Hungry after surgery

[Shana 3]

I had my sleeve done on 8/30/2010 and I am only a few days post-op and I am feeling hungry. Is this normal? I am on Clear liquids of course, but was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

I am not talking about "head hunger", but actual stomach growling hunger.

Thanks for all the help.

[Jane_J 117]

Hi Shana, this is probably misinterpreted hunger pangs, but in any event you will not get the benefit of hunger reduction until you get to the mushy/solid food stage when the restriction will cause you to feel full. So just bear with it till you get the OK to move to mushies.

Jane x

[maryatt 0]

I had my sleeve done on 8/30/2010 and I am only a few days post-op and I am feeling hungry. Is this normal? I am on Clear Liquids of course, but was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

I am not talking about "head hunger", but actual stomach growling hunger.

Thanks for all the help.

I am 7 months post surgery and just recently felt hunger pains - maybe it is a different feeling - After my surgery I did experience "different feeling" - Good Luck.

[Mi-Mi 0]

i had my surgery on aug. 5th so almost a month ago. i had head-hunger and wanted solid foods really bad before i started eating them but i wasn't *actually* hungry. but about 2 weeks afterward i started having actual empty stomach hunger. i don't know if it is normal or not, and i was under the impression that the fundus, which is the part that gets removed, was where grehlin (sp?) is produced... therefore i thought i would never feel hunger again. but i do! i get that empty feeling usually within 2 hours after i eat a meal (which at this point is usually about 4-10 small bites, depending on what i'm eating.) and something funny... my stomach noises are LOUD now! haha! it's pretty funny... i'm glad i'm not an uptight person who hangs around with uptight people or i would be embarrassed about a hundred times a day! haha!

[BJean 16]

I wonder if stomach acid is the culprit? Have you tried a little Mylanta - just half a teaspoonful helped me when I felt like curling up in a ball because my stomach hurt and I thought it was because I was hungry.

[maryatt 0]

i had my surgery on aug. 5th so almost a month ago. i had head-hunger and wanted solid foods really bad before i started eating them but i wasn't *actually* hungry. but about 2 weeks afterward i started having actual empty stomach hunger. i don't know if it is normal or not, and i was under the impression that the fundus, which is the part that gets removed, was where grehlin (sp?) is produced... therefore i thought i would never feel hunger again. but i do! i get that empty feeling usually within 2 hours after i eat a meal (which at this point is usually about 4-10 small bites, depending on what i'm eating.) and something funny... my stomach noises are LOUD now! haha! it's pretty funny... i'm glad i'm not an uptight person who hangs around with uptight people or i would be embarrassed about a hundred times a day! haha!

I think you may be right - the stomach acid may be what she is feeling. I haven't had stomach noise problems yet. I don't think it would bother me though.

[Mi-Mi 0]

I wonder if stomach acid is the culprit? Have you tried a little Mylanta - just half a teaspoonful helped me when I felt like curling up in a ball because my stomach hurt and I thought it was because I was hungry.

i have been told the gas is what i'm feeling.... but i don't think so because i do eat gas-x quite a bit. i just think i feel empty.... but no pain (unless i eat too fast or too much at a time.) i could be very very wrong though.

[Donna4545 13]

It took me 6 weeks post-op (just now) before hunger became adjusted and normal (for the sleeve anyway). Before that I would have trouble figuring out what was hunger and what was just rumbling. And I would get hungry while I was eating (weird!). At 4 weeks, I got really hungry a lot, like my body was giving its last struggle to get my attention. After that, it cleared up. That said, everybody is different.

[Krista2653 5]

I had my surgery on 08-27-10 and I was STARVING up until today!!!! Now I'm just moderately hungry on these darn liquids.< /p>

I also thought it was head hunger, but this is that empty, nauseating, true hunger feeling that I felt pre-op when I went many hours without eating.

I think the acid has a lot to do with my hunger feeling. Your body is still producing enough acid for the larger stomach and volume that you are used to consuming. I think my Nexium is kicking in and helping out because yesterday I actually cheated with a few bites of refried Beans that I chewed and played with in my mouth until it was next to nothing before I swallowed and it did make me feel better - I couldn't help it...I was THAT hungry. I read where someone started taking their PPI 2x a day instead of 1 and it really helped them out a lot.

I know how you feel - it is miserable! I hope you find some relief soon!!

[Robbiehage 1]

I came out of surgery starving and it continued for probably 4 months (maybe acid, never did take anything for it). It is better now (5 1/2 months out) but I do experience real hunger, I have learned to ignore it (if it is not time to eat) and it goes away. I also had a period of time where I had VERY loud stomach sounds which was amusing. Not sure what it is about my sleeve that allows me to ignore hunger because I was NEVER able to do that before. This surgery has been an incredible blessing to me.

[CraftyChristie 62]

No offense to those with these answers, but it is NOT ACID!! lol.... Everyone told me the same thing. Sorry but it's not acid and it's not head hunger - it's true physical hunger! I Was STARVING the first two weeks!!!!!!!! Once I got on soft foods it got better, and over time it went away a lot more and now I get hungry every 2-3 hours when I'm supposed to eat (sometimes I don't get hungry but I usually do.) One person told me that it takes different amounts of time for each person to get rid of the hunger hormone and I think that is part of it. I still had a strong hunger hormone and was putting nothing but liquids in, so therefore I was hungry. It does go away with time though!!

[Robbiehage 1]

You look great Christie!

[Shana 3]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the input. I take Prilosec daily as I was doing before the surgery. The reason I had to have the band to sleeve revision was because of the reflux that I had.

I just got home from the hospital today and had a Protein shake and thought that would help, but it didn't. I am just hoping it gets better over time.

[BJean 16]

Shana, I've been wondering how you're doing? It's been almost a week and I hope things have improved for you. Does your doctor believe in keeping you on liquids for a long time or are you already into more substantial foods? I kind of think that people who stay on liquids for weeks after surgery really have a hard time because of the boredom and hunger.

[Shana 3]

BJean, thanks for thinking of me. I am doing quite well. I even cleaned house yesterday and made lunch for my family today after church.

The hunger is getting better. I am still on liquids. My doctor wants me on them until I see him again which is not until Sept 17th. I have not always been a very good rule follower so I have had some of the "whipped" yogurt and that seems to kind of fill the hole. I am drinking the Protein drinks to make sure that I get all of my Protein in but I shake it up a bit by putting fruit in the blender with it.

A friend of mine that had the sleeve a year ago gave me a receipe for refried bean Soup from Weight Watchers that I tried today and was pretty good. Jello and Protein shakes do get old really fast.

I will make it through I am sure, but I am ready to just be "normal" again and be able to eat at the table with my family.