumping, and some throwing up, just enough to keep me aware of things <sigh>. Water was really difficult to drink, but that is finally getting easier. When I went on my cruise (post op 8 weeks) I was told by my doc I could eat whatever, as long as I stuck with the rules, no sweets, no bubbles, eat slow, chew, chew, chew, swallow slow. Keep my intake down to about 1/4 cup (sometimes up to 1/2cup) at a time. I ate just about everything you can think of and overall did fine. Again, I had a few mistakes, one was cheesecake...................OUCH! Now that was dumping at its finest!! LOL. The other was meat, it was too dry, and I needed to remember to eat something moist along side it. I just don't tolerate proteins well unless I eat them WITH something wet and moist. The best part has been that I really have not had an appetite. I was just not really hungry........................Until now! My appetite is definately coming back, and I am not sure that I am happy about that. It was nice just not wanting to eat. That sure made life easier. Now I feel my ole tummy rumbling, and I have the desire to go get something in there. Appetite spells disaster for me. Or it has in the past. Yesterday was a particularly bad day, I just wanted to eat all day. A little this, a little that, not much of anything, but I wanted to eat from morning to evening! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??? Please tell me I am not going to be the cookie monster again! I was hoping to just go on into the sunset without ever having an appetite again................That's not happening. Help you guys. Are you hungry? or is it just me!

Carol,

Like someone said, sometimes it is better to eat 5 smaller meals than to eat 3 large ones. I can't eat a large meal, but when I am hungry, I can snack, and I do, then I feel guilty. I was actually glad when my appetite came back, because all along sometimes I have felt I was starving to death. I found that if I get up and go for the big C word, (cook), I do better. I cannot be hungry if I eat a scrambled egg and cheddar rolled in a slice of bread, or a slice of bacon (if I can handle it that day). That is still about all I can take at one time. My meal from outback lasted me 24 hours, and my husband ate the salad. If you eat a protein meal, then you can't be hungry in two hours, and if you are, that is probably head hunger. The desire to eat, but you don't know what you want. One egg is enough to hold you for a few hours, and then you can eat again, something else protein. Maybe a lil chicken breast or cottage cheese. I learned on Atkins, I cannot be hungry if I ate a big meal for breakfast. Are you drinking with your meal? You know if you do it washes the food out of the pouch and you will certainly be hungry in an hour or so. It is so important to not drink with your meal, even your hot drinks are detramental to your weightloss. It is okay to be hungry, it is okay to eat. It is what you put in your mouth that is important. I found when I was like dying of thirst after a meal, I might suck on a piece of hard sugar free candy, or stick a piece of ice in my mouth for a second. Just to wet my whistle. You are doing fine. This is where you are going to learn the difference between head hunger and true hunger. When your stomach rumbles, if it has been a few hours, feed it. My pouch had a mind and a language all it's own. I rumble when I take my vits, I rumble when I am hungry, I rumble when I eat. LOL! It will work out, you came to the right place.

Hugs you CLASSY lady,

Traci

brutherford · 02-21-2005, 06:47 PM

Dara's questions were good ones - I thought my hunger had come back about 4 months post-op, but now I realize that it's not necessarily so. Now at 10 months, I have to force myself to eat because I don't get the signals before I have weakness or a drop in blood sugar. For me, the "hunger pains" were emotionally driven and not physical. So, now I make sure that I have plenty of snacks on hand (edamame [soybeans], carrots, fruit, or energy bars) so that I eat something approximately every 3 hours or so. It's never enough to be a meal, but it's something to tide me over in case I get busy and "forget" to eat.

LOL - my best friend said to me: "Now you're one of those despicable skinny people who forget to eat."

Blueyz · 02-21-2005, 08:42 PM

Carol~

I started to feel hungry again around 6 months out. Along with this, I was instantly able to eat more at a sitting and that was very scary for me. I just plan a healthy snack in case I get hungry. It is very easy to get head hunger, so I always make sure that I am truly hungry and not just bored, depressed, angry, etc. I always try and fluid load to curb my appetite. Good luck to you. Try eating a little bit of string cheese or some sunflower seeds to help ya through.

watergirl · 02-22-2005, 05:39 AM

I'm six months+ out now am feeling hungry and able to eat more at a setting. I know just how you feel about wanting to eat all day, this was me on Sunday. It scared me also.

This is what I did. I ate beef jerky, cheese, water loaded, took my calcium (it's like a meal with those LOL), and had a protein bar. This was all in between three small meals. I figured I was sick last week and didn't eat much, so I was making up for it - don't know? I'm ready to start my period - this is the first clue for me. So far, this hunger doesn't seem to be a trend because yesterday I was fine, but did have jerky at 4:00 pm.

I'm curious to know if you feel the same today. It's important to figure this stuff out by answering the questions Dara asked above. Best of luck my friend!