Afraid I'm hungry

[LowCho 1]

I am glad that other people are struggling like me. I am 7 weeks postop and am eating solid food. I started getting hunger pangs about week 3. My doc told me that solid food would help. We moved my diet from puree to soft and for a limited time frame, it did help. Then my hunger pangs started becoming constant and severe. Even when full or even nauseous, I was constantly stomach-gnawing hungry. We changed my PPI to twice daily and I did get some relief. With solid food and the extra PPI, I'm no longer constantly facing severe hunger pangs; however, they are moderate and irritating. I do get relief after eating but only for about an hour. I spoke with my doc again this week and we're going from three meals daily to six small meals to see if we can get this under control. I gotta say that I'm getting a little down because I'm not seeing much progress. liquids, milk, and Protein shakes do nothing to ease the hunger, I have to physically eat something. I'm supposed to go back to work soon and I don't know how I'm going to find time to eat something every two hours <sigh>.

While I really like the restriction my sleeve provides, I'm hungry an hour later. After solid food and twice daily PPI's, what's left? Anyone found anything else to help? My hunger pangs are worse now than I ever was pre-op.

[sleevesearch 14]

I am glad that other people are struggling like me. I am 7 weeks postop and am eating solid food. I started getting hunger pangs about week 3. My doc told me that solid food would help. We moved my diet from puree to soft and for a limited time frame, it did help. Then my hunger pangs started becoming constant and severe. Even when full or even nauseous, I was constantly stomach-gnawing hungry. We changed my PPI to twice daily and I did get some relief. With solid food and the extra PPI, I'm no longer constantly facing severe hunger pangs; however, they are moderate and irritating. I do get relief after eating but only for about an hour. I spoke with my doc again this week and we're going from three meals daily to six small meals to see if we can get this under control. I gotta say that I'm getting a little down because I'm not seeing much progress. liquids, milk, and Protein shakes do nothing to ease the hunger, I have to physically eat something. I'm supposed to go back to work soon and I don't know how I'm going to find time to eat something every two hours <sigh>.

While I really like the restriction my sleeve provides, I'm hungry an hour later. After solid food and twice daily PPI's, what's left? Anyone found anything else to help? My hunger pangs are worse now than I ever was pre-op.

LowCho,

OMG! I couldn't have stated it better, I feel the exact same way as you!. I have also change my PPI twice, I've tried nexuim, prevacid and now I'm on protonix. I am averaging 1000-1100 cals per day, and am at a stall for the past month. It is all so discouraging when you actually feel the hunger in the belly the majority of the day.

My PCP is not too helpful as she is not all that familiar with VSG and after affects, and the fact that I complain about hunger (they probably think I'm a whack job), saying its acid. I too don't know where to go from here, I am going to write my surgeon to see if he has any stats on this issue (since he's done so many procedures)

Any veterans out there that experienced this, does it just eventually go away on its own? My mental state, thinking I'm going to have to live with this feeling for the rest of my life, has got me really down.

I have been hungry my whole life so I know what you mean. I am not sleeved yet but I have a couple thoughts about your hunger. First, have you had blood chemistries lately? Sometimes the body needs something and makes us crave food. Secondly, (and this is disheartening) I am sure you know that it's better to make your hunger go away with vegetables than with sweets and other high-calorie goop. Does exercise make you less hungry? It does with some people. You have lost 28 lbs and can do the rest, I know you can.

Foxbins,

Thanks for the encouragement, I did just get my 3 month labs, and all was perfect, except B12 was too high, so I stopped taking that supplement. I am eating a balanced diet, 60-80gr Protein per day, and exercise actually makes me hungry. I am challenged daily to get in my Water, but I keep drinking all day long. I am probably not exercising enough, and am going to join my local gym next week. I want to be able to mix up the exercise and not get in a rut doing the same exact thing all the time.

So I guess time will tell...we all just cope the best we can each day, right?

[meangene 1]

sleevesearch and LowCho, I am in the same boat as you two. Changed my PPI, changed the frequency, and to no avail. At my 3 month post-op visit with a NP, she spoke with my surgeon and he said as long as I continue to lose weight, I should add some carbs and fat. She spoke with a NUT and the NUT confirmed what the surgeon said. The thought of adding that back to my diet freaks me out, but when I do eat items that have higher carbs and fat, the fullness feels longer than an hour. For the record, I get my Protein in daily as well as my liquids and Vitamins.

