Appetite Satiety: Normal to feel full after a small amount of food?

Posted by pjebp @pjebp, Oct 29, 2021

So... Is it typical after LAR with anastomosis and temporary ileostomy to feel really full after eating only just a small amount of food? I had surgery 3.5 weeks ago, and I've been eating smaller meals more frequently. But I noticed I get full so quickly from pretty small amounts. Just wondering if this is typical after surgery and if so how long does it last and what causes it? Thank you.

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I'm hoping that @shilo @annejacobsen @kathleenweidmann and @dancing1 may have some experiences to share with you, @pjebp

PJ, Three and half weeks is not a long time. I'm sure your eating habits will adjust over time. How did the surgery go? How long will you have the ileostomy? Are there foods you need to avoid?

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The best place to get information on what to eat after surgery is UOAA website. They have foods you may eat and more on how much water you need to drink! All wonderful trusted information. Go to UOAA.org Hope this helps. I would be glad to pass on any information you need!

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4 weeks after colon surgery and upper abdominal pain like acidic. That normal?

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@kui2

4 weeks after colon surgery and upper abdominal pain like acidic. That normal?

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Welcome, @kui2. It's hard to pinpoint normal for every person. Four weeks post surgery your digestive system is still getting used to things. You may wish to share your experience in this discussion:
- Problems 3 months after colon resection surgery: Help https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/three-months-after-colon-surgery/

Have you talked to your surgeon or symptom management nurse about the pain you're experiencing?

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I had a perforated bowel and then a reversal one year ago this month. I've lost weight (yay!), but I have serious problems with feeling full quickly (I eat very slow, always have) and with constipation. (pretty much all my life but now scares me to death due to what happened. I'm about to go crazy, I eat my fruits, vegetables, proteins, and liquids (coffee am, vitamin water, once or twice a week Pepsi, which takes me all day to drink) I don't know what else to do.

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@dancing1

The best place to get information on what to eat after surgery is UOAA website. They have foods you may eat and more on how much water you need to drink! All wonderful trusted information. Go to UOAA.org Hope this helps. I would be glad to pass on any information you need!

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Dancing 1
Thank you for posting the website. Surgeons never seem to tell you exactly what you are able to eat after surgery. They just say low fiber and then they say to up as tolerated. Very frustrating. I will definitely check out this site.

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@sickmommy20

I had a perforated bowel and then a reversal one year ago this month. I've lost weight (yay!), but I have serious problems with feeling full quickly (I eat very slow, always have) and with constipation. (pretty much all my life but now scares me to death due to what happened. I'm about to go crazy, I eat my fruits, vegetables, proteins, and liquids (coffee am, vitamin water, once or twice a week Pepsi, which takes me all day to drink) I don't know what else to do.

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Hello @sickmommy20 and welcome to Connect. It sounds like you have had a lot of health issues in the past couple of years. You mentioned having a perforated bowel and then a reversal. Do you know the cause of the perforated bowel?

Most of us who have had surgeries on the digestive tract have problems eating (and often problems with constipation) after we recover from surgery. It sounds like you are working on a plan with small meals and that is good.

Have you consulted with a registered dietician at the hospital where you had your surgery? I've had three surgeries on the upper digestive tract and I also have to eat small, frequent meals. My doctor gave me a referral to a registered dietician and she offered some great suggestions on types of foods to eat and the timing of meals.

Would you consider calling for a referral to a dietician?

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No I don’t know what caused the perforated bowel. It was a normal normal morning, I’d been up for several hours and went to the bathroom and when I stood up I was immediately dizzy horrible pain on my right side, nauseated, shaky and sweating profusely. My husband was about to go to work and came in and knew something was wrong. I lost consciousness before I made it to the ambulance. I came to almost two months later in the ICU. Very close to not making it. My insurance doesn’t cover dietitians so I’ve not seen one. I just kinda stumble my way along. Proteins fruits vegetables etc. thank you for your reply. We’re seniors and things are tight right now.

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