Hunger pains
First . Hunger pangs is a symptom. It is not a diagnosis. Hunger by itself is not something that will hurt your health. As a symptom it can indicate more things than an empty stomach. Sudden Low blood sugars can cause seizures .I have the T shirt on that one.I had hypoglycemic reactions before I had gastric by pass.My sugars stayed from 30-90 for months, at 90 I would release insulin and drop sugars to the bottom again.
What you said about ... having hunger then immediate , intense hunger followed by other symptoms.. including nausea. That is how I started as a 21 year old. Since everyone has a different reaction and tolerates different blood sugar levels, especially when one adjust to them being either low or high over time.
A finger stick of 140,for high was the guidelines i was given ...they may have lowered that as a normal. I was given a normal low as 75. If you can check your sugars like i suggested.. it will give you an idea of what is going on as would testing your sugars when you have those symptoms and noting what it takes to relieve the symptoms.
If you have an episode, check sugar then before you do anything more than drink water.( even coffee will make sugar drop),but don't think you have 10 minutes to get the check done either.do it asap..
If you find your blood sugars are dropping within an hour after you eat, you will need to modify your diet and the dietician/ nutrish. can help you to do modifications within the diet you are prescribed.. The diet diary and blood sugar checks together should help them be able to guide you stability without any pain.
It is possible,your sugars may be in a normal range, but just doing a sudden nose dive as your body begins protein digestion-raiding energy from your normal activities and leaving you in a deficit. ... an example of this would be a blood sugar of 110 dropping suddenly(over 30 min) to 70.
Doing on 30 min intervals is a headache, but it will help you to know exactly when your sugars vary. and it is for one partial day. When my sugar drops suddenly, and i have nausea,. I find 2 saltines with a teaspoon of peanut butter and 2 ounces of (lactose free )milk will stop the reaction.
You may need to stretch your meals out. or change to a liquid high protein in place of a noon meal..may need to add or change your recipe, to put in what you need... instead of what you are having.... to get your goal of nutrients in.
Exercise and a lot of walking or activity will increase your glucose need and your carb needs.
.. Do you also get shakey, break out in a sweat(when others are not) , or feel weak -knee'd? .these are also symptoms of low blood sugar. Management of low blood sugar is dietary. I have been hypoglycemic for 37 years..I am blessed , and deducated,the next stage is type 2 diabetes. My Dr said "control it or you will be insulin dependent in 5 years". That is serious.
on 1/15/18 9:53 pm
I don't really get the shakes or anything. There have been a few times where I have started gagging because that's how sick I felt from feeling so hungry. I went out and bought a blood sugar monitor and going to do what you suggested starting tomorrow morning when I wake up. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain all of that!
No problem, that is one reason i check these boards. Just trying to pass on some tips and help others problem solve issues that can arise after surgery. We had a support group but was so far away was hard to access. This can bring support to teh nearest computer.
Even tho my surgery was so long ago , many of the issues I have had, and manage on a regular basis,others may experience. The sudden hunger with nausea is a confusing symptom, one doesn't know whether to go to the kitchen or toilet. Only by checking your sugars will you know if it is sugar issue and that will give you leads on how to best correct it without adverse effects on your health or your weight loss program.
Recognising your symptom of acute hunger ,as just one peice in a puzzle is important. You are very early in your new way of life, and your bodily reaction to your surgery is unique. You are and Everyone's reaction is. This is a permanent soution to a permanent problem. Hang in there and stay alert to your body changes. This is temporary.
Consider this, if you are having trouble getting your food down...after you have eaten half of what you have as a your serving, get up and walk thru the house, sip ( think teaspoon or two no more than 10 cc.) warm liquid and walk for 5 min. come back to plate and see if that helps your food move.
Sometimes my sitting position kinks off the bottom of my pouch and standing and stretching out fully will relieve the pressure. Also I considered my measured protein and essential (measured) carb/grain (what-ever your #2 food is prescribed)as a meal, if it took me 30 min or 90 min to eat it. I started with a pouch size of 30 cc. Now it is about 5-oz solids.
We (Mom had the surg before me) were told to get in liquids and protein. For the first 4 weeks I was really weak. after a calorie check my calories were too low,raising them by 100-200 was effective in restoring energy..400-500 cal a day is really hard to get in with a tiny pouch. as edema subsided over 3 months it does become easier... I hope You know don't take the antacid/acid preventer with other medications or necessary vites or minerals, it will inhibit absorbtion.
on 1/16/18 7:09 am
It's confusing and frustrating for sure! You've been so helpful, I appreciate it so much! I started the blood sugar monitor this morning so we will see how the end of the 5 hours go!
I had the mini gastric bypass, and the food guide and progression is a lot different than the RnY. I was able to have solid foods at 3 weeks (I couldn't stomach it so I did 4 weeks) but I am wondering if that has anything to do with it. I am apart of another group on Facebook and a girl has the same symptoms as me and she, too, had the mini gastric. It will all be trial and error which I am totally fine with. I have managed to lose 43 pounds since my surgery so I feel that has to say something haha! But thank you again for your responses!
on 1/16/18 8:34 am
It probably isn't, she's actually the first person I spoke to that had the same procedure as me, everyone I have spoke to has had the RnY, so thought maybe that was a possibility! But that's great you haven't experienced that. I found the progression pretty intense. I went out of province for my procedure, so where I live everyone goes to one city to get it done and for them they weren't able to progress to full foods until 8 weeks, I followed their food guide and kind of mine at the same time, it could maybe also be as simple as my pouch isn't ready for solid foods, so I've decided to go back to soft foods for a bit to see if that helps. Thanks for your reply, nice to see someone who has had the same procedure as me as i wasn't really aware of the difference besides the difference in what they do!
I think pulling back on solid food is a good idea. Everyone is different and early out you may have issues with some food that others do not, so it is a bit of trial and error. And what is challenging to eat now may change in just a few short weeks or months.
There is so much great info on this site, especially with regards to diet & nutrition from all the amazing vets; imo, better info than what a lot of our surgeon's staff provide.
