Question:
After surgery is the feeling of hunger as severe?
When I get hungry now I feel so hungry that I feel like I'm starving to death. Will this happen after I have surgery if I can't eat every 2-3 hours? — Carol T. (posted on June 29, 2001)
June 29, 2001
I used to get very hungry before surgery. Now I am 3 months post op. I
don't get as hungry, my stomach doesn't growl like it used to if I don't
eat every 2 hours. Most of it for me is head hunger. When that happens I
drink water, and the hunger goes away. I eat 3 times a day, and the rest
is water or crystal light.
— [Anonymous]
June 29, 2001
First of all, it depends on the type of surgery. People tend to ask
questions and give answers without clarifying which surgery they are
speaking about, and that can be confusing and even dangerous. With RNY,
EVERYTHING changes after the surgery. You won't have the same cravings or
the same hunger, foods and drinks will taste differently to you. You will
get full and satisfied quickly. You will have to learn to eat slowly, to
chew - chew - chew before swallowing (though this will be 'old hat' in no
time!), eat while relaxed, not drink right after eating. But, it will work
and you will lose the extra weight. I know it seems hard to imagine, but
it will happen.
— Cindy H.
June 29, 2001
Before surgery, I very seldom allowed myself to get hungry - so I wasn't
really familiar with the feeling. Post-op (DS surgery), I found that when
I got hungry, I became ravenous - like I would eat anything not nailed
down! Fortunately, it takes just a little bit to make that feeling go
away, although it was a learning process to not wolf down what I thought I
wanted, and only eat what my little stomach would take comfortably. I find
that it is best for me to eat small meals every 3 hours or so, both for my
low blood sugar, and to avoid those ravenous hunger episodes. - Kate -
— kateseidel
June 29, 2001
I often get so hungry I think I can eat like the old days. I'll fix myself
a big plate or order a lot of food. Then when it comes, I eat a bit... But
I feel like I felt after Christmas dinners in an Italian home before
surgery =) It's truly amazing!
— Jeannet
June 29, 2001
I'm 5 months post op down 101# almost never get hungry.
That may change down the road.
— Mike H.
June 29, 2001
For both me and my mother,we are both alot hungrier feeling since surgery.
It seems to go through me so quickly. I carry around jerky incase I'm not
able to grab something.Sometimes I feel like I could eat a horse and when I
do eat it is so little that I don't feel bad about eating more alittle
later.
— Vel K.
June 29, 2001
Carol, I had open RnY in April of this year and since the surgery I seldom
think of or crave food. This is from a guy whose every waking thought
centerd around food. I now have to keep a food log to make sure I eat what
I am supposed to each day. It is absolutely amazing to go from one extreme
to another overnight, but I love it.
— Barry R.
June 29, 2001
Hi. I am 4 days post op as of today. I feel great! I actually do have
that "hunger" sensation but it is nothing like it was pre-op.
Yesterday all day I had roughly 3 1/2 cups of liquid. It seemed like so
much more because I was trying to follow my Dr's orders of having 2 oz of
liquid every 1/2 hour. I have grumbling and growling which I haven't yet
figured out. Sometimes it ends up being gas, and sometimes it is the
liquid moving through the pouch. Other times, it may be hunger. But still
it is not the kind of hunger that makes me want to go out and eat a full
plate of food. I have either conditioned myself to knowing that I can't
possibly do that or my stomach realizes it and says "oh no you
don't" :-) Very strange and I know it will take some getting used to.
For instance, it is now 6am - I have been up and
"growling/grumbling" since 5. I'm not ravenous but I do want to
"eat" (in my case "drink") something. But it will be 2
oz and then I won't be full per se, but I'll be satisfied. I'm thinking
the full sensation will come once I start soft and real foods. Good luck
-- sorry it's so long!
— Kimberly L.
June 30, 2001
I am six months post op and the feeling is entirely different. I never get
so hungry that I feel nauseated as I would feel pre-op if I went too many
hours without eating. I now eat when I feel hungry and the feeling is very
minor.
— Lisa B.
June 30, 2001
I had open RNY and my experience has been that everything changed for me
post-op. Pre-op, I felt hungry almost all the time and if I went too long
without eating, I would get a weak, shakey, sinking kind of feeling. I
hated that feeling so much, I ate almost constantly to keep it at bay.
Post op, I still have an apetite, but am satisfied with much, much less. I
used to have terrible cravings ... especially for sugar. I almost never
have cravings any more. If I do, I have found that upping the protein
intake seems to work every time. I don't know why ... but it does. I try
to get plenty of protein (from supps and food) and eat protein first, but I
also eat carbs ... potatoes, pasta, salads, veggies, fruit. I try to eat
some of everything. I dump on sugar and fatty foods, so don't eat them
much at all. Occasionally I will have a "taste" of something
sweet (I can get by with a taste). It usually doesn't taste as good as I
thought it would. Even the smell of really fatty fried foods makes me
nauseous, so I avoid fried foods and really fatty foods. However, I don't
try to eliminate fats altogether either. I eat pretty frequently ...
probably every 2 -3 hours .... small amounts. I try not to graze and munch
constantly though. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless you.
— Lynn T.
June 30, 2001
I had a lap BPD/DS, so I can't comment on a post-op RNY experience, but I
have NOT suffered from hunger as a post-op. I haven't experienced that
weak, shaky feeling or lightheadedness that I did on previous 'diets'. I
eat three meals a day (and a snack or two on some days) and the amount I
eat varies greatly: Sometimes I can eat an entire burger, some fries and
veggies while other times 1/2 a chicken sandwich will do. :) I focus on
proteins and having a high-protein diet (although NOT to the exclusion of
carbs and other foods) seems to help many feel less 'hungry'. It certainly
does for me. Sometimes I just don't have an appetite at all (I know -- a
VERY strange feeling, believe me! LOL) All the best, Teresa (lap DS with
gallbladder removal, January 25, 2001)
— Teresa N.
Click Here to Return