3 months post op. Anxiety, head hunger and insomnia.

[perfektlynrml 185]

I’m about three and a half months past my gastric bypass. The weight is coming off steadily but I have episodes of anxiety which cause me to want to eat even though I’m not physically hungry. Lately I have found myself getting up in the middle of the night to eat something. Today I tried listening to relaxation sounds and I fell asleep for one hour but I woke up and I ate chicken salad on crackers. I know I am not hungry because I feel none of the sensations. I feel like my comfort eating mindset is coming back even though I have no capacity to eat excess food. I’m not sure how to handle these feelings. I’m definitely eating enough Protein and I have salad every day. Anyone else going through this? Any advice? Thanks for reading.

[GradyCat 3,697]

Definitely can relate. I woke up at 1 am, wasn't hungry, but had anxiety, and ate Protein Cake Bites. No reason. I don't have "hunger signals." I never did before surgery and I don't now either. I just ate out of boredom or stress and anxiety. I take anxiety medication and an anti-depressant. My psych was super supportive about my WLS and talked me through head hunger and eating appropriately. Your surgeon's office should have a therapist on staff and a nutritionist for your lifetime support. You might want to talk to the therapist about the head hunger. Mine talked to me about "mindfulness" but that didn't work for me. Now I just eat small tiny portions that my stomach will allow and eat about every 3 hours just a tiny little healthy bit.

[JessLess 1,163]

When I wake up at night I have unsweetened almond milk. It's very low calorie and soothing on most people's stomachs. My dietician liked the ideal.

[JRT Mom 920]

These are extremely trying times for anyone, much less one going through weight loss. During the day try diversionary tactics--take a walk, watch some TV (but dang it, the food commercials are brutal...) The nighttime munchies are tougher. Talk to your dietician and see if you can incorporate a very small night snack into your total food consumption for the day. As long as you are still losing weight it probably won't hurt, although eating and going right to bed can certainly give you heartburn.

Alka Seltzer had these chewable heartburn gummies that have some melatonin in them. They do have 30 calories and 6 grams of sugar per dose, but they will help you sleep.

Good luck--you got this!

[catwoman7 11,278]

yep - it's a daily battle

[Tracyringo 503]

Same here but in my case I go through days where I have no interest in food and it balances out.

[perfektlynrml 185]

I’m thinking that my lack of Water has something to do with it. I drink less than 16 oz a day. I used to love to chug water but now I can only get a few ounces in and I feel uncomfortable. It doesn't make sense to me how I can eat junk so easily. Also if I eat Protein, I feel full after a few bites. Tonight I made a snack of chicken in the can with light mayo and I ate less then half. No crackers or bread. I’m going to be spending time with my daughter for the next two weeks and I am planning to reset myself back to my previous way of eating. She is very supportive of my weight loss progress. Not feeling as much support from my hubby. (He buys Mallomars) come to think of it, I went spinning out of control after I returned from an 18 day visit with my daughter. She also had Snacks but I didn’t touch them in her house, It is like I jumped back into my old patterns just from being in my old environment. I’m going to ask my husband to cut it out with the snacks or don’t let me even see them. I hope he listens to me.

[ichabodny 59]

I try to eat what I can in the morning and early afternoon. If I drink my waters after that and add my Protein Powder, head hunger goes away fast.

I just started a job working second shift-fast labor lifting in shipping and recieving. When I get home at around midnight, I do get some twinges to eat something but I will just drink instead. I think routine and getting past the holidays can be a huge help for you. Right now it's tough because you can be at the point of being unable to have a solid routine for still learning your body and what you can eat.

I second reaching out to your support team at your Dr's office.