One day post op

[KarenO716 5]

I was discharged home this afternoon after having gastric sleeve on Monday morning. I'm trying my best to get ALL my fluids & walking in however I'm so tired. And I feel hungry. Is this normal?

[Arabesque 6,573]

Tired yes is very common & it will persist for a while. I’ve had a fairly major surgery & yiur body needs to rest to heal & recover. Listen to your body & when it says stop you’re doing too much or time for a rest or a nap do so (I wish I could still justify an afternoon nana nap 😁).

Hunger is harder to answer. Most of the area in your tummy that produces the hunger hormone, ghrelin, has been removed so you shouldn’t really feel hungry for some months (when your body works out a way to compensate). And nerves were cut so signals didn’t get through or dint get through in the sane way whike you’re healing. What you may be feeling is head hunger. This could be hunger from the habit of eating (volume, frequency, etc.). Because you consciously or subconsciously question how your body can function on such small amounts of calories/food, activity (watching tv, reading, etc.). The time on the clock (lunch, dinner or snack time), or emotions & to offer comfort can make you think you’re hungry. These are the false hungers you need to work thorough to recognise, understand & manage them. They can be very powerful & only you know if what you feel falls into this type. A simple distraction can help as can sipping a warm drink (green or herbal tea is you’re allowed are good).

But some people do continue to experience hunger. And unfortunately there isn’t an answer on how to mange real hunger. Worth a conversation with your medical team (surgeon, dietician, therapist). Most of us find real hunger feels very different to what we thought were our hunger signals. For me I get restless, think something is wrong & takes a little time to realise I’m hungry. There is always a reason like I have skipped a meal or haven’t eaten much that day. Real hunger never makes me want to eat a specific food, texture or flavour.

All the best.

Edited March 15, 2023 by Arabesque

[mcipanda 121]

13 hours ago, KarenO716 said:

I was discharged home this afternoon after having gastric sleeve on Monday morning. I'm trying my best to get ALL my fluids & walking in however I'm so tired. And I feel hungry. Is this normal?

I had surgery the same day and last night felt hunger pains too. I was like, what is this?? While the pain was there, I didn’t want any food. I wonder if it’s the tummy healing or excess gas.

[GreenTealael 24,915]

13 hours ago, KarenO716 said:

I was discharged home this afternoon after having gastric sleeve on Monday morning. I'm trying my best to get ALL my fluids & walking in however I'm so tired. And I feel hungry. Is this normal?

Sometimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Definitely keep plugging away at your hydration goals. Congratulations!

[Arabesque 6,573]

Oh & so can excess stomach acid (which you’re likely overproducing for the food you’re consuming now & your smaller tummy). Are you on a PPI to reduce acid?

[aph0313 4]

Same thing happening for me. Had surgery Monday 3/13 and I wake up feeling hungry. I think it is an empty stomach with too much acid rumbling or even boredom. I am craving late night Snacks like I always have but know I don’t need them. My mind playing tricks on me.
Smelling good is also making my stomach growl but that may also be a desire to eat that food but not actually needing to eat. Good luck!

[hernangi 0]

I also started to feel hungry a few weeks after surgery. I heard that this can happen to some people. I’m trying very hard to discern between real hunger and head hunger. I hope *we* can figure this out. Good luck!

[KarenO716 5]

Slowly figuring out I'm in fact thirsty and not hungry. Learning myself all over has been interesting. I was never a big drinker so this is a big wow for me. Monday is 1 week post op and I'm gonna start introducing some new choices. Wish me luck.