Question for vet

 I am  6 wks out and when my tummy gets empty it is uncomfortable and I often become nauseated. I am eating atleast every 2-3 hours. I am trying to incorporate more dense protein and not drinking 30 min before and after I eat. Is this hungry/empty feeling the new norm or will it pass with time and healing and food progression?  My MD said I would not feel hunger for 3-4 months. ????lol. I am taking protonix daily also. Unfortunately I am not sure I know what hungry is anymore. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 

It sounds like it might be acid, especially so early out. Check with you physician, but you may need to increase the protonix to twice/day. Not everyone loses their hunger, but excessive acid can mimic hunger.

Some people have suggested a bit of lemon juice in water, which sometimes helps with the acid.

gail

if it is a gnawing hungry feeling, that could mean an ulcer - it is growly, gurly and like you are hungry all the time?  Does it burn, do you feel hungry right after you eat? Does it go away after you eat but come right back?  You might need to get an endoscopy.  Gnawing pain is the number one sign of an ulcer.  You say you have been taking protonix daily that is good - have you taken any NSAIDS? IV toradol in the hospital? Some surgeons think this is okay but it isn't?  Any aspirin?  Pepto Bismol? alcohol? smoking? Celebrex or other arthritis meds? Steroids?  These can all be tough on the pouch and cause ulcers.  did you have an endoscopy preop to make sure you didnt' have the bacteria HPylori before your surgery?  This can help prevent ulcers postop  but unfortunately not all surgeons require this as a preop test.

 My endoscopy was done in the ER just before surgery. I had my 6 wk postop last week and found that I tested positive for H pylori so I am on 2 ABT twice a day for 2 weeks as well as doubling up on my protonix. 

Since surgery I have only taken my vitamins and PPI. No smoking no alcohol   

My discomfort is not painful per se like a gnawing pain. But eating drfinately makes the sensation go away  lol  but sometimes so does burping   I am very hopeful that the ABT triple therapy helps. 

Last but not least...thank each of you for your kind words, support and quick response

please talk to your surgeon or a gastro doctor that treatment is unacceptable and your ulcer will never heal and the hyplori will never go away.  For a positive HPylori bacteria which is very difficult to get rid of, you need to go on a Prevpac which is 2 antibiotics and Prevacid for 2  weeks and then get retesteed - if I remember correctly, when I took the prevpac I was taking meds 4 times per day for the 2 weeks - it is a special combination of meds with times to take them - I believe it is Peneciliin with Biaxin and Prevacid - if allergic to Penecillin, you take Biaxin, flagyl, Prevacid and Pepto Bismol chewables.  It is imperative to take every pill for the entire 2 weeks and get retested via breath test because if still positive, you need to repeat the prevpac. If it is negative, then you just take the prevacid or protonix for 8 weeks until the ulcer is gone -then you have the endoscopy to make sure the ulcer is healed.

Welcome to our LW Board!!!   Sorry you are having this feeling!!! 

The only thing that makes my tummy feel like that is "acid".  I don't get heart burn like I used to but my belly feels hungry even though I know it's not. 

Could be you need to switch to a different acid medicine.  Why don't you try buying some Prilosec over the counter and see if that helps.  At over 3 years out I still have to take one every day.

Just sending out a little support, sounds like you have gotten some great advice already.

Hope all is well.

~Maria

I actually started feeling hunger this early out and was very surprised.
It DOES happen to some of us. At first I just felt empty but then I felt real
hunger (and still do)....I was also on prilosec at the time. I could tell it was
hunger as I also felt fullness and was easily satisfied and FULL after 1-2 oz
at the time. I recently went back on prilosec as I was feeling hungry every hour
or so and knew that couldnt be right and felt that this was acid mimicing hunger.

I just wanted to reassure you that it may be hunger....not everyone doesnt feel hunger
for sometime. Most do (and I struggle with envying those people). The good thing
though is it starts intuitive eating early out!!

Good luck figuring this out and keep posting. This is a GREAT forum.

~~Jennifer

I felt hunger within 2-3 weeks after surgery.  I was not one of those VSG people that never felt hunger.  As a matter of fact the nurse practioner at my surgeon's office warned me before surgery that this is not always the case for hunger to go away.

I'm wondering if this goes away more as you eat more dense protein.  I found that the more "normal" I ate, the better I felt with the hunger.  I'm on protonix too, and it seems to keep that gnawing feeling away.  Talk with your doc.  You might need it twice a day or you might need to try a different PPI.

Good luck.

Hi, I just wanted to welcome you to the LW Board.  You have already gotten great advice.
Keep us updated on what you find out.
Linda