Having trouble identifying stomach feelings

[Hibbitson]

Has anyone else had a hard time determining whether you are feeling full or if it is an empty feeling?
Absolutely no hunger but I can't get a handle on whether having 2 tsps is feeling any different than 6 tsps or even none?
Any thoughts would be appreciated .
Thanks
Heather

[Shirleybird]

Hi Heather. I have a lot of trouble wondering if I am full or not. First, I have to eat protein . That will make me full . If I eat just anything I want more and more and never feel full even with things like" stick to your bones "oatmeal. Second, if I am the least bit tired my hunger hormones don't know I am full and I eat and eat. Third, and probably not final; I eat when I am stressed and I don't feel full. All I have to say is keep trying. Old habits die hard and I for one won't give up, but I also don't beat my self up about it . These are old issues and patterns and when the time is right I will win this battle and win the war. Best of luck and don't give up. Every day is a new day. Sincerely, Shirley

[3bandds]

Good question, no i don't know when i am full except a couple of times (first time i had some solid food like tuna) and a couple of times i ate too fast and food got stuck in my throat area. i didn't feel full but felt very uncomfortable. i have to take smaller bites and chew, chew, chew. For the most part i don't feel hungry- although i can get light headed. the most "satisfied" i feel is when i've had some protein shake- which i drink mid morning and late afternoon-ish.

[woodi618]

I am 33 days post op. I have a sense that I am full, but can't tell until about 5 minutes after I stop eating. If I stopped on time I have no problem, if I eat to much I keep burbing up food for an hour or more. I can eat about 4 or 5 ounces of chili, soup, or cottage cheese, but about 2 or 3 ounces of tuna, canned chicken, or 1 scrambled egg. My surgeons medical assistant said that the sleeve is like funnel, liquids and soups flow thru quickly making it easy to digest, but denser foods stay in the sleeve longer and you fill up faster. I am getting better at only serving my self what I know I can hold.

[InChristsHands]

I am 5 1/2 weeks out and still don't know when I am full or hungry. I feel like heartburn alot of the time. I have found when my tummy gurggles I need food. and when the heartburn is worse I am full. Don't know if this is right but just still learning it all.

[CindyLouWho]

It's definitely a learning process. I have a hard time determining full from stuck from gassy. I've thrown up a couple times from either eating too fast or the food was too dense, dry, etc. I am afraid to eat too much and so worried about stretching my pouch, but yet don't want to not eat enough, either. I guess it's all just trial and error till you get used to how your own sleeve works.

[Bella_]

My kids can now tell when it's ok to start stealing my food. Apparently I sit up straight when I am full and start to arch my back to make the food settle!

The feeling I was getting is like having a heavy stone swelling in your upper chest. At 60 days out, I'm getting better at realising it more quickly so I don't get to discomfort stage. I rarely get the stone feeling anymore.

[Dyson]

I'm almost four months out and still don't quite have this down, I know it was much harder in the beginning, I think as your stomach heals you have more sense of when you are full.

[tinman]

Ok...here is a gray area where the sleeve is concerned...full or not full?

I have a fool proof method that works for me. Some may find this useful.

When you take your first bite, see if you can feel the food going into your sleeve. If I am eating slowly, I can feel that first bite as it gets to the bottom.

It usually lands with a thud. I call it the "Ker Plop". When I feel the ker plop, I put my fork down. I mean even if I am in the middle of putting the fork or spoon in my mouth. I know from personal experience that what I have eaten since the first bite is going to be sufficient to make me not hungry.

It usually takes about 5 minutes after the ker plop to get everything completely in my sleeve. And yes, I feel full every single time. 100%.

Some folks have mentioned that they get a runny nose. I too get that sensation, but not every time. I'd say probably 75% of the time. But, it is also a good barometer for me from time to time to make sure the old "Ker Plop" is still working correctly.

Now...here's the dirty little secret. Once you have dialed in on what your "full" trigger is, you can eat what you want, when you want, and prepared any way you want. Why? Because you will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever overeat again. It's impossible to gain weight on with the sleeve if you keep from over eating.

Impossible.

[Varden's Lady]

I have never been able to feel anything going into my sleeve. But, I do feel full. I measure everything to keep me from overeating and getting that uncomfortable feeling. The hardest part for me is stopping when the stomach needs me to, because usually the head isn't quite ready yet.

[JustWantToBeHealthyAgain]

I didn't really understand "feeling full" truly until I got to the pureed part and began to eat protein. Now I "get" it. For me, I definitely feel it. I feel like I can feel the food in my stomach now. I don't really get hungry anymore so for me being full is going from a "I know I should eat and I feel like I could eat" to feeling like "eh, my stomach feels good, I don't want anymore".

It definitely takes time to get used to. Give yourself that time.

[Hibbitson]

Thanks to all, good info and very helpful.
Appreciate your thoughts immensely.
Heather

[StacyD]

Im not at the food stage yet but I can tell ya if I accidentally over sip my water - I get a vice grip that tells me SLOW THE HELL DOWN! lol Im gonna have to remember the ker plunk lol I'll be curious what mine will be. I have quite a few phases to go through before that all happens.

[Aquajog]

I do not know what I feel .just starting puréed .day 3 .. I mew sun my whole 1 and a half oz in a glass container by volume not weight. If I finish it ,I finish it.. It I burp I stop...