Does it get better??

[Tinap2323]

I'm only 4 weeks out. I know i've heard everyone say it does get better. On August 6th i start the "soft food" stage which im super excited about. My uncle who got the surgery same exact day as me (different doctor) has absolutely no restriction and is eating everything. I know everyone's body is different and everyone heals differently but this just feels like i'm never going to eat normal again. I know i will never eat normal again, I mean the "new normal". I eat morsel's of food now and feel constant gurgling and burping whenever i put anything in my mouth. When i eat, i'll have very little and then a half hour/hour later i will be hungry again, i feel like a sickly feeling like im hungry.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated!

Tina

[denzel]

Everything about your journey sounds normal.
That "i feel like a sickly feeling like im hungry." could be due to acidity - does your Dr have you on medication e.g. a proton pump inhibitor?
And yes! Things do improve!

Your Uncle. Now, I have no idea why he is not following the guidelines. It's like he's out to self-sabotage.

[Christie13]

I was cleared for soft foods at 2 weeks and regular foods at 4 weeks post op. Hang in there. It will get so much easier and more "normal". Just keep following the rules. I will be 2 years out in November and I can eat what I want. I have no issues in social situations. I drink occasionally. Life is pretty normal.

[tbird]

It took me 1.5 months or so before I felt I could eat normal food again. Plus I switched from Prilosec to Pepcid Complete which really helped with the gerd I was suffering from. And there's nothing wrong with eating a lot of small portions. Just log everything into myfitnesspal.com, or similar. The tracking really helps.

[Tinap2323]

Thank you so much for your replies! I am on an antacid, forgot what it called but I take it everyday. I called my nutritionist yesterday because tomorrow is my sisters birthday and I am going to dinner. I asked her if i could have salmon (and cut into tiny pieces) and she said no. Is that really a big deal??

[tbird]

Thank you so much for your replies! I am on an antacid, forgot what it called but I take it everyday. I called my nutritionist yesterday because tomorrow is my sisters birthday and I am going to dinner. I asked her if i could have salmon (and cut into tiny pieces) and she said no. Is that really a big deal??

Based on your first post "I eat morsel's of food now and feel constant gurgling and burping whenever i put anything in my mouth." I would still wait. Plus you should know which antacid you're on and if the "gurgling and burping" continues you should try a different one or up the dose. When I switched to Pepcid Complete I took it twice a day. Now I do it once a day.

Also you have told us know much you have lost so far...

[The North Sleeve]

Try not to worry about what your uncle is doing and keep to your plan. It is rough when you can't eat right away, and it only lasts for a little while. Just think ahead to when you start shedding the pounds and how great you will feel. Remember the old saying "no pain no gain" you will have to put up with a little at first but once you are losing and get back to a more normal routine you will be extremely happy. Best of luck!!

[Tinap2323]

I lost a total of 24 pounds so far. I am on omeprazole that I take once daily. Today i start the soft food diet which is exciting!

[Vida]

Tina try to be patient,You will learn a whole new life. at 4 years out I still struggle and find myself going back to basics..... Good luck

[AnnieStillG]

If you're gurgling, I agree you should keep moving slowly. And truly, you have your whole life to eat other types of food. Let your stomach heal fully.

[tbird]

I lost a total of 24 pounds so far. I am on omeprazole that I take once daily. Today i start the soft food diet which is exciting!

You're doing great. Just stick with the plan, the hardest part is almost over.

[KiwiGal]

It certainly does get better. Please stick to your surgeons/nutritionists instructions. They are the experts here and they really do know what they are talking about.

[sraebaer]

Of course it gets better!

Here is my doctor's diet progression if you're interested.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

Looks like I was cleared for fish 3 weeks after surgery.

[jessiejess]

I was not cleared for regular food until 7 weeks out. There is a reason they progress you slowly back to real food. The biggest concern right now is not damaging your staples. Eating foods not in your phase for healing is not something I would suggest you do at all. Yes, it's hard at first. Most people have buyer's remorse at first because we feel like "What have I done? Will I feel like this for the rest of my life? Do I ever get to be normal ever again?". The answer is no, you will not feel like this for the rest of your life and yes you will be normal again. Your normal will just be a new normal to you. It will be the sleeved life's version of normal. I had buyer's remorse, mourned real food, got sick of what I had to eat and bored with things but that all passed as I progressed. It's all part of the lifestyle change. This too shall pass. Just stick with the phases of eating because they are designed around healing your staples. Do not deviate from them. This is not a race so just take your time. And most of all, don't compare your journey to others. Everyone is different. You can skip a lot of heartbreak by remembering this.

Take care and take your time. You'll get there. Good luck!

[GlennA18]

I had surgery on Aug 14th. I was cleared yesterday for FULL activity. I mean - full. I can lift weights, run, no diet restrictions at all.

I want to lose 10 more pounds before I take up running so my knees don't hurt. I plan to weight a week or two before I start lifting. And I'm going to slowly introduce more foods to my diet.

I was actually shocked my surgeon cleared me so quickly. It definitely gets better, although everyone is definitely different and shouldn't rush what their doctors tell them.