Week 4 after surgery - when does it get better?

kfalcon23

My recovery so far has been fantastic! After 3 days, I felt as if I hadn't even had surgery. My problem is, I am constantly HUNGRY. Every 2 hours my tummy grumbles. It's not excess acid etc... It is actual physical hunger.

My question is, when does the hunger get better, and how many calories a day did you eat 4 weeks out after surgery> I just started the semi-soft food diet on Friday. I thought if I were eating more dense food that it would keep me full longer, Nope. And I dont drink with my meals, and follow the diet they gave me religiously.

When I Google my questions, it seems people were eating anywhere between 600 - 800 calories. Let me tell you - I could eat about 1,000 a day no problem! And my stomach seems to be able to hold more than the 1/2 cup that they say. Seriously, 1/2 cup does nothing to fill me up....

I have lost about 12 pounds in 4 weeks. Not as much as I hoped, but still losing so I am happy. I am also Hypothyroid so I knew it would be slower than average.

Help!

dward59

Everyone is different. I didn't have hunger, real hunger until about 6 to 8 weeks out and then only if I hadn't eaten on schedule.

You may be like my wife. We had the surgery on the same day. The doctor commented on her abnormally large stomach. Even with the surgery she has about 25% more room in her stomach so doesn't fill up as fast as I do.

For me, I was between the high 500's to 700 calories a day at that time. Now at 5 months out, I'm at anywhere from 900 to 1200 on average, depending on if I eat three solid meals daily or if I continue to use a shake for one of my meals. Of course with more calories, my loss has slowed to more normal levels now, but it is still continuing, and that is the important thing.

I would talk to your surgeon and or nutritionist about these issues, they will be much more likely to have the real answers for your specifics.

kfalcon23

Thank you so much for replying! I don't have another appointment with my Dr and Nut until Oct 27th! When I try to call for advice, they bump me around so much that it is two full days before I can even leave a message for a return call - IF I get a return call. But you are right, I will be more persistent and try again!

Does your wife eat more, like I do? Is she hungry as well? I can battle the hunger and stick to the program, but some days are harder than others. As long as I am losing, I won't feel like a total failure, but would like to think that Im not broken...

dward59

Please never tell yourself you are broken or a failure. You have taken a huge step to help make yourself healthier. Positive thoughts will help as much as anything!

I can't say my wife is hungry all the time. In fact she says until the surgery she never felt full or satisfied without seriously overeating.

I urge you to check out this blog. The woman writing it knows about WLS and has come up with great recipes and suggestions.

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

As for your calories, even at 1000 calories, you should be far enough below normal levels to have consistent losses. There are a lot of folks on here that have lost slowly, but are losing. Look at the good side of slow losses, your skin will have the time to contract more as you lose. If I was inclined, I would say my one complaint is the loose skin I have, but I feel so much better that any complaining I would do would just be shallow.

Hang in there. You have to get used to your new body. It is a learning process we all go through. Best of luck, and yes, be persistent. That support system needs to be there for you!