8 days from surgery date, and can't stop thinking about food!

I am scheduled to have my sleeve 2/22 and I am thinking about food on a full time basis.  Last night I dreamed about pancakes with syrup and I haven't eaten a pancake in 20+ years.  I am sticking to my pre op doctor prescribed diets and have lost 4 additional pounds since my visit on Tuesday, so I'm not eating it, just obsessing about. Is this normal?

It is normal but you're going to want to make lifestyle changes so that food is not an obsession and taking up a lot of your time thinking about it. For some practical tips on how I've found peace around food - see my post on the next page about losing the regain or send me a PM and I'll be happy to chat with you about it. 

Once you have the sleeve, it will help reduce food obsession but will not eliminate it. I think it's pretty normal to obsess about food when you're on pre-op liquids/diet and don't yet have a sleeve to help you. If, after you heal from the surgery, you find you're still obsessing, then it's probably time to get therapy/OA/support group kind of help. Good luck with your surgery.

psychoticparrot

Seems normal.  You might want to add a therapist to your team if you haven't already.  

Five years out, and I think about food all the time, just in a different way - tracking it, meal planning and the grocery shopping I need to do to support my food plan, etc.  I peruse recipes all the time, and I get emails and FB feeds about low-carb options and ideas, I'm constantly cooking (it seems) so I have what I need on hand, etc etc. 

That said, my mind often romances sugar.  (Never did dream about food, that I remember, but I think it's pretty normal when pre-ops do.)  There are all kinds of stimuli out there in the world that trigger these thoughts.  But as I stated in a previous post, they aren't nearly as compelling and actionable as they used to be before surgery.  Now they're just random, idle thoughts.  I can't seem to rid myself of them, but they don't bother me.  Sorta like day-dreaming about being a billionaire.  Not much chance of that happening, but I still think about it.

I was in therapy with a specialist in eating disorders for almost a year until I decided to once again pursue WLS. For three months, I followed the nutritionist's suggested program, losing 35 lbs, it seemed almost effortlessly. I was then recommended for surgery, and I got my date, which was only one week away. 

I immediately was craving McDonalds, Chinese food, toast, potatoes... You name it, I wanted it. And the dreams... Yup, same thing. Happily my next therapy appointment was only a couple days away, and I didn't go off program. 

After surgery, every time I get moved to the next level of eating, I go through the same crazy thoughts. I work with my therapist, and it passes. I expect I'll be working with her for a long time in the future!

Sometimes I feel sad and nostalgic for the food I used to eat, but I've found new joys since. I'm down almost 80 lbs altogether (so far!), and I feel better than I have in years. That is so worth the loss of my old friend, binging, *****ally wasn't my friend at all, really. 

Getting therapy, then the sleeve, were the best things I ever did for myself. If you are not working with someone, I highly recommend it. 

So, short answer to your question, totally normal, yes! :)

Sheryl

I honestly did the same thing during my preop liquid diet. The whole 4wks I had vivid dreams about food. I promise it will pass after surgery. 

Thank you everyone! I have been working with a therapist and have been able to stay on track.  Every time I actually get to the point of thinking about eating one of the foods I'm obsessing about, I think  about al I had to do to get here and how easy it is to slip back and I do not want that.

I still think about food all the time and I still very much enjoy it! That may or may not change for you. I would work with your NUT and Psych if you have one. I just have limitations and I'm strong willed so for the most part I don't give into the food I think about!