I'm HUNGRY

[LindsaySolei 1]

Hi All,

I'm just a few days post op and I feel so off 4/27 was my day. I am able to drink so much more than I initially thought I'd be able to and yesterday I had hunger pains. I was so very confused because I didn't expect to be feeling that for at least a few months. Is this normal? Should I just keep drinking until I feel full?

[JerriC 6]

I felt the same way. Everyone one told me it was "head hunger," but to me it felt differently than the "head hunger" I feel now. After a 3 or 4 days that passed. I do experience the occasional cravings, but nothing intense like I did. I am 18 days post op now, so I am not an expert, but I will say it is tons better for me. You might ask your dr or nut about how much is too much to drink.

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Edited May 2, 2016 by JerriC

[LindsaySolei 1]

I felt the same way. Everyone one told me it was "head hunger," but to me it felt differently than the "head hunger" I feel now. After a 3 or 4 days that passed. I do experience the occasional cravings, but nothing intense like I did. I am 18 days post op now, so I am not an expert, but I will say it is tons better for me. You might ask your dr or nut about how much is too much to drink.

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That's what my boss said, but I definitely feel it in my gut .. As long as it passes soon I'll be glad. I'll be calling the nutritionist tomorrow when she's in. Thanks so much for replying

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[JerriC 6]

No problem, I know how frustrating I felt when I felt so very hunger so close to surgery. Good luck!

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[KristenLe 5,980]

It could be stomach acid - try taking a PPI and see if it helps. I don't think you could drink too much Water at this stage of post-op. Definitely speak to your Nutritionist.

[Daisee68 2,493]

Many of us have that feeling early on and it is generally related to acid reflux. If you were not presciribed a PPI, ask about one and/or take a Zantac. It really helps!

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

It is not hunger your stomach has just gone through major surgery and is trying to heal. Definitely take a PPI daily, my surgeon recommended at least for a month but I need one for 4 months. You will have gurgling and noises but it is not hunger.

[NewAngela 60]

I felt the same way. Everyone one told me it was "head hunger," but to me it felt differently than the "head hunger" I feel now. After a 3 or 4 days that passed. I do experience the occasional cravings, but nothing intense like I did. I am 18 days post op now, so I am not an expert, but I will say it is tons better for me. You might ask your dr or nut about how much is too much to drink.

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I am annoyed by the "head hunger" sayings I hear a lot, thankfully just on the Internet and not from my doctors. I get that people eat for emotional reasons, but people who struggle with obesity have more hunger. Real hunger. That is part of the struggle. I figure if you consume less that 1000 calories that is real hunger, although post surgery it is less intense, for me anyways. At a few days post op at a few hundred calories a day my body was very hungry. Lots of empty stomach growling and feelings, but it was manageable and although it started to feel more like old hunger lately. I had a lot more hunger and thirst before I progressed to mush phase. Today, at 4 weeks post op, I still get hungry, but it is much more manageable then before, and of course I get full and feel full on so much less food. Why wouldn't it be hunger anyway? The surgery doesn't take away our ability to feel hunger. Everything still works, it is just modified.

I hear a lot of people have the expectation that there won't be hunger, but I don't know where it comes from. I agree hunger is scary after surgery, but I believe the hunger is real and normal and real food will do a better job a controlling it when you get to that phase.

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Edited May 3, 2016 by NewAngela

[KristenLe 5,980]

The Sleeve surgery removes the "hunger" hormone which may be where you are reading about not being hungry.

[RobingAlaska 30]

Hey Lindsay, you and had surgery same day, do you have a drain tube?

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[NewAngela 60]

The Sleeve surgery removes the "hunger" hormone which may be where you are reading about not being hungry.

The sleeve surgery reduces hunger by removing a large portion of the gherlin (or hunger hormone) producing cells, but the remaining stomach still produces some gherlin. Besides that, the body certainly doesn't rely on only gherlin to make hunger. The biology is not all or nothing, hunger is real after surgery. It is just easier to manage, and some lucky folks have such a good response that they actually don't have hunger for a while.

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Edited May 3, 2016 by NewAngela

[LindsaySolei 1]

Hey Lindsay, you and had surgery same day, do you have a drain tube?

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No ma'am. I didn't have a drain tube.

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