Question:
Why is there no real hunger during the first week or two after surgery?

Can't believe that I would not be hungry during the week or two following surgery.    — Lynn P. (posted on May 28, 2003)

May 27, 2003
I had no real hunger for about 5 months after surgery. I made myself eat 3 times a day. It really helps with learning how and when to eat. Around 5 months I started feeling like I knew I needed to eat, about 7 months I was really hungry. Some people don't have this feeling for a few weeks, or a few months. I was lucky, because it really helped me in learning to only eat 3 times a day. Good Luck.
   — Sharon H.

May 27, 2003
Well...your stomach is swollen, you're in a bit of pain. Stuff like that. I didn't really feel like eating for about 3 weeks. At month 3 I got my hunger pangs back. I'm 2 years out now and hunger feels the same as it did pre-op, just can't eat as much...however I CAN eat some of the same junk I did before so I do have to watch it. Good luck and God bless!
   — Kimberly L.

May 28, 2003
I have had a few surgeries and react the same each time. For me, the first few weeks I am not hungry due to the anesthesia they use. Takes that long to work its way out of the system. Now I did experience head hunger at about 2 weeks post-op, mostly from being on a liquid diet and watching all the pizza, fast food commercials on TV. AND, it happened to be girl scout cookie time of year and I was staying with my sister whose daughter was a distributor. Try being 2 weeks post-op and looking at case after case of girl scout cookies and knowing that you can't even have one!!
   — Cindy R.

May 28, 2003
Get used to it- you probably won't be hungry for the next few months! Most post-ops say they don't get true hunger again until about 6 months out. I was just like Cindy, not hungry at first, then had a week or two of head hunger mostly due to commercials and such, then up until month 6 had to force myself to eat. It's really a blessing when I look back at it! But I guess our body went through so much, there are so many other things we're worrying about and don't have time to think of hunger. Not sure why, but I was happy with it. Goodluck to you :-)
   — Lezlie Y.

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