Can’t Sleep Because of Hunger

[NYCNomad 64]

I’m only a week post op and find that I struggle sleeping more than 5-6 hours because my stomach wakes me up with not just crazy noises but actual hunger pains. I’ve tried taking a Pepcid to help with stomach acid but only thing that makes me feel better is drinking a few ounces of Protein Shake. Meeting my liquid and Protein goals and generally feel pretty good given the circumstances but these early mornings are killing me as I am NOT a morning person. Anyone else experience this? Does it pass? Tips to minimize this? Thanks!

[Mattymatt 491]

38 minutes ago, NYCNomad said:

I’m only a week post op and find that I struggle sleeping more than 5-6 hours because my stomach wakes me up with not just crazy noises but actual hunger pains. I’ve tried taking a Pepcid to help with stomach acid but only thing that makes me feel better is drinking a few ounces of Protein Shake. Meeting my liquid and Protein goals and generally feel pretty good given the circumstances but these early mornings are killing me as I am NOT a morning person. Anyone else experience this? Does it pass? Tips to minimize this? Thanks!

@NYCNomad Man, I am sorry that you're experiencing this, especially because I am sure you expected your surgery to basically to kill the hunger pangs. What form of surgery did you have?

[Apple203 1,314]

I've heard that stomach acids mimic hunger -- maybe ask for a prescription like pantoprazole?

[NYCNomad 64]

I’m only a week post op and find that I struggle [mention=333281]NYCNomad[/mention] Man, I am sorry that you're experiencing this, especially because I am sure you expected your surgery to basically to kill the hunger pangs. What form of surgery did you have?

Had the sleeve. Starting weight 262 (39 BMI) GW 170.

[Creekimp13 5,841]

The first week out I would have gnawed my own leg off I was so damned hungry. Head was fuzzy and even though I felt pretty good physically, my brain wasn't functioning well (cannot imagine taking a test or having to do something intellectually challenging during this time)

Around 3 weeks, when I started adding soft foods back into my diet, I started feeling a LOT more like myself. MUCH less hunger. Brain started working again. Felt spectacular.

Try to be patient. You're not alone in experiencing massive hunger. Some people don't...lucky bums....but some do, and it stinks!

I will say that I think overall...I don't experience the same hunger I used to. Rather...I don't crave food constantly and reoffend like I used to with too many helpings.

But yeah...when you can only eat 3 ounces at a time and you're a very active person....hunger is still gonna be a part of your life (for at least some of us). The really cool part, though...is that at my most starving....I can eat 200 calories and feel very full and satiated for hours.

[Mattymatt 491]

The first week out I would have gnawed my own leg off I was so damned hungry. Head was fuzzy and even though I felt pretty good physically, my brain wasn't functioning well (cannot imagine taking a test or having to do something intellectually challenging during this time)
Around 3 weeks, when I started adding soft foods back into my diet, I started feeling a LOT more like myself. MUCH less hunger. Brain started working again. Felt spectacular.
Try to be patient. You're not alone in experiencing massive hunger. Some people don't...lucky bums....but some do, and it stinks!
I will say that I think overall...I don't experience the same hunger I used to. Rather...I don't crave food constantly and reoffend like I used to with too many helpings.
But yeah...when you can only eat 3 ounces at a time and you're a very active person....hunger is still gonna be a part of your life (for at least some of us). The really cool part, though...is that at my most starving....I can eat 200 calories and feel very full and satiated for hours.

I hope my hunger is gone for good. I wonder if the reason my hunger is gone is partly due to the pre-op Protein Shake diet I was on. The body kind of goes into ketosis.

Sent from my Z981 using BariatricPal mobile app

[Creekimp13 5,841]

Nope...just individual differences as far as I can tell. I was on Protein Shakes and no calorie clears for two weeks before surgery and a week after.

And I had no acid. And my doc puts everyone on omeprazole anyway for a few months.

Different people report different experiences with hunger.

[Apple203 1,314]

Even without hunger, this first week of Clear Liquids is a challenge mentally!!

[Mattymatt 491]

@Apple203 Yes, the clear liquids are tough!

[apositivelife4me 189]

is sugar free Jello considered a clear liquid?

[FluffyChix 17,418]

I had zero hunger for weeks 1 and 2. And had righteous tummy growling--think acid production.

Now I do get hungry--but it's appeased even if I think there is no way to get appeased from 1/4c of food. LOL.

I will eat a tiny bit of Protein just before bed (or drink an ounce of Premier Protein). That helps me a lot but YMMV.

So sorry you're having issues!!! Hope you get them figured out soon!

[Creekimp13 5,841]

59 minutes ago, apositivelife4me said:

is sugar free Jello considered a clear liquid?

it was for us:)

[apositivelife4me 189]

so does that mean it is ok to eat the sugar free Jello packs from the grocery store in my first 3 weeks post op?

[Walter.Sobchak 978]

so does that mean it is ok to eat the sugar free Jello packs from the grocery store in my first 3 weeks post op?

Check with your surgeon but it should be fine. I was allowed to have them on my clear diet. I ate so many of them I cannot eat them anymore. Looking at them makes me sick. Hang in there, it will get easier.

[charismatic 80]

I too have been having some of the worst hunger pains/pangs too. The nurse said it was actually cramps. No clue if that’s true but when I take Levein it feels SO much better.