Hello everyone!

My surgery is fast approaching, February 18th! I'm still preoccupied with removing such a large part of ghrelin. I know most people are thrilled with the idea of not being hungry after surgery...but I am concerned about the effects of long term deficiency. Ghrelin has so many roles in our bodies, stimulating hunger..yes, but also apparently in sleep patterns, body temp regulation, memory and cognitive function, dealing with anxieties, and stimulating GH (very important in my opinion!) I realize being overweight is unhealthy, I already have several co-morbidities. I'm looking for input from veteran sleevers on whether or not they have noticed any differences in the aforementioned areas....especially whether or not they have noticed increased illnesses or longer healing times since being sleeved. I want to feel 100% confidant that I am doing what is best for my long term health and well being, not just trading one set of problems for another. I asked my surgeon about this...and well, to put it bluntly, he told me "That's bu**sh*t". His exact words! I laughed and felt appeased at that moment..but doubts are creeping back in. Thoughts, please?

"Ghrelin is considered the main hunger hormone. It is secreted by the cells that line the stomach when the stomach is empty and also by the pancreas when it detects low blood sugar. Also, the liver secretes ghrelin when its glycogen storage runs low (and glucagon is high). When ghrelin is released into the circulation, it directly activates NPY neurons to stimulate appetite. Increased levels of ghrelin are directly associated with the sensation of hunger. It is considered the counterpart of the hormone leptin. Importantly, ghrelin is a potent stimulator of growth hormone (GH) secretion and regulates nutrient storage, thereby linking nutrient partitioning with growth and repair processes. Ghrelin activates several anti-inflammatory pathways in the body and promotes cell regeneration thereby promoting healing, especially within the gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin regulates glucose homeostasis through a direct action on the pancreatic islet cells (the cells that secrete insulin). It is also important for memory function and gastrointestinal motility." From www.thepaleomom.com

I am not a 'veteran' per se - just had my first surgiversary. But the only thing that I have noticed in your list is the change in body temperature. Before surgery, I used to sweat a lot, rarely felt cold, even during winter I needed to have the AC on. But after surgery, this winter, I've started feeling more cold than normal. Def. the extra layer of fat under the skin would have helped, but I dont care - it is still manageable.

Its great that you are researching this in depth - I'm looking forward to reading the other replies.

Ghrelin is also produced in other parts of our body. Our hunger does come back later on. It does effect our body temp. but for me, it is well worth it.....

I agree with the previous posters. The most profound effect for me was instant freezing, whereas I had been so hot-natured before. I started shivering the day I got out of the hopsital. I am gradually getting better and body temp regulation is returning to a more normal state.

Meanwhile, I have never lost the hunger sensation. Yes, I know folks say certain stomach meds help with excess acid which mimics hunger, but I've tried the maximum dose of all of them and I am just plain hungry. food is the only thing that fixes it.

Not a year out yet, but so far my health is greatly improved. I fought off a cold much quicker than normal and it was not as severe as usual. I feel absolutely great. Whatever loss there was for me due to decreased ghrelin (not total removal) has been offset by overall improvement in health.

yes, I've learned that it is also secreted by the pancreas and hypothalamus, but these will never produce enough of the hormone to gain pre-surgery levels. Member Feedyoureye posted several studies (5 years out) that prove this. Reading studies is one thing....hearing from people actually living with and experiencing any undesired impacts is another. If being colder is the only major drawback of decreased ghrelin that folks notice, I'll just throw on more clothes and go with it! LOL

I think there is a lot more to be learned about this surgery that we just don't know yet, because of the relative newness of it. Look at the band for example..

But I would tend to think that in the short term at least, it can throw off levels enough to cause some emotional turmoil, anxiety .. I have noticed a lot if people, at a certain stage out, having a hard time. I think being prepared for the changes and recognizing them as they come to us is helpful.

That being said, yes, I too am cold all of the time!

And have had periods of unexplained sadness, anxiety. But knowing it was somewhat normal helped.

I agree...my surgeon even said something along the lines of that in a youtube video he has promoting gastric plication. For him to dismiss them when I called to talk about my concerns (and whether to have sleeve or plication done) took me back a bit. I wavered for a while over sleeve vs. plication and decided to stick with the sleeve because plication is an even newer procedure. Just wishing there were more studies available on this, as one poster wrote..."gastrectomies (full or partial) have been done for decades with cancer patients".