Hunger after surgery

Hi guys! I just had surgery about 5 days ago. I'm starting to worry though cause I'm not getting full the way I thought I would. Is it me or am I alone in this feeling? I'm trying so hard to "eat right" But in all honesty I have no idea what I'm doing! Do I eat until I'm full? Measure everything?? Please any help from you guys is appreciated ?

don't eat until you're full!!! Your nerves have been severed. Measure according to the directions you have received from your doctor and don't eat any more than that. In fact, don't even eat that much, if you get full. Are you on liquids? At 5 days out, I could barely get in anything. Don't overdo it.

• Mmsmom thanks! I never even thought about that! Should I still be on liquids only? The nutritionist told me I could eat foods that we're purred like cottage cheese and cream of chicken soup. Some consistency. I've not had any problems with keeping things down. I hope that's a good sign. I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track.

Right now, the nerves in your stomach have been cut. You will not feel any sort of "full" sensation until that's all healed up, which could take a month or more.

Has your doctor provided you with a post-op eating plan? Most folks transition from an all-liquid diet back to normal food over the course of 4 - 6 weeks under their surgeon's guidance.

• Thanks Julie. The nerves thing! Didn't even realize it! The Drs did give me a plan but I guess I'm just overwhelmed. Between trying to get in 60 grams of protein and 64 oz of water it's a lot. Any suggestions on getting in the protein? I've had cottage cheese and pureed foods, but should I just stick to protein shakes?

Protein shakes are good, but I know I felt a lot better when I got as much protein as possible from "real" food. (At least, as "real" as purees can get!)

One thing that helped me was to add unflavored protein powder to things like soup, yogurt, and cottage cheese. It helped break up the monotony of protein shakes, which I always thought were pretty gross.

Make sure you keep a water bottle with you at all times, you'll basically want to sip on it any time you're not eating (or waiting 30 minutes after you eat). If the volume is overwhelming, you can get 3oz paper bathroom cups and sip from those instead; I found it a lot easier to mentally tackle a bunch of small cups.

You can do it!!

Try Isopure protein water. It was my saving grace post op

Stick with shakes for protein, work in a little food when you hit your goal. Protein and water are your new besties right now. Measure it out, don't have to do it forever. But right now better to be safe. Probably be a while till stomach and brain are on the same page again.

Hang in there

measure, measure, measure and try to get your 3-4 ounces of water in an hour. I actually had some little medicine cups that I lined up on my desk and filled them every hour until it became a habit to make certain I drank enough! Now, I have a 20 oz thermos-type drink cup that I make certain I fill three times a day and it takes me to the 64 oz limit (I usually have at least 1 protein shake 4 oz serving a day).