A little worried!

OK gang. I'm six weeks out from surgery. Eatting soft foods with surgeons permission. Eatting good stuff and mostly good at correct proportions. However, and here is the concern, I never feel full or even satisfied. While I have not tested this further, I know at times I have eatten more then my four tablespoons of food, and I feel nothing. Today when I was driving and drinking my water, I accidently took a long gulp. I realized what I did and prepared for something to happen. Nothing. I once read where a WLS patient was worried that his surgeon had performed a placebo surgery on him since he did not have any consequences when he overate. While I know my surgery was real, I don't understand what is happening. I was planning on the "dumping" to help keep me in line. Now I am afraid that when my hunger comes back, I am not going to have that reenforcement of pain and agony to keep me from sweets, heavy fat and overeatting.  

Michael, I have also found that I can eat 4 tablespoons of soft stuff and not feel sick. However, when I ate 3 tablespoons of steak I came within 1 burp of throwing up. I suspect that the soft stuff just goes down fairly quickly, and that you are (wisely) not pushing the envelope of Dr. Anez's orders. BTW, I don't eat steak anymore. One day you or I may face the consequences of eating the wrong stuff or overeating. Let me know so I can learn from your experience.  :-) Joe

Joe- I just responded to Michael....but I just wanted to let you know not to give up steak after just one try. Some things you'll do well with one day, and miserable the next.  It's trial and error for the first few months.  I say that because I had a hard time with eggs early out but love them now. Of course, rice is still not my friend and may never make it back on my plate. And don't get  me started on American Cheese slices....

No American Cheese????   Im a cheese-a-holic.   Im a bit concerned over the way your taste buds change, but it's no different I guess from when I started eating better I became so sugar sensative or actually craged brocolli. Go figure

Oh trust me I'm a major cheese-a-holic...I just don't tolerate processed American Cheese slices. I do fine with all the other types of cheeses I've tried. That's a major go figure! 

Well I am experiencing the same thing especially with the water I can basically drink as much as I want and nothing happens. I was starting to wonder if i was the only one. I am not on soft foods yet just puree and I definately have not felt full or satisfied yet. Maybe when the nerve sensations come back.  Glad I am not the only one. Cheris

Cheris- I think you hit on another good point....you're still healing! :-) You may want to read my response to Michael.... It'll get better, promise!

It will only take one "test" to help you realize that the surgery is real and that you DO NOT want to do that test again.   I would advise against testing...just trust that your surgery is real and there will be consequences for getting "out of line." The soft foods do go down a bit easier and faster. I was told to think of our new tummies like a funnel....some things go through fast, others a bit slower and some, well...they take a long time (solid lean protein...like Joe's steak).  Also, keep in mind that as time passes you will be able to drink more, eat more, etc. Right now your learning to use your tool and develop the habits that eventually, will really come down to just you. We're given a headstart, but we also must learn to self-regulate and practice self-discipline.  You're all doing fine, I'm sure. Just hang in there....and NO TESTING the limits!!   Trust me...you do have them and when you find them you'll know it.  

Eating soft foods probably won't satisfy you entirely as you are now getting ready to progress to more denser proteins. Once you are eating more dense proteins you will feel more satisfied, I promise.  You will be able to drink more than just a sip of water by now and in a short while can have a decent amount in one go. All of this is normal as you are progressing as they would expect you to. Once you are eating chicken, eggs, steak etc with proper vegetables you will start to feel full faily quickly. Just make sure you follow the rules and don't drink with meals etc.. It is good that you are so concerned.that shows you are thinking about it and trying to be prepared! To this day I am still afraid of dumping and it keeps me on the straight and narrow... Jackie

So Christina and Jackie both pretty much hit on it.  You are still healing.  The nerves in your stomach were cut and it will take awhile for them to be fully functional again.  That is part of the reason they put us on soft/pureed foods that are measured out so that we don't over stuff our pouches.  And the soft/pureed foods go down a lot easier and go through the funnel easier so they don't leave a lasting satisfied feeling.  Once you are able to progress to denser foods you will start feeling it. One thing to remember too is that the full/satisfied feeling may feel different than it used to.  When you start to transition listen to your body carefully to understand its signals.  Some people hiccup, burp, or sneeze when they are full and they know not to even try one more bite after that.  I feel the fullness in the middle of my abdomen right under my breast bone and sometimes I will burp, I know not to go farther or I will feel horrible.  As you start to try new foods, remember like Christina said that even though some things might not work in the beginning, wait a few weeks and try it again, you may have to keep doing it.  Another thing is to try it a different way.  For instance I have found with steak that the better the cut of meat, along with having it cooked a little bit rarer helps it go down a whole lot easier.  This is a learning process, proceed with caution so that you are less likely to dump.