1 Month Post Op, Always Hungry. Please Help!

Hi!

I'm so glad I found this forum. Very few people I know have ever heard of this surgery. I appreciate their support but I'm at a lost here. I feel so hungry all the time! Even when I drink protein shakes, less than 2 hours later I'm ravished. Is it normal to be this hungry ONE MONTH post-op? Everyone that I've read about with hunger issues is 2-3 years post-op. This makes me really nervous.

Also, I know this is a silly question but I'm compelled to ask-I started at 295 lbs. So far I've only lost about 27lbs. I feel like this is terribly slow considering how big I was. And it makes me feel even more certain that I'm probably eating too much. 

Advice is much appreciated!

I am only seven weeks out and I had hoped that I would lose my constant hunger.  Didn't happen.  One thing that does help me is to make sure I get enough water, not fluids, water.  I think that at least 40 ounces of water is important.  Also how high is the carb count in the protein you are using.  If it is high that could also add to your hunger.  Wishing you the best, Dee

64oz is your fluids goal.  It doesn't have to be water, but anything decaf counts.

I am not very far out and I still struggle with hunger pains it does get better just keep up with your protein and focus on fluids. I had a hard time finding a protein in the beginning and still struggle with it sometimes one day something is fine the next it makes me sick. It's hard in the beginning to tell the difference between hunger and head hunger. Water helps me a lot.  Also your on the right path and you won't stop losing I was about 303 when I got my sergury and about three months out I lost about 30 pounds and stopped losing but it's just our bodies trying to adapt so we hit plateaus. You are doing great Keep your eyes on your health and the ds will do its job . I am a newbie and these re just my experiences there are a lot of people here to help keep your eyes on the outcome you will do great! 

I had what I thought was hunger post-op but I spoke with my surgeon and it turned out to be acid in the stomach.  He gave me a prescription for an acid reducer and now I am not "hungry" at all.  27 pounds in three months is great.  I lost 24 in my first month and am now at 56 at 10 1/2 weeks.  What other weight loss attempt would have given you a loss of 27 pounds in 4 weeks.  I know we want it to happen overnight but it won't.  This is a marathon, not a sprint.   Just a head's up too that you may stall for a bit soon as well and this is normal - not because you are eating too much.  Go to the dsfacts website where they have a great explanation for it.

Hang in there.  It will get better.

Renee

I felt "hunger" after surgery too.  It was different than what hunger felt like as a pre-op.  It made me nervous because I couldn't even think straight when it hit.  It was often in the morning.  I found that eating something like low carb yogurt would take that feeling away so I could focus on eating what I needed to.  I think the other poster was correct about it being acid.  I know that doesn't make a lot of sense but taking an acid reducer everyday for the first 3 months helped a lot. 

One thing about the DS is that there are many stages.  I went thru 1 year of changes.  The hunger stage passed and then I couldn't find anything I wanted to eat.  I hated some foods that I previously loved.  I couldn't eat chicken or bacon for 6 months.  Then I loved them again.  As soon as you think you have settled in, it will change.  Your weight loss is great by the way.  No need to worry.  It's also ok to be hungry and to eat.  Some people who can't stomach any foods would be envious!  :)

Cheers,

Cathy

I am 3 months out.  I will have to agree, the acid reducer (I take Nexium) makes a world of difference.  I can only speak from my experience.  I had a horrible first month (hospitalized twice etc).   I couldn't eat, couldn't keep food down yet I thought I was hungry.  Month 2, nausea all the time.  Then at about 2.5 months, things started getting better.  I still get nauseated (mostly about 3am-4am)   There are a lot of emotions we go through in those early stages.  Figuring out the Head Hunger is hard.  We have been heavy people, we are used to eating when or however much we want.  Some of us are natural social butterflies, so being around friends and family in a food environment is rough.  My hardest is work, I walk in and some other department decides to bring us donuts or something.  Just because we have this DS that throws our body into immediate Ketosis, doesn't mean that we can instantly give up our food.  This is rough in the beginning no matter how strong willed a person is to succeed with this surgery.  The body is not actually hungry because the surgeon took out the part of the stomach that makes the grehlin hormone (our hunger hormone),  I would say it's more of an emptiness feeling at this stage.  I'm being real here with what I'm about to say ~ get on a antacid, then take your protein and water with you, go to a park (or some place that makes you feel good, everyone is different).  Focus on what you have accomplished by just having this surgery and what you want to accomplish with having this surgery.  When the head hunger comes, then think of what you want to accomplish!  Take a drink of water.  Let it go... 

You will get there!

Thank you all for you responses. I literally choked up a little when I woke up and saw them! Terribly sentimental here...

Anyway, I'm currently taking 20mg of Nexium-I think I may try to increase it to 40 and see if that helps. I also need to work on getting in all of the required water. I've never been much of a water drinker and I can't stand Crystal light. I can drink ho****er with lemon so I'll try that. I'm using bariatrix protein drinks (like the hot coco) and Zpro 25. 

Again, thank you all SO MUCH. My family keeps asking me if I regretted doing this because I look a little preoccupied at times. I definitely don't, but it's hard to explain things to them. Thank you thank you thank you ALL!

Nexium 40mg is what I take.  One thing to note, my gastro Dr told me (not the cutter), take it the very first thing when you wake up, then no later than 30-40 min, have food in your stomach.  I take mine, then have a yogurt (trying to switch to Greek) but have been using Activia for the added probiotics.

Speaking of Probiotics, I had better luck taking mine at night before bed!

Emotions are high at times with this surgery!  You will get through it!!!  All the best!

Thanks for the advice! I never take it in the morning so I'll have to do that and increase the dose.