Struggling a bit

Hi all. I was sleeved on Thursday and finally came home from the hospital today. Needless to say I am thrilled to be home. My surgeon requires me to do liquids only for 21 days post op. I really didn't think it was going to be too big of a struggle. Or at least, I thought the difficulty would be at the end when I was tired of the idea of one more protein shake. Instead, I am dealing with some pretty strong food cravings. I did well on my pre-approval diet and handled my pre-op diet without any real issues so this is a big surprise to me. 

My doctor has made it very clear to me what the possible complications are and so I intend to adhere to my post-op diet. I am very glad that I have an appointment with my therapist on Thursday to talk through this. In the meantime, I was curious if others have experienced it and if so, what coping strategies helped you?

Thanks! 

GooseGirl

I think we all go crazy with head hunger right after surgery.  The realization that we can't eat like we used to slaps us in the face and we go into food panic mode.

Remind yourself why you had this surgery.  Remember how miserable it is to be fat and uncomfortable.  Talk to the voices in your head and shut them down the best that you can.  As your doctor said, the complications can be horrendous if you don't adhere to the post op diet.  You just have to buckle down and do it.  I know that 21 days sounds like forever, but it's really not in the overall scope of things.  

Now is the time to show yourself some love and be good to yourself.  You will be so proud of yourself when you make it through this period.  Watch movies, Netflix, read a book, go for walks - anything to distract yourself from that vicious head hunger.  

I had huge issues with this so I feel for you. Distract, distract, distract yourself. 3 weeks seems like an eternity at the moment, but it will be over soon. 

Are you craving or feeling hungry?  

I think it is probably a bit of both. While I keep reading that I shouldn't really experience hunger for awhile after surgery, it seems logical to me that some of what I am feeling might be actual hunger. However, drooling over commercials for pizza, taco bell or other random food is pure cravings. All of that unhealthy fast food is my typical comfort/avoidance food. Now that I have thought about it a bit more I think I'm just craving different tastes in my mouth. The longer stay in the hospital meant my food options were extremely restricted. 

I'm going to explore some different soup options. Maybe between blending and thinning the consistency I will be able to utilize some flavorful soup options that will help me get through the next 3 weeks. 

Are you taking a PPI such as prilosec or nexium?  Stomach acid mimics hunger and a lot of us find that taking a PPI makes the hunger feelings go away.  

I was taking one in the hospital but your question made me realize that I haven't taken it since I came home on Monday. I will add that back in and see if it makes a difference. Thanks for the recommendation!

You're welcome!  Good luck.  

OH, I can relate! I think it's very common. I believe it's the realization that we cannot eat as well as our bodies crying out for the foods we've been so used to eating for so long. I was very depressed the first week or so after surgery but just know it gets better. I thought I'd be ok with my standard chocolate protein shake 3 times a day but it didn't last long. Once I started trying a bigger variety of options (soup varieties, different flavors of protein shakes or adding other options to the drinks like banana) it seemed to improve. I didn't think I could have those yet but the nurse said they were ok. One of the things my nurse shared with me is having Campbell's split pea and ham soup (pureed smooth of course), I felt like I was eating real food like a real person and the taste was a nice change. Time is also the biggest help.  Hang in there, it'll get better! 

I was much more hungry at two weeks postop than I was at two months, or twelve. I have no idea why. But I stuck it out, and it passed. Yours will too.