I've been stalled for several weeks now and since I saw the NP, and have eaten less healthy foods, I've dropped four pounds. Go figure. My wife, who was sleeved 2.5 weeks before me, is never hungry. I couldn't be more jealous of that. The starving feeling that I have all the time sucks.

[LowCho 1]

WOW ~ I really hope that some veteran sleever has been through this and can chime in. This past weekend, my hubby and I went to Yosemite to relax. Did a little bit of walking, but I was ravenous all weekend. Ate something small every hour or two but was still hungry all day. When I got back to the hotel, I typed it all in and I had 1250 calories <SHOCK>.

Before surgery, I was on a ketogenic diet that was pretty high fat so I'm not afraid of fat. My stats on the 1250 calorie day was 73g fat, 46g carbs, and 93g Protein ... I guess adding fats or carbs wouldn't really help <GRIN>.

My surgeon has not done sleeves for more than a few years so I'm not getting any answers at my Center of Excellence.

I look forward to hearing suggestions from anyone that's been through this. If I learn any new information, I will come back to post for the benefit of the group :-)

Happy Holidays!

[LowCho 1]

I may have some information that might be helpful to those like me with hunger pangs that won't resolve. I bought a book about the gastric sleeve, recently, so I decided to send the author an email. I was stunned to see him respond to me in only a matter of minutes. I asked him if I could share the information and he heartily agreed ... Here is the reply that he sent to me regarding my specific situation ...

... I've see this situation multiple times so don't think this is only you. They way to deal with is to do 5 or 6 small meals a day and add Gaviscon chewable tablets to your Protonix as you are taking it right now. What seems to happen is that there is a "rebound" of acid production once the sleeve is done. This will get normal but after some months so be patient. I hope this helps and let me know how this goes. I wish you the best on this 2011. Congratulations on your Sleeve. Have patience.

On my way to the drugstore with my fingers crossed

[sleevesearch 14]

I may have some information that might be helpful to those like me with hunger pangs that won't resolve. I bought a book about the gastric sleeve, recently, so I decided to send the author an email. I was stunned to see him respond to me in only a matter of minutes. I asked him if I could share the information and he heartily agreed ... Here is the reply that he sent to me regarding my specific situation ...

... I've see this situation multiple times so don't think this is only you. They way to deal with is to do 5 or 6 small meals a day and add Gaviscon chewable tablets to your Protonix as you are taking it right now. What seems to happen is that there is a "rebound" of acid production once the sleeve is done. This will get normal but after some months so be patient. I hope this helps and let me know how this goes. I wish you the best on this 2011. Congratulations on your Sleeve. Have patience.

On my way to the drugstore with my fingers crossed

LowCHO

http://www.lowCHO.com

VSG 11/02/10

First 20 lb. loss was pre-op

This is great information, thanks LowCHO! I'm going to post it in my 'Hungry Sleevers' thread as well, for future reference

[LowCho 1]

I hope this information will be helpful for you. I tried one Gaviscon and it took the edge off my hunger for about 1/2 hour. The bottle says you can take 2-4 tablets up to 4 times per day so I've got some testing to do. I see some real potential here :-)

[Wildorchids 7]

What's the name of book?

[twoboysandagirl 109]

Would love to know the name of the book and author. Thanks for sharing what you have learned.

I may have some information that might be helpful to those like me with hunger pangs that won't resolve. I bought a book about the gastric sleeve, recently, so I decided to send the author an email. I was stunned to see him respond to me in only a matter of minutes. I asked him if I could share the information and he heartily agreed ... Here is the reply that he sent to me regarding my specific situation ...

... I've see this situation multiple times so don't think this is only you. They way to deal with is to do 5 or 6 small meals a day and add Gaviscon chewable tablets to your Protonix as you are taking it right now. What seems to happen is that there is a "rebound" of acid production once the sleeve is done. This will get normal but after some months so be patient. I hope this helps and let me know how this goes. I wish you the best on this 2011. Congratulations on your Sleeve. Have patience.

On my way to the drugstore with my fingers crossed

[Leesey 21]

been dealing with this as well. I keep 3/4 ounce pieces of cheese and 3.5 ounce yogurt. combined this is 120 calories i eat these when i feel the hunger pain and i eat every 2 to 3 hours. the weigt is peeling off. i have lost 58 pounds in 3 weeks time.

