Am I An Anomaly?

[CJ's mom 28]

I was sleeved on November 12th and was able to start soft foods about a week ago. I feel like I am eating so much already and I am hungry all the time! I average about 600 calories a day and have no problems drinking...even gulping. I can eat approximately 1/4 to 1/2 a cup at a sitting or a 5 oz container of Greek yogurt. I have felt some restriction on occasion but for the most part I haven't had any issues. I'm very thankful that I've a had a great recovery but I'm also a little concerned that I'm going to end up not losing like I should because of how much I can eat as well as the hunger I feel this early on.

[Crooker 20]

I was sleeved on Nov. 7 and I don't feel any restriction and I haven't lost any weight for 9 days. I am very disappointed so far and for everything I put myself and family through with this surgery, I feel I should be further along. I am meeting with NUT and surgeon tomorrow.

[hollirrose 249]

I never had any problems drinking and thought something must be broken as well. It is not.. we are just some of the lucky ones. Can you imagine drinking from a med cap every 15 mins to get your Water in or ending up back in the hospital becase you cant drink? I never felt any real restriction until I was eating "real" food. I am 7 months out and a meal for me is 2 oz of Protein and thats it. There isnt room for anything else. Keep in mind that full is a diff feeling then it was pre op. If you feel full like that then you are eating to much. I guess satisfied is a better description post op. Once cleared for dense protein you will know your sleeve is working. ^.^

[SweetSaso 92]

I was sleeved on Nov 7th and started soft foods about one week after surgery (my doctor said it was ok) but yesterday i felt like i can eat more than ever also, took almost 800 calories in and felt like crying at the end of the day because of how hungry i have been... But i was advised to talk to my doctor about an acid reflux medicine which i will do so tomorrow to see if that will help with the hunger and overeating

[O.T.R. sleever 3,386]

An anomaly? Absoloutly not. You are completely normal. I felt Absoloutly no restriction on liquids, and minimal on soft foods. But once I got to dense Proteins it was like "OMG, that's all I can eat?". You are gonna be fine. Just keep an eye on your portions.

Btw. The constant hunger you are feeling now is referred to as head hunger. I know you are saying " no it's not. I'm really hungry. " but trust me. With a bit of self dicipline in a couple weeks you look back and see that it is your mind holding on to old habits. It remembers how often & how much you use to eat. Once it understands that it is gonna get nourished it will stop sending all those false signals. I was right there with you. After surgery I would have choked a rhino with my bare hands for a Five Guys burger at any given moment. Now they're opening one in my dinky little town & TBH, though I'm happy it will be there if and when I want one, I have no real desire for it anymore.

Here is a link to my first post on this forum. You can see I felt the same way.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/40235-is-this-too-easy/

[lollyfidy1965 402]

O.T.R. is absolutely correct about the "hunger" likely being in your head. If you would like to understand exactly why this is happening, read "The End of Overeating". It clearly describes the ways in which the food industry manipulates the content of processed foods in order to cause our brains to react, chemically, to those foods EXACTLY the same way it would react to cocaine or heroine. Yes....your brain is addicted to foods (sugar, fat, and salt, in particular)....and the "head hunger" you're experiencing is your own special kind of withdrawal symptom. Your brain wants to experience that rush of chemicals...so its screaming "YOU'RE HUNGRY!!....YOU'RE STARVING!!!"...in order to get you to put its drug of choice (food) into your mouth. Read the book...recognize what you're experiencing for what it is...and keep your eye on the prize! Your health is certainly worth the effort!

[It's all new 453]

I have to put in my 2 cents on the hunger issue. The great majority of sleevers don't have problems with real hunger, it is true.

But this is not true for everyone. I do find it frustrating that folks who do not have this issue discount it in others as being head hunger. I am the exception to the rule. I struggle with hunger every day - I'm full for about one hour after eating and then very hungry again. Always. It has not slowed my weight loss but has made me get creative about filling in the gaps between meals and Snacks - I eat more often, I drink 3 glasses of Water at a time three times per day to help, I have found that exercise settles my appetite for an hour. I just had my six month check up and my sleeve is as tiny and beautiful as ever - it's just a hungry sleeve!

The things that work against me are if I do something that adds head hunger to the hunger I already have. (I.e.- having a piece of pie on Thanksgiving brought on serious head hunger for days. The cravings!!) It is much harder to be reasonable with head hunger - it tells me I want carbs, sugar, and calories I don't need. The real hunger I feel everyday could care less what the solution is - a few ounces of chicken, an ounce of beef Jerky, some celery. Two different monsters.

Even though I would far prefer not to be hungry anymore, I am still down from 255 to 156 since May 10. Looking at the numbers, how much can I really complain?

And it is true, you may not feel restriction until dense Protein, so hold off on judging until you get there. Even if the hunger doesn't get better, you can still be very successful.

[Big Dee 4]

I was sleeved on the 19th and am on not supposed to be on soft foods yet but honestly I've been eating some. I have no problems so far and was worrying myself if I was getting a little ahead of myself. I too have been hungry and hope I don't mess this up too. I've lost about 13 lbs not sure if this is average or not but so far so good.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Just take care with gulping... 600 cals is not bad, but your stomach has had its nerves cut and is tender and healing and perhaps numb?... don't force stuff in, take small bites and eat often if needed...the soft stuff just slides on through... when you get to solids, you will feel much more restriction until months later when you can eat more. You just do not want to add pressure to the staples so early out. Just follow your Docs advice.

[ferraroma 22]

I was sleeved on November 12th and was able to start soft foods about a week ago. I feel like I am eating so much already and I am hungry all the time! I average about 600 calories a day and have no problems drinking...even gulping. I can eat approximately 1/4 to 1/2 a cup at a sitting or a 5 oz container of Greek yogurt. I have felt some restriction on occasion but for the most part I haven't had any issues. I'm very thankful that I've a had a great recovery but I'm also a little concerned that I'm going to end up not losing like I should because of how much I can eat as well as the hunger I feel this early on.

I was sleeved on 11/14 and feel the exact same way. I know some is head hunger because I desperately want to chew. I started chewing gum just to get over that. It's not just head hunger. My stomach is empty I can feel the air moving around and no restriction feeling at all.

Keep trying different things. That's what I am going to do. I don't have post op visit Nut until next week when I also get puréed food. Hopefully this will help the hunger.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

Are you taking a PPI? This can reduce the hunger feeling.

[CJ's mom 28]

Thanks y'all! I think it's probably a combination of both real and head hunger. Today wasn't as bad as previous days so maybe it's just taking a little longer for me to adjust.

I did buy that book and just started reading it last night. It's very Interesting so far!

I'm not on any acid reducer yet but since I don't get heartburn or reflux is that necessary?

I've lost about 24lbs since 11/2 but haven't lost anything since Friday. I'm trying to only weigh once a week but I caves today...LOL

[It's all new 453]

Thanks y'all! I think it's probably a combination of both real and head hunger. Today wasn't as bad as previous days so maybe it's just taking a little longer for me to adjust.

I did buy that book and just started reading it last night. It's very Interesting so far!

I'm not on any acid reducer yet but since I don't get heartburn or reflux is that necessary?

I've lost about 24lbs since 11/2 but haven't lost anything since Friday. I'm trying to only weigh once a week but I caves today...LOL

I would strongly consider the acid reducer as hunger feelings can be a good indicator of a problem with acid. It is worth a try.

[CJ's mom 28]

What kind of acid reducer?

[It's all new 453]

What kind of acid reducer?

I would talk to your PCP or surgeon for a prescription. I like prescription Prevacid, some people find omeprazole works. Everyone is different.