11 days out from surgery and really hungry

I'm having a really hard time feeling satiated. I'm drinking protein shakes, eating thinned out cream of wheat...I've even skipped ahead and am eating cottage cheese and plain instant mashed potatoes. When I eat the more solid food, it's really hard to tell when I've had enough, so then I get full. I'm so scared of stretching my new stomach out but hate being hungry and feeling my stomach growl, too. 

Has anyone else had this problem?

Are you taking a PPI such as prilosec or nexium?  Most often, hunger is from excess stomach acid and taking a PPI will clear things up.  

You should NOT advance your diet sooner than your surgeon's recommendations - it's dangerous and can land you back in the hospital.  Measure EVERYTHING you eat to ensure that you don't overeat and then ONLY eat what you've measured.  Your stomach is a liar right now - you can't trust it to tell you when you're full or not because all the nerves were severed.  Stick to your plan so that your stomach can heal.  

I take Protonix for acid reduction.

I never realized about the nerves. Thanks for the info! I'll start measuring my food. Still don't understand why I feel hungry so often.

I had the same problem and my doctor changed my ppi and that worked wonders. I'm on prilosec now.

I would recommend asking your surgeon why you're feeling hungry all the time.  

Can stomach acid make your stomach growl with hunger pangs?

It can, yes.

So two things to check.  The PPI you're on might need to be changed.  I went thru four before I landed on one that works consistently.  and of course, take it every day.  Also you might need to up the dosage.

Then, make sure you're getting in your water.  Dehydration often masquerades as hunger.

Perfect advice. They are spot on

cliff

Early on I felt hungry often too.  It was head hunger.  I never ever ate until satisfied.  I always measured everything because I didn't want to screw this up.  When you think your hungry, walk, mow the lawn, do something to occupy your mind.