I just had my vsg surgery on Tuesday, and while I was at the hospital I felt no hunger at all. now that I am home, when I smell someone cooking dinner I keep asking myself if I’m hungry. I thought the hunger hormone is taken out during the surgery, so why do I feel like I could be hungry? It’s not enough to make me want to get up and eat something, but I’m worried that if I could feel hungry this soon after surgery that I’m not going to be successful. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Could be you are just thirsty. Try sipping water when it happens. Could also be acid reflux.

Good luck!

If you only think you're hungry when you smell food (or see a commercial or watch a cooking show, etc.) then it is more than likely head hunger.

I have found that head hunger is real, and is not at all effected by removal of my stomach. But even so I have been successful thus far.

As has been said over and over again, VSG is only a tool. It is up to of us to use it effectively. We just need to learn to make good choices and only eat when we are physically hungry.

I was so hungry after my sleeve I could have chewed my leg off. I was more physically hungry than I've ever been in my life. (something about eating starvation level calories that did not meet basal body requirements and a massive surgery that required massive calories for repairs)

I didn't stop feeling hungry until about week three after when I started eating around 1000 calories per day.

I eat 1200 calories per day now, and never feel hungry:)

Some people get relief from hunger. Some do not.

Edited June 22, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

Yes. I woke up from the surgery hungry and was hungry all through the first two stages. Now with purees and mushy it’s gotten a whole lot better.

Too much acid production can also make you feel hungry. Your body may still be making the amount of acid for your old-sized stomach, which is too much now. Are you taking any PPIs (e.g. Prilosec)? If not, you may want to start taking some (after discussing it with your surgeon). Good luck.

Edited June 22, 20188 yr by MarinaGirl

My stomach feels empty alot of the time when I am head hungry. To be honest with you the head hunger can imitate stomach hunger. When I eat something because of head hunger I end up not eating or eating a minimal amount. I eat very little right now. I am content to see the pounds coming off. I would say that I am eating about 600 calories per day. I was drinking protein shakes but they are so sweet that they make me want to throw up. I used to love eggs but after the sleeve surgery I cant eat them.

On 06/22/2018 at 14:12, Creekimp13 said:

I was so hungry after my sleeve I could have chewed my leg off. I was more physically hungry than I've ever been in my life. (something about eating starvation level calories that did not meet basal body requirements and a massive surgery that required massive calories for repairs)

I didn't stop feeling hungry until about week three after when I started eating around 1000 calories per day.

I eat 1200 calories per day now, and never feel hungry:)

Some people get relief from hunger. Some do not.

Thanks everyone, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one struggling!

The foods that I find most satisfying are lentils, black beans, split peas, barley. I prepare these in the crock pot. They are healthy and delicious. Pinto beans with a little cheese on top are also good. These foods break the hunger for me. Also I love frozen vegetables that I boil in water and then sprinkle some salt on with a little butter. Green cabbage goes well with the lentils too. Hope this helps.

Baked lamb chops take my hunger away also.

I find tomatoe soup to be very satisfying.

I am 4 days post up. Today is the first day that food sounds slightly intriguing. I'm having terrible acid reflux though and I know in the past when I had it I would reach for food to make the pain/nausea go away. I can't drink anything besides water right now and I still have it. I think it's why I'm now looking forward to food as a way to buffer some of the acid. I'd love to have a protein shake but I'll wait and do the time. Does the reflux subside at all once you start eating?