how does sleeve gastrectomy affect your appetite?

[bombshellocks 0]

My biggest problem is feeling hungry. I enjoy food and drink and as such think about them alot. I would very much like to be one of 'those people' who don't think about food too much and sometimes forget to eat. Will a sleeve gastrectomy affect my appetite and destroy Ghrelin enough to help me with this?

[Tony B - NJ 642]

From my experience, after the surgery, I was not hungry for a couple months. I was eating the amount the doctor recommended and could not even get one drop more in me. I get hungry now but I make a conscious effort to not eat. I see the weight that I have lost over this past 6 months and I do not want to go back. When I eat something I always determine if the calories, fat and carbs are worth it. I eat only to nourish myself and rarely treat myself because that is a slippery slope to overeating. I still reach my restriction pretty quickly so it is hard to over eat without feeling like hell or getting sick. I really focus on Water during the day to keep myself hydrated and full. If I drink a lot of water then I don't have the urge to eat and even if I did, there is very little room for food. I was a big eater, multiple portions of the main course and Snacks before bed. I stick to my portions and if I do eat a snack it is nuts, sugar free pudding or some other lean type snack.

[ShoppGirl 4,813]

For the majority of us the hunger hormones go away and we do not feel hungry for a while post op. Not real hunger anyways. Some of us realize post op that we have some disordered eating issues and we have head hunger (boredom or emotional eating) which you will still crave things but you can tell the difference by WHAT you are craving. If you just want anything to eat even your least favorite vegetable you are truly hungry but if you are craving chocolate it’s head hunger. I have struggled post op because of the head hunger but it’s still easier to make better food choices than any diet I have been on. I am one year post op and 5 pounds above a “normal” bmi. My hunger hormones have returned and it’s getting that much harder but I am sticking to it. I have been searching out and trying different salads at different places and have learned that i like a variety of dressings that i never tried before. I study the nutritional stuff online for restaurants and ask for tips of what’s good and where on here so that i can still go out and stay on plan. The process works and the surgery itself is a huge component but I believe that also huge parts of the process are the nutritionist, psychiatrist, and support on here or locally.

Edited March 11, 2022 by ShoppGirl

[lizonaplane 1,613]

I am one of the unfortunate few who didn't lose my hunger. It was miserable to be hungry when I could only eat a few bites of food and then I'd be hungry again almost immediately. It is possible to feel hunger after surgery, but most people don't. I'm down 105 lbs and I am glad I had the surgery. Mostly now, I just have to worry about eating unhealthy foods that are "slider" foods (chips, sweets, etc) because they don't trigger my restriction and it's too easy to eat too much.

[ms.sss 15,651]

Some lose their hunger, some don’t.
It will be in your best interest NOT to rely on your restriction (or lack thereof) to control your intake, as even if u get it, it will wear off eventually.

Forming good eating habits will take u further and longer than tiny stomachs.

Good Luck! ❤️