Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Is anyone finding that post op they are having trouble differentiating between hunger and being full?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don’t even know if its head hunger or real hunger. I don’t know if im eating enough

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Most people (not all) immediately post op do not experience hunger so if you are eating and experience this feeling afterwards my guess is it’s your full signal. Mine doesn’t feel anything like hunger to me but I guess we are all different.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am 3 weeks post-op and I feel hungry all the time. I have pain when I eat, maybe from eating too quickly, but even with those, I'm hungry. I don't think it's head hunger - it feel like how it used to feel if I went 8 hours or more between meals before surgery. Everyone keeps telling me I'm NOT hungry, but that just feels like gaslighting. It's possible it's GERD, but I'm taking 20mg of omeprazole every day...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, lizonaplane said:

I am 3 weeks post-op and I feel hungry all the time. I have pain when I eat, maybe from eating too quickly, but even with those, I'm hungry. I don't think it's head hunger - it feel like how it used to feel if I went 8 hours or more between meals before surgery. Everyone keeps telling me I'm NOT hungry, but that just feels like gaslighting. It's possible it's GERD, but I'm taking 20mg of omeprazole every day...

There are the few rare people who still have actual hunger. Are you eating Snacks? I honestly think mine was head hunger, but I still couldn’t deny it every-time. As long as it’s healthy, you should be okay to incorporate snacks. I ate Breakfast at 6 (or whenever I wake up) lunch at noon and dinner at 6 so with snacks at 3 and 9 I was eating every three hours. I still kept portions small and calories low but I had to eat more often than just three meals a day. The nutritionist preferred that we try to keep it to three meals a day but the NP was fine with snacks as long as they were small and healthy. In the very beginning my snacks were veggies cause of all the Constipation issues I needed Fiber.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm 2 weeks post-op and have absolutely no idea what is happening in there. Some times I feel what I think is hunger, but then it goes away and I start questioning if I felt anything at all. Then when I eat (still on purees), I can't really tell how much to eat or when I'm full. I do think I've started to notice a pressure in my chest that I didn't have before and I'm thinking that might be my "full" signal, so I'm trying to listen to it and let it guide my eating. Thankfully, I haven't dealt with head hunger too much, but I also did (and am still doing) a lot of work around food addiction/emotional eating before surgery to try and get ahead of some of that, knowing that I for sure struggle with it. I just have to keep reminding myself that its a process and I need to learn to listen to my body as best I can.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My new 'full' signal feels like pre-op hunger. Driving me insane. I just force myself to wait 30 minutes. If it goes away, then I'm good. If I'm still hungry, I eat another couple of bites.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, vikingbeast said:

My new 'full' signal feels like pre-op hunger. Driving me insane. I just force myself to wait 30 minutes. If it goes away, then I'm good. If I'm still hungry, I eat another couple of bites.

If it feels like being hungry, how do you know it's your full signal?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

If it feels like being hungry, how do you know it's your full signal?

This is going to be really weird... but I got stuck in traffic (sudden road closure due to wildfire) and had nothing at all to eat for about seven hours. The feeling I got was CLEARLY hunger—it felt like my stomach grinding against itself. It's completely different to the "former hunger" signal.

And now I keep emergency food in my truck.

Edited by vikingbeast

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Also, if I eat more after the "former hunger" signal I get the tight chest, sneezing, and burping that means I exceeded the capacity of my pouch.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Sleeve_Me_Alone said:

I'm 2 weeks post-op and have absolutely no idea what is happening in there. Some times I feel what I think is hunger, but then it goes away and I start questioning if I felt anything at all. Then when I eat (still on purees), I can't really tell how much to eat or when I'm full. I do think I've started to notice a pressure in my chest that I didn't have before and I'm thinking that might be my "full" signal, so I'm trying to listen to it and let it guide my eating. Thankfully, I haven't dealt with head hunger too much, but I also did (and am still doing) a lot of work around food addiction/emotional eating before surgery to try and get ahead of some of that, knowing that I for sure struggle with it. I just have to keep reminding myself that its a process and I need to learn to listen to my body as best I can.

I’m now on purées too and I have the same issue. I have no idea what is going on with my body. But I just eat very small portions and then try to ignore that hunger feeling cause I don’t want to over do it. But I have no clue. I’m nervous moving forward if my stomach doesn’t figure itself out. Lol

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, KarrinnaP said:

I’m now on purées too and I have the same issue. I have no idea what is going on with my body. But I just eat very small portions and then try to ignore that hunger feeling cause I don’t want to over do it. But I have no clue. I’m nervous moving forward if my stomach doesn’t figure itself out. Lol

Idk if this helps but the NP told me that we are supposed to eat to prevent hunger rather than to eat when we are hungry. Since surgery I have been eating by the clock and it seems to work for me. Between three meals and two Snacks I eat a small portion every three hours and I know when I feel hungry between meals it must be head hunger cause I just ate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Idk if this helps but the NP told me that we are supposed to eat to prevent hunger rather than to eat when we are hungry. Since surgery I have been eating by the clock and it seems to work for me. Between three meals and two Snacks I eat a small portion every three hours and I know when I feel hungry between meals it must be head hunger cause I just ate.

My nutritionist told me to eat six small meals a day but I really can’t. I have a Protein Shake when I wake up and maybe get a third of it down, then I try to do an egg white scramble a few hours later, then for lunch I’ve been just sticking to Soups, then I may try and finish the Protein shake or have a sugar free pudding. Then I don’t eat until dinner. And that is totally dependent on how I’m feeling. Maybe I really am hungry and I’m scared to over eat. I honestly never had a food problem until this surgery. I could not lose weight after my 4th baby then I gained 30 pounds last year after a total hysterectomy and the extra 30 pounds was putting too much pressure on my fragile joints( I had a broken back and broke my ankle three times) after I left the military. So I felt like once I hit 227 it was time for a change. But I like to think I always was a practical eater, now I’m feeling obsessed with what I’m supposed to eat or how I’m supposed to feel. I just want to feel “normal”. But I just feel a lot discomfort now matter how much or little I eat. And the Crazy thing, I don’t know if the person posting about this has this too, my stomach growls at me after I eat. Never before. Idk what that is about.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, KarrinnaP said:

My nutritionist told me to eat six small meals a day but I really can’t. I have a Protein Shake when I wake up and maybe get a third of it down, then I try to do an egg white scramble a few hours later, then for lunch I’ve been just sticking to Soups, then I may try and finish the Protein shake or have a sugar free pudding. Then I don’t eat until dinner. And that is totally dependent on how I’m feeling. Maybe I really am hungry and I’m scared to over eat. I honestly never had a food problem until this surgery. I could not lose weight after my 4th baby then I gained 30 pounds last year after a total hysterectomy and the extra 30 pounds was putting too much pressure on my fragile joints( I had a broken back and broke my ankle three times) after I left the military. So I felt like once I hit 227 it was time for a change. But I like to think I always was a practical eater, now I’m feeling obsessed with what I’m supposed to eat or how I’m supposed to feel. I just want to feel “normal”. But I just feel a lot discomfort now matter how much or little I eat. And the Crazy thing, I don’t know if the person posting about this has this too, my stomach growls at me after I eat. Never before. Idk what that is about.

13 minutes ago, ShoppGirl said:

Idk if this helps but the NP told me that we are supposed to eat to prevent hunger rather than to eat when we are hungry. Since surgery I have been eating by the clock and it seems to work for me. Between three meals and two Snacks I eat a small portion every three hours and I know when I feel hungry between meals it must be head hunger cause I just ate.

Thank you by the way. I’m feeling like a head case lately.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×