[LowCho 1]

The VSG book is Successful Weight Loss With the Gastric Sleeve by Guillermo Alvarez, MD. It is available at http://www.thegastricsleeve.com ... BTW, I cannot say enough positive things about this guy. I am not his patient, just a complete stranger and he answered my email with very specific questions in a matter of minutes. I bought the Gaviscon and it is working, so far. Within a few minutes of my first dose, it took the edge off my hunger pangs. The rest of the day has been heaven as my sleeve has finally settled down and is giving me some peace.

[janinemaire 7]

LowCho I was wondering if Gaviscon is still working for you? Has it helped you with hunger? Has anybody else tried it? I was sleeved 11/1 and am basically doing okay (38 pounds total) but I also get hungry, some days I'm a little hungry and some days like today I'm starving. And it worries me, I just want to loss the weight and stay in control. I usually eat around 800 calories but today I'm up to 1000. I also have been eating sweets lately which I'm getting rid of all christmas candy today.

Also since I'm not getting a response from my nut how many carbs should we be eating? She keeps telling me not to worry about carbs because your really not eating them anyways.

Sorry for all the question I'm making myself crazy.

Thank you for your help

Janine

okay just one more question, does drinking enough Water really make a difference because I barely drink 32 oz?

[LowCho 1]

The gaviscon is still working for me most of the time. Sometimes, my hunger pangs go away altogether but most of the time it just takes the edge off and takes it down to a tolerable level. It's my opinion that carbs have to be controlled during the weight loss phase. My surgeon recommends 40 carbs or less during weight loss. After weight loss, then carbs can increase for maintenance. I also believe that fluids are important ... you really need 64oz daily. Best of luck!

[Raechelle 0]

I am on my 9th day out of surgery and I have no physical hunger, however I do have mental hunger. I want to eat certain things I see and cant bc of the liquid diet. I really think once I am able to eat solid foods I wont crave so much. I am concerned that my sleeve isnt tight enough though. I have been eating creamed Soups and am able to eat 8 oz of creamed Soup in 30 mins. not sure if that is normal but its done now and I cant get my money back sooo. I only have about 2-3 meals a day bc that is when I think about eating, but other than that i am fine. I sometimes find that I am also letting myself have things I shouldnt have bc I am burned out with everything. Ex. I had broth for lunch and a 6 oz frozen coffee for dinner. glad to hear there are others with my same concerns.

[Bumblestitch 0]

I am on my 9th day out of surgery and I have no physical hunger, however I do have mental hunger. I want to eat certain things I see and cant bc of the liquid diet. I really think once I am able to eat solid foods I wont crave so much. I am concerned that my sleeve isnt tight enough though. I have been eating creamed Soups and am able to eat 8 oz of creamed Soup in 30 mins. not sure if that is normal but its done now and I cant get my money back sooo. I only have about 2-3 meals a day bc that is when I think about eating, but other than that i am fine. I sometimes find that I am also letting myself have things I shouldnt have bc I am burned out with everything. Ex. I had broth for lunch and a 6 oz frozen coffee for dinner. glad to hear there are others with my same concerns.

I was exactly like you about a week out. I think our stomachs are still numb or something at that point. Around the first week I was able to eat full liquids. I was able to consume a lot more soup than I thought I should be able to - I didn't measure it but I'd say a 'small bowl' worth. I have a size 40 sleeve and I kept thinking to myself " I think the dr. didn't make the sleeve small enough!". But once I started on mushy food you will definitely notice that you can't get much food in you. For instance I'm at 3+ weeks right now and able to eat mushy stuff. Last night we got chinese food. I opted for egg foo young, which is basically a chinese omelette with veggies (cooked soft) and some chicken in it (and chinese food chicken always seems to be soft/mushy, for some reason)... I was able to get down 3 bites and I was OVER full. I probably should have only eaten 2, or in all likelihood I probably should have made my bite sizes smaller. I'm definitely still learning how to eat properly. In fact it's almost kind of depressing and/or aggravating to make a (tiny) plate of food and barely be able to eat any of it.. I feel like i'm full before I even started to eat. And there seems to be no line between "hungry, I should eat" and "I feel disgustingly full and need to go lay down".