Hi everyone

I posted this in the main post op forum, but thought I'd post it here. I am a bit confused. My doctor implied to me that I should basically not feel any hunger. At All. Provided I was at the right amount of fill.

I am 5cc in a 11cc band, and although I am easily filled up - and am eating SO much less than I used to, I am very hungry between meals. I am torn about going back for a fill and between waiting it out. The others in the main forum implied that hunger is normal - although my surgeon implied that I should feel how i felt for the two weeks after surgery which was that I could have gone 2 weeks without food and just didn't care. I wonder which is right.... the latter sounds correct, but who knows. I am going to stick it out for a week or so and then go back to my doc, but what have you guys been told? Should you feel hunger when in the "sweet spot"?

I was one that answered your question previously posted in the General forum. I think that the way you previously asked the question was "Will the band stop all hunger?" And that is what people were responding to.

Your doctor is not correct, you are still capable of feeling hunger with the band, even at restriction, I can assure you that I have had true hunger at restriction when I get busy and don't eat on time. The band does not remove the mechanisms that tell you that you need food. It simply creates a smaller stomach so that it takes less food to feel full and depending on restriction, creates a narrower passage so the food does not empy out as fast. When you allow the pouch to empty, you will feel hunger.

At restriction you should not feel hungry sooner than 3-4 hours after your last meal. The guidelines put out by the makers of Lap Band lists between-meal hunger as one of the three determining factors to needing a fill. http://www.lapbandforum.com/uploads/1231574659/gallery_3398_50_12372.gif . If you do feel hungry sooner, getting a fill will narrow the passage and the food will stay in your pouch longer keeping you full longer.

Can you please describe your hunger feeling?

Seems like a stupid request but there are different types of hunger plus there is a lot of gas in the digestive tract so soon after surgery and it seems that many newly banded people have a hard time understanding what they are truly feeling.

Edited May 6, 200917 yr by Jodi_620

Thanks so much for your post

The hunger feels like EMPTY gassy stomach it feels like a physical thing - rather than head hunger. But I myself have thought what if this is gas rather than hunger. I feel empty and like i THINK i remember that going without food feels like.

What is up with my DOC!!

When you get that empty feeling it is often dehydration; something I experienced a lot for the first several months. It is hard but try to drink more Water between meals.

You probably do feel gas too which only adds to the discomfort. GasX does help a bit but over time the gas should lessen on its own.

True hunger for me is that tummy rumbling (not gas) hunger pains up a little higher in the digestive system.

Not sure what's up with your doctor...

I was one that answered your question previously posted in the General forum. I think that the way you previously asked the question was "Will the band stop all hunger?" And that is what people were responding to.

Your doctor is not correct, you are still capable of feeling hunger with the band, even at restriction, I can assure you that I have had true hunger at restriction when I get busy and don't eat on time. The band does not remove the mechanisms that tell you that you need food. It simply creates a smaller stomach so that it takes less food to feel full and depending on restriction, creates a narrower passage so the food does not empy out as fast. When you allow the pouch to empty, you will feel hunger.

At restriction you should not feel hungry sooner than 3-4 hours after your last meal. The guidelines put out by the makers of Lap Band lists between-meal hunger as one of the three determining factors to needing a fill. http://www.lapbandforum.com/uploads/1231574659/gallery_3398_50_12372.gif . If you do feel hungry sooner, getting a fill will narrow the passage and the food will stay in your pouch longer keeping you full longer.

Can you please describe your hunger feeling?

Seems like a stupid request but there are different types of hunger plus there is a lot of gas in the digestive tract so soon after surgery and it seems that many newly banded people have a hard time understanding what they are truly feeling.

Great response! I wanted to say WTG! on meeting your goal! Awesome!

Thanks Angie :cool2: