Why do I keep doing this to myself!

D'oh!  I am 4 weeks post op and just started soft foods last week. I am so glad to actually EAT after 3 weeks of liquids. But I have overeaten at least 3 times in the past 8 days.  It's not like I'm gobbling bon bons. I can just be eating along, with my little 2 ounces of fish with a bite of softened cauliflower(to help get it down) and BOOM! I'm full. And by the time I get the cue (sharp pain in my left shoulder and neck) it's too late. I feel like I am solid fish from my stomach to the back of my throat. I dare not even move! 

Thankfully, it has so far passed within 30 minutes, except for when I ate a meatball. That one got stuck for 2 hours. Still, I guess 3 episodes over the course of 8 days, during which I've had at least 24 meals and 16 snacks, isn't too awfully bad. But it sure does make me hesitant to eat at the next meal or snack time.

I wonder if you have an earlier, more subtle cue, that you haven't noticed yet.  The cue that says finished but not full like the pain seems to be saying?  I hope you don't have to deal with pain at every meal but talk about negative reinforcement!  I always said I just needed an electric shock everytime I ate poorly.  

I found that I needed to weigh and measure everything for the first few months.  If I had more than the allotted amount on my plate, I was at risk of over-eating.  My sleeve was very tight due to swelling at first, so I could only eat 1 to 1.5 ounces at a meal for weeks.  I remember how wonderful it was when I could finally eat 2 ounces at about 8 weeks out.

I'd suggest putting less food on your plate, and experiment until you know how much you can eat at a meal without the pain.  Often people get more subtle symptoms when they over-eat like a runny nose, or hiccups.  Its unfortunate that you don't know until you have sharp pain. 

Best of luck,

Carol

How is your food intake now? 

True, just because it says on paper that you can eat 2 ounces, doesn't mean your stomach will agree.  Try cutting down to 1.5 or 1.75 ounces for a while.  

Wow!!!

That kind a scares me. I still have to get mine done "sleeve" what you said mustlovepoodles kinda scares me....but yes don't" eat till your full....go back a ways and stop before you feel full. I been doing lots of reading...no pro yet......just getting to be one...lol haha.

You drink 8 oz of water 30 min. before each meal.....they say not to drink while you eat. They sent me a book about 1/2" thick to read about everything and the different types of surgery. and of course I am doing the "sleeve".

Lot's & lot's of water in between meals also. 

I am no pro...take care

Oy~!  Why didn't I think of that?  I swear, I am my own worst enemy.  I have been trying so hard to get my protein in with just food, I think I completely lost my common sense.  OF COURSE I should eat less. Geez, Louise.  I have been really trying to get the food in and you're right, my stomach is just not ready for it.  I've been dutifully weighing and measuring my food and forcing it down.

Thanks for the reality check. I guess i got a little too excited about eating. I feel so good that I forget that my tiny tummy is only 4 weeks old. Good lord, if I tried to feed a toddler this way it would be a disaster!

I learned to eat slower. I use to eat SO fast! It would take me 30mins to eat a couple oz. Hang in there, it will get easier!

Thanks. I'm trying to do better. Honestly, I'm getting bored with my food. Things taste good, but I can only eat a mouthful or two.  Yesterday I made an egg salad that was delicious.  2 eggs, 2 TBS light mayo. I ate half and it was great. I started on the second half and suddenly realized I had gone "a bridge too far." Ugh. It was just  awful. I managed not to vomit but it was a miserable 2 hours for me. This morning DH made me an omelet of ONE eggbeater, 1/4c. diced ham and 1/2 slice of cheese which went down well and was exactly the right amount.

What I'm doing now is timing my meals by a clock. I take a small bite every 5 minutes and put the fork down in between. This has really helped slow me down. I think I have been so focused on getting the protein in by whatever means necessary, I lost sight of the real focus which is to retrain old habits.  I can eat very fast, a throwback to when I worked night shift at the hospital.  We never got to sit down for 30 min and eat a meal. We ate standing up and on the run, if we ate at all.  It's also a habit from childhood. I have 4 siblings and when dinner arrived you had better be at the table.  We could clean it off in 10 minutes.

The one thing that i am struggling with a little is getting my fluids in, which surprises me. I am a big water drinker. But trying to get all the water and protein drinks in around the meals and snacks is proving a daunting tas****ep water with me always and I sip, sip, sip. But I know I am barely making my 64 ounces.