Ravenous hunger at the wrong time - PLEASE HELP!

[gal friday 176]

The only time I get hungry is right after I've started eating. And it's not normal hunger - I am absolutely ravenous, like I haven't eaten in days. I am miserable until it passes, and it puts me at risk for not chewing thoroughly or overeating. It does not matter when I eat or when I eat it. I do not get hungry any other time. My surgeon has no explanation for this. Is it like this for anyone else? I'm experiencing it right now, it's horrible. I don't drink carbonated beverages and I'm doing nothing to stretch my stomach out. I am losing weight on track, and all of my Vitamin levels are great - my Protein level is the best my surgeon has ever seen! I always eat my protein first. The only thing I am bad about is eating Breakfast, because I have to take about a dozen pills due to chronic illness and that fills my stomach up, it's only empty and ready for food when I am getting my preschooler out the door for school, and eating in the car leads to trouble for me. I've done everything I can think of.

Someone please help!

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Honestly? It sounds like reflux. The sensation of reflux mimics hunger. Are you taking your PPI?

[gal friday 176]

Yup. I take 40mg of Protonix in the morning, but because I have little pain and no lump in my throat (or any other common symptoms) I am not taking my protonix at dinner time nor am I taking my Xantac (I take so many pills for other illnesses that in the early days I had to cut out pills wherever I could). Do you think going back on the additional meds would help? The morning protonix does not seem to prevent morning hunger episodes (I had a super late breakfast/brunch starting at 10am this morning and got slammed immediately with the hunger). I'm desperate though, I'll go back on the meds if it will help. I do take sips of Water during meals sometimes (I have to, I have kidney damage and a resulting electrolyte imbalance disorder, if my brain sends a thirsty signal I have to respond) but the ravenous thing happens before I drink Water and even during meals where I have no water.

Edit: My surgeon knows I have sips of water during meals and is comfortable with it because it does not change the amount I eat and does not trigger hunger between meals. I am only hungry DURING meals in fact. Her response to this problem is that sleeves are highly individual, and everyone's body reacts differently, the medical equivalent of shrugging her shoulders and saying "I dunno". I don't blame her.

Edited March 4, 2015 by gal friday