[smease]

On April 17th it will be one month since my surgery. Once I left the hospital I felt really good. After 1 week I felt like myself and after 2 weeks I went back to work. All of the literature the Dr. office gave me said that a person this early out should only be able to tolerate about 2 ounces of liquid or food and then be full. Well, not the case with me. I made it through the liquid stage but was very hungry. I am just finished with the pureed stage and I can eat 1/2 c. easily and not feel full. I struggle with hunger (real physical hunger, not emotional) in the afternoon. I keep wondering if my pouch is too big or if I just don't have the capacity to feel full. Everything I have eaten so far has agreed with me and I have no diversions for any foods. Any advice?

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Congratulations on joining the Loser's Bench.

Actually, when you will start *getting* the full feeling will depend on each person. Many people don't actually get it until a few months to 6 or so months later, so no need to worry about that. If your surgeon or nut has given you a relatively detailed eating plan, stick to it; if you are worried about the amount you are eating, measure out what you plan to eat first, and stick to that. Liquids and pureeds don't stay that long in your pouch, so it is quite possible for you to feel true hunger, not the head hunger that also can happen. Don't worry about that, either.
It takes 3-4 months for your innards to heal completely and regain/readjust all the functions, so give yourself and your system time to settle completely.

((((((((HUGS))))))) May your journey go well.

[DeMarie]

I think at times we all question ourself in the same way - by the second week I could eat a whole 5 oz yogurt, a whole cup of soup. I think it has to do with the consistancy of the food. It sill happens, I am sure I am eating way too much, but then can't get a 1/2 slice of pizza in, or more than 2 oz of meat. And the next day feel like I ate about 2 cups of food in one sitting.
It's funny, but if everyone would fess up, I bet we all at one point or another thought "the doctor really didn't make my pouch smaller!"
So I think you are fine there.
About the being hungry, I'm not sure. There are times in the day where I feel hungry, but it's just a slight hunger, a little rumble. No real true hunger pains. Maybe you are hungry, or your pouch is saying it needs something, whatever it is, maybe if you added a snack here and there, and I'm only talking a little no sugar added apple sauce, a 1/2 of yogurt, depending what stage you are at, a piece of cheese - just so every few hours you are giving your pouch something to work on.
But try not to jump to conclusions, I know it's hard, this is so new, but I think you just have to work out the kinks. Good luck - and Welcome!

[DocSanae]

One thing I forgot to mention. If hunger is bad enough to be almost painful, then that could be a symptom of ulcer. Especially if putting something into the pouch eases the pain/hunger. If that's the case, let your surgeon know what's going on.
(((((HUGS)))))

[qt82699]

i dont really know what to say to this, at that point i was never hungry and had to eat to eat, but now that i am further out i am experiencing more hunger, but i think mine is more head hunger...try drinking lots of water to get some of that full feeling, it does help me and is really the only advice i have, i drink 100 ounces a day, i know with how early out u are u probably wont get this much down, but try upping the water and let us know how it goes, good luck!

[LadyLisa]

I am just over a month out and I started getting hungry this past week. I never had a feeling of full ever in my life. I sat down once and ate till my tummy hurt and still never felt full. Sometimes an hour later I would feel full but not like you would think it should be. I have had to be portion conscious most of my life. I find now that I can eat more sometimes and like you said it depends on what it is. I finished a whole 6 oz yogurt and I just got out of my puree today. And it was ok but I have eaten once piece of cheese and felt like I just couldn't put more in but it was more like pain and not full..I really didn't expect to get a full feeling from having this surgery. If like doc said a few months down the line it happens for me I will be happy but I am not expecting it. I also notice that I can drink more then most of the paperwork says I should and that was from the first day out. So I don't know if that is a full feeling as well that comes with that..lol So I have to watch that as well because when I do get to much of something in there and I get gas or to much I feel pain and I know that my staple lines are still fresh..Strange how ppl are so different isn't it

[kbfrmaz]

My doc said that until you are eating solid foods it is common not to get that "full" feeling. I know I didn't really feel it much during pureed foods, I just measured and ate what I was supposed to. Even now some days I can eat a lot and others hardly at all without being so full. I am sure you are doing really well- just remember that compared to how much you could eat before it is GREATLY reduced and your body is still healing and trying to figure out what the HECK happened to it!

[needanewme]

I was hungry the first weeks after surgery. I had to eat every 3 hours or I would be overly hungry, my pouch would start to ache and I would colapse with exhuastion. I'm 7weeks out now and I hate to eat, I force myself to eat and I am rarely hungry.

The first few weeks out I measured out 3oz of food at a time and found that soft pureed foods, ex: yogart, refried beans I could eat all 3 oz at a sitting. The more "regular" textured the food, the less I can take in, unless I use the full 30 minutes for the meal, which I rarely do. I do not drink anything for at least a 1/2 hr.

Soup is tough, I have over eaten on soup and it hurt like heck. So, I generally avoid soup because its too tough for me to gage how much to eat.

I love tacos, I eat 3/4 to 1 full taco for a meal.

[amina6ae]

Oh My Dear,

Thank God That You Can Eat!!!!
I Can't Keep Much Down At This Point & I Too Am 1 Month Out!!
This Is A Tool To Help Us Along Our Journey, But The Choices You Make As Far As The Foods You Eat Is Totally On You, Especially Since You Don't Have Any Symptoms Such As Dumping, Foamies, Etc....
As Kitty Stated, I Also Thought At First That Maybe They Didn't Do Anything To My Stomach & That It Was Just A Way To Have Me "shrink My Stomach On My Own"...
Believe Me, I Actually Said That To My Mom & She Died In Laughter!!!!!!!!!
All I Can Say As Far As To Help You Is, Be Very Conscience Of The Amount & Type Of Foods You Eat..
Lol,

[MsVickie]

You know what thinking back I dont think I felt full either but...... I just knew when to stop eating. I know if I over ate I would not feel well and that gets old really quick. Its the consistasy of the food I think. Liquids like soup etc....... you could hold more to where if you try meat or any thing with texture you will feel that feeling for sure. You will see alot of us say we still cant tolerate bread. And many of us want to tolerate it. It fills you up so fast and sit just sits still it seems like. I think your doing great. Welcome to the boards I just noticed your new.