I feel real hunger!

[kari61 128]

Is it just me but honestly ever since the day after surgery 9 days ago, I truly am hungry a lot. I'm not talking about the head hunger everyone mentions, but true hunger in my belly with belly growling. I'm getting very disappointed as one of the main reasons I chose the sleeve over the band was because they said I wouldn't feel hunger. Am I the only one feeling this?

[coco.c 11]

Is it just me but honestly ever since the day after surgery 9 days ago, I truly am hungry a lot. I'm not talking about the head hunger everyone mentions, but true hunger in my belly with belly growling. I'm getting very disappointed as one of the main reasons I chose the sleeve over the band was because they said I wouldn't feel hunger. Am I the only one feeling this?

Kari, I get hungry too and I thought this would help. I was sleeved on March 25th. My taste has changed though. I can not stand anything sweet.

[Seanja 117]

Something is wrong. Im never hungry. I was sleeved on 3/26. I had my 2 week post op yesterday and I mentioned to my Dr that im worried about getting to few calories in during my puree and soft foods stages. She told me that would change. Ive heard stories on here that Drs didnt cut enough of the stomach. Get ultrasound check it out.

[Sadtosaygoodbye 256]

Kari61 please know that there is nothing wrong with you. When I was at this stage I also felt very very very hungry. The growling that I was feeling I couldn't tell whether it was gas or truly hunger. So if you aren't walking do try, also a acid reducer did help me. I started feeling less hungry once I was able to start more dense Proteins like yogurt and cottage cheese and eggs.My doctor never told me that I shouldn't be hungry, that is an unrealistic expection. Am I less hungry than before surgery? Yes. Do I eat much less than I did before surgery? Yes. If you are at the full liquid stage add unflavored Protein Powder to your yogurt. During my first few weeks when I was feeling like this hunger/head hunger, as soon as I would eat I was full after a few bites. So don't panic know your'e not alone on this one, it does get better. Good luck to you

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

Is it just me but honestly ever since the day after surgery 9 days ago, I truly am hungry a lot. I'm not talking about the head hunger everyone mentions, but true hunger in my belly with belly growling. I'm getting very disappointed as one of the main reasons I chose the sleeve over the band was because they said I wouldn't feel hunger. Am I the only one feeling this?

Hi Kari,

Are you taking a PPI like Prilosec? Often gas/acid can mimic hunger pains and growling. If you are, you may need to try a different one or increase your dose. I've read many posts from people who describe the same type of issue and this helped. Of course, check with your NUT/doctor about changing any meds first.

Good luck!

[MichiganChic 3,262]

Some people are hungry, some less so, and neither means that anything is wrong. For some it is sooner, for others, it's later, and for a few lucky ones, never. From reading so many threads, it does seem that PPIs make a difference early on, and it seems like it does come back for most at some point, though it seems like it's much more manageable. I get hungry at 4 months out, but it's not as bad as before surgery. I found the first 4 weeks after surgery to be the most trying in every way, but after that, it gets easier all the way around. Hang in there!

[cbd 78]

You are still pretty early to be thinking this is how it will be. You still have to advance thru all your stages of diet. Relax. After you are on solids for awhile it will not be this way. You will be able to eat more substantial Proteins that keep you full longer. The more carbs you eat the sooner you get hungry. Some days I do get a little hungry before meal time but not too ofter. Don't judge the success of your surgery at this early in the game. Good luck!!

[xlr8ahead 40]

Im allways hungry allways have been since surgery.but thank got i can only eat a small portion of food.and have lost 93lbs in 6 months.so it cant be that bad.

[txcynblues 2]

I felt like I was really hungry up until I started eating pureed foods. The liquids and full liquids do not stay with you long enough. I also started taking prilosec and it has helped too.

[Shawn Morrison 71]

Im allways hungry allways have been since surgery.but thank got i can only eat a small portion of food.and have lost 93lbs in 6 months.so it cant be that bad.

I think this is the important point. You may get hungry but when you do you can eat just a small amount and it goes away. For me I get just some mild hunger especially at night. I eat and egg and boom gone. Unlike before the surgery when it was like 2 bowls of Cereal before I felt satisfied.

[DayByDay 123]

Is it just me but honestly ever since the day after surgery 9 days ago, I truly am hungry a lot. I'm not talking about the head hunger everyone mentions, but true hunger in my belly with belly growling. I'm getting very disappointed as one of the main reasons I chose the sleeve over the band was because they said I wouldn't feel hunger. Am I the only one feeling this?

I am simular. What I found is that if I stay on top of my Water and eat or drink Protein every 3 hours I have no problems. Has been helping with my weight loss as well.

[ambalam 54]

I hope everything is going well for you. I wanted to offer that head hunger isn't just the thought that you are hungry or even craving food, it can also be a physical reaction manifested by the thought. Your body is not used to not consuming food. It will take a while for your brain to catch up to your new anatomy. The gas is also very true, it bubbles so much and is loud and seems like your stomach is growling. Once your brain catches up a lot of these symptoms subside. Also, it is okay to feel hungry. Someone once said that to me and it was a light bulb moment for me. Best wishes!!

[melodymouse 196]

Just a reminder, before you take any meds, check with your doctor. If you are early out, your body did go through a major trauma and is trying to heal which means increased circulation to your stomach that can make you feel like its hunger pains. Make sure you're getting enough Protein. When you do, you shouldn't feel hungry. As for the noises, that is normal at any stage. It seems louder cuz it's now contained in a small space. Take a dozen children and put them in a small room and it can get pretty loud. Put those same 12 in an auditorium, and you hardly notice the same noise. I am 14 months out and my tummy is still very entertaining!

[SkinnyMalink 44]

My doctor told me that I would still have some hunger after the operation but that it would be different in intensity and quality. He was right.

Eight-five percent of the principal hormone involved in hunger regulation, ghrelin, is produced by the part of the stomach that is removed, but that leaves 15 percent that is produced by other organs, including the brain. In addition to ghrelin, there are several other chemicals that help regulate hunger including neuropeptide-Y and that is not affected by our surgery.

I help maintain my weight loss through the use of the Fast Diet (5:2 Diet). I promise you that on the days that I fast, that is, on the two days that I limit myself to a maximum of 600 calories, I do experience real hunger. There is nothing psychological about it.

However, the hunger pains are not nearly as severe as they were before the surgery and the quality is different in that the sensation is currently more of an empty feeling than one of starvation. Also, as someone else has written, eating any amount of Protein relieves the hunger sensation almost immediately. Dr. Mehmet Oz in his book, You: On a Diet, also recommends eating six walnut halves before a main meal to help fill you up. The walnuts contain a healthy fat that tells the brain that you are full. It works.

You're not crazy or unlucky for feeling hungry. There is a real physiological basis for it even after surgery. The removal of the fundus does not eliminate all our ghrelin or affect any of the other chemicals that regulate hunger. However, the hunger pains are different and easier to manage. On my fasting days, I find it much easier now to distract myself from the hunger pains than I ever could have without the surgery. I'll just walk around, pick up a book, or turn on the TV and I stop focusing on the hunger. None of those distractions would have worked for me before the surgery.

When your stomach is healed enough for you to tolerate them, try Dr. Oz's walnut trick. It really works.

[kari61 128]

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom, advice and suggestions, it really helped.