I tried to look this up online but couldn't find anything. I really think that the unused part of my stomach is still sending hunger signals to my brain. Does anyone know the answer to this one? Thanks!!

I had VSG, so my experience is very different. But I did find some helpful info.

Sounds like the general consensus is that the bypassed portion of the stomach does continue to produce ghrelin (the "hunger" hormone), but that other changes, including an increase in leptin, may mitigate the "hunger" feeling. So you likely will not lose hunger, but it may change and/or be decreased.

https://oldedelmarsurgical.com/blog/gastric-bypass-surgery-impacts-hunger-hormones/#:~:text=It turns out that gastric,reduced along with the stomach

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/7/2999/2845142

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/88/7/2999/2845142?login=false#:~:text=The authors examined 66 morbidly,% and 61.8%%2C respectively.

Thank you for the thorough response!! I sure hope my leptin increases because my current cravings are just as uncomfortable as they were in the first 3 days of the pre-op diet.

most of us lose our sense of hunger for a few months, but not everyone. I'm taking a graduate-level nutrition class right now, and we discussed this earlier in the semester, so I'm a little foggy, but I do remember reading a study where they tested ghrelin levels on RNY patients a year out of surgery, and their ghrelin levels were very low.

There is a significant decrease of ghrelin after RNY (statistically the same as vsg), and an increase in leptin (satiety). At one year post WLS, they observed an increase in fasting acylated ghrelin in both as well.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31680051/

I'm hoping this hunger will abate over time but it has been frustrating. Thank you for the information. It's very helpful!