is it possible to feel hungry?

i had surgery on august 26th.  i had an appt with my dr. this past thursday... he asked how i was feeling and i told him i had felt hungry a few times.  not STARVING, but like i needed something to eat.  and when i did get something to eat (drink) i felt fine. 
he said there is "NO WAY" i should be feeling hungry.  he is making me go to a psychologist to talk to her about "why i feel hungry, when im not".  (emotional eating). 
i know about emotional eating and head hunger and all of that.  but what im feeling IS hunger.... if its not, then i dont know what it could be!!!   he really made me feel lik i was a crazy person. 

am i alone here? 

Libby,
Yes I feel hungry sometimes in fact sometimes I feel like I could eat the house down but
I know it is physically impossible.
When I feel hunger it takes such a small amount to make me happy.
BTW your doctor cant say things like he did because you are the one who was re arranged.
                                                        Annie

Dr. Pirrello is a fantastic physician.  However, he doesn't know what you're feeling. 

To me, to know that you feel satisfied after drinking something when you feel like that is explanation enough -- your body did need something.  Sometimes, we do feel hunger when we are really just thirsty. 

It won't hurt to see the psychologist to discuss issues, of course; however, unless it became a constant issue, I'd not worry that I was "crazy" if I were you. 

I do love Dr. Pirrello, I must say.  We miss him at CMC-NE!

Hi Libby,

The reason that the Dr. thinks that you can't be 'hungry' is because there is an interruption of a hormone called grehlin that helps regulate yours since of hunger and satisfaction. Most people don't feel hunger for many months after surgery. Some do, but it is rare. There is head hunger that you need to deal with, but I experience actual hunger fairly early on. The good thing is that it was generally easily cured with a very small amount of food. Also be sure that you are well hydrated; thirst can mascarade as hunger. I would definitely take advantage of seeing the psychologist. I think  you will find it helpful. Be sure to stay hydrated and know that this will get better and will be so worth it. 

 

BuLL.. I felt hungry.  And it wasn't in my head.  I didn't feel not hungry until I was eating solids. 

Kelly

you crack me up.  I love how you just put that out there.  If I go without eating breakfast because it is a weekend and I got busy before I ate, I feel very very hungry about noon.  I feel as though I could eat like I used to be able to eat.  I can't of course.  A small  amount satisfies me.  I guess this started about 6 months post op. 

=)
Yes.  I have my days too.  This weekend was a one bite and full weekend but there are days when I feel like I eat all day.  But before I had solids I was hungry all the time.  I was about to barge into Dr E's office and demand to see the swallow study to prove he actually did the surgery.   I was sure it wasn't done =)

Now I know better... especially when I can only eat two bites of a  scrambled egg.

Kelly