Always starving

[johock 19]

Got sleeved on July 18. Is it normal to always be starving and never satisfied after a meal? Tonight I ate 8 ounces of zucchini boats. Sliced in half zucchini scooped out then stuffed with turkey chop meat and the scooped out zucchini some spices and Tomato sauce.

I feel like I didn't eat anything that's how hungry I still feel. Is this normal at this point?

Anyone else feeling like this or am I the only one?

[Tracy4 21]

I a man almost 3 months post op and I have had the same thing starting after surgery the very first night in the hospital! I find smaller meals more frequent definitely help. I still can't fit 8 ounces of anything in at a meal! Also, try staying with more Protein

[johock 19]

I should have added I'm male too. I'm just finding it so hard to eat a meal and feel satisfied with anything I eat. I'm try to stick to 3 meals per day and 2 Protein Shakes per day. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong. This is just so frustrating and I feel that that only reason I've lost any weight is because I've been starving myself from 2 weeks prior to surgery.

-Joe

[Berry78 4,259]

Man, that is some crazy amount of dense food for 4 weeks out.. I think I was just trying my first egg, and eating half of it.

Acid frequently feels like hunger, so you may need more acid reducers.

I'm concerned that you may hurt yourself by overeating. Your stomach hasn't healed yet, so you really shouldn't be eating more than about 3oz at a time at this point.

Talk to your surgeon.

[PAstudent 117]

8 ounces in one sitting definitely sounds like a lot for only 4 weeks out. I second the surgeon suggestion.

Also, what does your exercise look like? I started hitting the gym starting at 2 weeks post op (4 or more times a week for up to 2 hours each time) and found that all of the physical exertion seriously upped my feelings of hunger. I've since lowered it to 2-3 times a week for an hour and a half or less and the hunger has gone down significantly. With all of the exercise, I was eating up to 1500 calories a day through constantly eating small portions (this was at only around 2 months out) and never really felt sated. Now, at 3 months, I can feel pretty good eating around 900 calories a day.

[johock 19]

Thanks for the replies. My exercise as of now has only been walking. I try to walk between 3-5 miles at least 5 days if I could. Exercise is a bit of a challenge with 2 young kids that play travel sports and adding in work and family life. I know we all have things going on.

As I started feeling the need to eat more and feeling hungrier, I did contact the surgeon. The nutritionist called me and said that it was normal to eat anywhere from 4-8 ounces per meal. I was very concerned with the amount I was consuming and that's why I called.

I can say this, I have not eaten any solid food as of yet. It's wall been either scrambled eggs, or the zucchini boats which are very soft and mushy stuffed with turkey chop meat.

I have followed everything my surgeon told me, 2 weeks post surgery of Clear Liquids and Protein Shakes, then onto puréed foods. And I'm still not eating solid food yet.

[PAstudent 117]

Ahh that makes a lot more sense! If you're still of pureed/soft foods, I can see them going down a lot easier and you being able to consume more of them. They're almost like slider foods in that sense. I remember at 4 weeks out I could easily consume 5 ounces of greek yogurt.

Make sure you try to differentiate head hunger and real hunger! I think that's one of my biggest struggles right now.

[Berry78 4,259]

Glad you called, and everything was ok. I'm still thinking acid. What kind of acid reduces are you on?

[johock 19]

Ahh that makes a lot more sense! If you're still of pureed/soft foods, I can see them going down a lot easier and you being able to consume more of them. They're almost like slider foods in that sense. I remember at 4 weeks out I could easily consume 5 ounces of greek yogurt.

Make sure you try to differentiate head hunger and real hunger! I think that's one of my biggest struggles right now.

Ok I didn't realize that there was such a big difference beaten puréed and solid foods and how they sit in your stomach. I just thought food was food and whatever the amount you're taking in will have the same effects.

So I guess when I start on solid foods being that it'll take longer to go down I'll feel fuller quicker. Leading to no being able to eat as much as the puréed foods.

And YES!!! I'm trying to learn the difference of head hunger and actual hunger. I'm used to just wolfing down my food as quickly as I could shovel it in. To the point of over stuffing myself at EVERY meal!!!! LOL

[johock 19]

Glad you called, and everything was ok. I'm still thinking acid. What kind of acid reduces are you on?

Thank you. Right now for the reflux I'm still taking the prescribed meds from the doc and I'm also taking 150mg of Zantac 150. I've been trying to not take the Zantac. I think I'm going to have to start taking them more regularly though and see if that helps. They do help a LOT when I take them.

[Berry78 4,259]

Yes, your acid meds are VERY important. Usually we are on them for the first 6 months. Zantac is an H2 blocker, which is fine, but if you need more acid control, a PPI is stronger.

Start taking your zantac every day, and if you still feel that gnawing hunger, then talk to your doc about switching to a ppi.

[johock 19]

Yes, your acid meds are VERY important. Usually we are on them for the first 6 months. Zantac is an H2 blocker, which is fine, but if you need more acid control, a PPI is stronger.
Start taking your zantac every day, and if you still feel that gnawing hunger, then talk to your doc about switching to a ppi.

Wow. I didn't know the reflux meds were taken that long. I have a follow up with my surgeon next week and need to write down some questions...

Thank you so much for all the info!!