I really don't think they've cut away enough of my stomach!

[ErinPaige 1]

I was absolutely starving during the night and felt so dizzy and lightheaded with it so I made a poached egg and absolutely devoured it.

Now im worried as I should still be on liquid diet.

But im really struggling.

I didn't even get the full feeling after eating this egg either.

What the hell is wrong with me?! 😭

Why on earth am I so hungry? I'm only ten days post op.

Why don't I get that 'full' signal like everyone else?

[SpartanMaker 1,465]

Have you talked to your surgical team? That should always be your first point of contact when you're having issues.

I really doubt the surgeon somehow didn't create an appropriately sized stomach pouch. They use something called a bougie to determine where to staple. Not all surgeons use the same size bougie, but they definitely have a guide to use that would preclude somehow leaving your stomach too big.

With that out of the way, we can think more about what may be going on with you. Obviously I don't know for sure, but just to throw out some ideas here:

• Some people have a hard time with the liquid portion of the diet specifically because the desire to chew can override their brain a bit. It can even make them think they're hungry when in fact the issue is just this strong need to chew. This happens because part of what signals our brain that we've eaten is actually coming from chewing, not from a "full belly". There are hormones released while we chew that signal to our brains that we're "done" and don't need to eat anymore.
• Your stomach is also really inflamed at this point still and the mechanisms involved that signal fullness can get really messed up as a result. This should settle down the further out from surgery you get.
• It's not unusual for people to not be good at understanding the fullness signals out brains are receiving. Overweight and obese people especially often associate being overfull almost to the point of pain as "being satisfied", when in reality that stuffed signal is not actually what we should have been relying on to know when to stop. If you're chasing this feeling now, that may be part of the issue because you're not going to have that feeling for long, if at all on just a liquid diet.
• Finally, keep in mind that it's common for hunger cues to be based not on anything physical at all. Sometimes we yearn for food so soothe us or satisfy other psychological needs. If your desire to eat is still present, even after you have a "meal", then it may be psychological, not physical hunger cues that are driving you to eat.

Best of luck.

[kristieshannon 1,685]

Also, sometimes excess stomach acid can lead to that grumbly “hungry” feeling. Check with your team about an acid reducer. And do your best to follow their diet plan! They are the experts and give you the post-op diet rules for well-studied reasons.

[Arabesque 7,617]

The emotional rollercoaster after surgery can really screw up your hunger signals. Your head hunger signals go into overdrive as your head tells you to eat to make you feel better. Not helped by surges in estrogen that is released from our fat as we lose weight messing with our emotions too. Also many nerves are cut during surgery plus the swelling & inflammation @SpartanMaker mentioned distorts messages like hunger and satiety even if they actually get through. And it’s a pretty major surgery and it knocks you about. It takes time before you don’t feel tired, weak, dizzy, doughy headed, etc.

It takes a good 6+ weeks to fully heal after surgery, so these mixed signals & feeling unwell will continue for a while. Generally though, if you’re craving a specific food, flavour or texture, it’s head hunger. If you’re feeling sad, anxious, frustrated, angry, bored, etc. it’s likely head hunger.

In time you’ll discover real hunger signals are different. For me I feel restless like something is wrong not that I ‘feel’ hungry. Having eaten enough can feel different too. Many sneeze, or get the hiccups. Don’t eat until you feel full or until you’ve eaten all you want. It takes 20 odd minutes for the full message to get through normally & a lot longer this soon after surgery so don’t eat until you feel full - you’ve eaten too much by then. Stop when you’ve had enough, when you don’t need any more. You’ll have lots of meals (appropriate portion sizes) you simply can’t finish because you’ve had enough and don’t need any more. I still do at 6 years out.

The lightheadedness could be from being dehydrated too or from your blood pressure dropping (many experience this). Are you meeting or close to meeting your daily fluid goals? Often an electrolyte drink can help.

It does get easier and you will feel better. Just give yourself time.

[WendyJane 99]

Sometimes, it is your brain thinking you are hungry, it is called head hunger. Stop and think to yourself and ask during the pause about is this truly hunger in your stomach, or is it some other reason that is making you think you are hungry? Sometimes people eat due to boredom and if you are only a couple of weeks out from surgery, you will have to suffer through the hunger signals that your brain is putting out. Kind of like mind over matter. You don't need the matter, find something to do, like journaling and make it just go away. It is hard, very hard, but we all need to focus on the reason we are hungry, the head or the stomach. I hope you find something to keep your brain occupied, other than food.