Scared about hunger

[July222020 5]

Hello,

I will be having gastric sleeve ...probably not until summer with whats going on in the world.

I am super nervous about being hungry! I had Orbera gastric Balloon and I was starving all the time! Worst mistake I ever made!

So... I'm afraid this will be a repeat.

What scares me even more is feeling like crap because I feel hungry.

Such as...light headed, dizzy, foggy brain. I need to be able to work and it scares me that I will be a hungry walking zombie.

I need some encouragement and inspiration...please!

Thanks!

[fat2fit_whit 2]

Do not be worried about being hungry. I had my surgery in February and it is the best thing I have done. I feel great and I am rarely hungry. I have lost 25 lbs since my surgery. Make sure you follow your doctors orders and get enough Protein and water!! You will do great!!!

[July222020 5]

Thank you!! Just what I needed to hear! I wonder if any studies have been done on hunger after the sleeve vs no hunger?

I'd love to take a poll, I'm sure the no hunger would outweigh the hunger but who knows?

Thanks again!!!

Be Well!

[Reducingraven 12]

I was sleeved in August and didn’t feel even the slightest hunger sensation until about 5 months post op. Don’t be afraid of that! If anything I feel like crap from forgetting to drink Water and not eating but seriously this has been the best thing I’ve ever done and I would do it all over again. I’m 94 pounds down 33 pounds down until I get to my goal weight. You can do it!

[Zoomzoom 45]

Okay, well I'm a little over 3 months out and I do feel hungry sometimes, and sometimes it can be hard. But, I don't ever have that awful, I'm gonna pass out and die if I don't eat feeling which is really great.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[NovaLuna 710]

My surgery involves a sleeved stomach and although I do feel hunger sometimes it's rare. Like really rare. Most of the time you have to REMIND yourself to eat!

[Daisyjayne 124]

Hunger changed for me, post sleeve, from "I must eat now or I will die" to "I need to eat but, meh, it can wait". Head hunger is also different, sometimes I want to eat something just because it will take good, but my rational brain kicks in and I don't eat it, as it's not worth the effort/ I ate not that long ago/ it's empty calories/ I can only eat 4 bites anyway so why bother!

The surgery changed my relationship with food forever. Along with the weight loss, that's been the best part of the sleeve for me.

[Lily66 425]

I believe it’s a bit different for each of us. Many recently through surgery have commented that yes, they do feel hunger. In my case, 4 weeks and a few days out, when my stomach is empty it gurgles, almost has slight tinge of pain, and if I don’t eat something, a small anything really, I get moderately nauseated. The key is to make a good choice in what to eat.

You may also need to deal with head hunger. Yes, I sometimes have that as well, and particularly during this quarantine. Anxiety and time on my hands have always presented as an (unwanted) opportunity for me to stress eat. It was never about hunger then, and it isn’t now, but still, it rears its ugly head (pun intended). The opportunity to recognize, deal with, stare down and OVERCOME this deadly beast comes after surgery. If you begin to work with that NOW, you’ll have a much easier time.

Still and all, I can tell you this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat! I’m a work in progress, and humbled to live life one day at a time.

Congratulations and All Wonderful Wishes on taking the Best Step in being here, now.

[July222020 5]

Thank you!! Just what I needed to hear! I wonder if any studies have been done on hunger after the sleeve vs no hunger?

I'd love to take a poll, I'm sure the no hunger would outweigh the hunger but who knows?

Thanks again!!!

Be Well!

[S@ssen@ch 745]

My hunger has evolved over time. For the 1st 5 months or so, I had no hunger and ate on a schedule to meet my nutritional goals. At about the 6 month mark, I noticed hunger but it wasn't the same "I'm STARVING" hunger, just sort of a nagging emptiness. Today, at 2 years post-op I noticed that I have virtually no hunger in the morning, but in the afternoon I am hungry. Again, it's not an "I'm STARVING" hunger but it's now more of a craving that I have to really be careful of. So, I still generally eat on a schedule because I believe if I don't eat regularly, then I'm more apt to reach for things I shouldn't.

Just a word of caution: I've seen many posts from sleeved patients on BP who complain of hunger immediately post-op. Surgeons "sell" this procedure by promising that they've removed the part of the stomach responsible for hunger. It's true, that the surgery generally removes our Ghrelin generator, but that doesn't mean that everyone experiences no hunger or changed hunger. There are a few people I've seen who seem to struggle with this. I'm not sure if it's "head hunger" that we all have to a degree or true physical hunger since I didn't experience it, but I thought you should know.

Also, if you're feeling lightheaded or dizzy, hunger is not usually the direct cause of a symptom like that. This may be related to sugar spikes/lows, blood pressure changes, or dehydration. Foggy brain is a common symptom in carb withdrawal. I suggest mindfulness. Pay attention to your body after you've eaten and pay attention to WHAT you eat that causes certain symptoms. Know that sometimes hunger feels like thirst.

Edited April 10, 2020 by S@ssen@ch
add info

[WInston223322 160]

I had the sleeve and to this day I am never hungry --- I have to set alarms to eat something. I think you will be ok

[GinaFigz 31]

I have felt hunger since having the surgery. I also have gastric reflux which I think makes it feel more pronounced but I am losing so I am happy with my progress.

It is all so odd because it is not like anything I have ever experienced. I read what is posted but know that our experiences may be different. I am trying to find the right balance because I do want bread, rice and Pasta and I have tasted it so I know I can eat it but I dońt want to undo my progress so I found thejoeduff on YouTube and he has a lot of great Keto recipes. I learned to make toast and some pancakes.The funny thing is that now my kids eat MY leftovers and it used to be the other way around! So usually my first meal of the day goes down rough and Ím burping and its all so noisy. I also find I get hungry later in the day. I was doing IF before the surgery so I dońt know if I became used to eating more later in the day in that window of time. Anyway, my point is for me this has been a lot of trial and error. Someone posted earlier to practice mindfulness and to listen to your body which I think is the best way to approach it. If something doesn’t feel right, listen to the cues and monitor what you can. If you get off track, forgive yourself and get back on. Wishing everyone health during the difficult time!

[July222020 5]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful responses!

I'm looking forward to this exciting time in my life!

Thanks for making the unknown a lot less scary!