I had my op on dec 27th. Ive been on a liquid diet (water, protein shakes, snapple and gatorade and soup). But im pretty concerned not identifying if im hungry or just anxious? Its too fast, i feel, for me.to be wondering thus. Right?

I know that feeling, I don't have any advice, just support to let you know your not alone.

3 hours ago, annyapena said:

I had my op on dec 27th. Ive been on a liquid diet (water, Protein Shakes, snapple and gatorade and soup). But im pretty concerned not identifying if im hungry or just anxious? Its too fast, i feel, for me.to be wondering thus. Right?

I definitely couldn’t identify hunger until at least 3 weeks post-op. It’s still a challenge though and tomorrow is 7 weeks since my surgery.

I had surgical pain that I thought was hunger. It went away. The hunger did return though, a few weeks after my surgery.

It likely is head hunger. Very understandable to feel anxious & stressed after your surgery. You question your decision, wonder if you’re following your plan correctly, worry about your healing & recovery, doubt such small portions can be enough food, etc. It can be a real emotional roller coaster. For many of us when we felt this way in the past we turned to food to comfort us and your head is still trying to make you do this.

Real hunger feels different to head hunger. I get restless & think something is wrong with real hunger. With head hunger I want to eat a specific food, flavour or texture. Head hunger will disappear if I can distract myself or by having something to drink (like a herbal or green tea). Real hunger doesn’t disappear.

Also your excess stomach acid (as a result of the surgery) can make you think you’re hungry (hunger pangs) when you’re not.

While most people lose their hunger for a time after surgery not everyone does. Average seems to be for it to be lost for about 6 months but some find it returns sooner while for others it doesn’t return for a year or more.

I had a about of hunger induced anxiety today, it's hard to pick and even my friend who is naturally slim and eats little mentioned she had anxiety but we made a connection between when she hasn't eaten and anxiety. It's actually very interesting how our blood sugar level can mimic anxiety.

I haven’t felt hunger, I just force myself to eat at specific times when I am home. If my stomach is gurgling and I haven’t eaten in a while I figure it’s hunger.