I was sleeved on 11/9 after nearly 3 years of being banded (my band came out in August). I woke up from surgery and have been starving since. I know it's not head hunger - after nearly 3 years with the band, I know what head hunger is, and I know what it's like to not be hungry. It's not acid. It's not thirst - I'm drinking 100 ounces of Water daily.

I'm on mushies/purees and it's still not helping.

Today, I had my follow-up with my surgeon. He is not overly shocked I am hungry, but he was a bit surprised. He sent me for a upper GI to check my esophagus. He suspects dilation due to the damage from the band. If it is, it should just take a few more weeks to go back to normal. He said he can't promise, but he's 99.9% sure that within the next three weeks, I will feel satiation as my body adjusts to the band being gone, my hernia being fixed, and the rest of the scar tissue from the band finally removed. The doc that did the test, though, said there was no dilation, however, they also said my band wasn't slipped when it was, so they are not bariatric specialists (I'm not complaining or upset, just stating.)

He did say my surgery was picture perfect (sans scar tissue and hernia), that I had a normal size stomach, that he went a bit tighter than normal, and he sees no reason it won't work long term.

I also talked to a friend of mine who is a revision, and she said she literally cried the first three weeks she had her sleeve because she was so hungry. Then it got better, and now she loves it! She had it about 6 months ago, so I am hopeful I will be the same.

Oh, and he cleared me to eat turkey tomorrow! He also suggested I drink some warm tea after I have a few bites of Protein to help add volume to my food to give me that sensation of fullness.

So, I am not 100% convinced, but I feel 90% better about this whole thing. My other non-medical theory is my poor bowels are empty, as I still have diarrhea, and how could I feel full when they are empty?! LOL, I know it's a stupid theory, but I am adding it to my pile.

And if I start losing weight again, I'd be even happier! Again, he reassured me this is normal, and according to his scale, I'm down an even 30 lbs.

So, after all that, anyone hungry at first? Or still? Has it gone away? Gotten better?

Thanks!

Interesting that you brought this up. I actually think I was hungrier, well or able to eat more in the beginning than now. All of a sudden I am full on two ounces and don't need a snack in three hours. I bet that you have something there. Don't worry it will get better and you will love your sleeve; the band, yuck!!!

Amazon has that exactly right. Don't stress about it, just follow the docs instructions. In the early days, you have some cut nerves that haven't healed so you don't have proper sensations yet. also, the hunger hormone is still being pumped out. Are you on a acid reducer? You should be in the early weeks/months and acid feels like hunger! Finally, liquids aren't as filling

I moved to the low/no hunger zone sometime around -6-8 weeks when I went to food completely and things were all healed up.

I never lost weight that well with the band and still had hunger, but look at my results with the sleeve! It works, your hunger WILL be reduced. Hang in there!

Thanks to both of you!

I am on Prilosec, so if it is acid, it's hopefully being controlled.

While I logically know it should and will get better, there's of course the nervous nelly part of me that is thinking I will be the person still hungry after surgery! And I was self-pay (yet again), so this is getting expensive!

I appreciate the kind words and will keep you posted!

I had an appetite on the 5th day post op, but not as bad now, I am on full liquids, my band was taken out 5 wks ago and I was sleeved 1 week ago.

Just an update:

My surgeon called. I have "moderate dilatation" in my esophagus from my band, which he is 98% sure is causing the hunger. He said he would expect it to be fully gone within 2-4 weeks. YEAH!