Question:
10 plus months out, does hunger return full force, can you eat a lot more?

   — CherylS. (posted on February 15, 2003)

February 15, 2003
Unfortunately, my hunger did come back at about 8 months post op and it seemed that I could suddenly eat a lot more than the previous months. I am coming up on 2 years post op and I still find that the amount I can eat varies from day to day. Some days I feel like I can eat way too much and other days just a little fills me up. I have learned to listen to my body and eat when I am truly hungry but only to the point of satisfaction. It has worked for me--down 140 pounds!
   — Brenda H.

February 15, 2003
I am also 10 months post op. My appetite came back full force at about 6 -7 months post op. The cravings were hard to deal with at first, but I have found a way to cope with it appropriately. Sometimes when I get really full, it really scares me I think oh my god, I ate way too much. Then I sit anything about what I ate. I really wasn't much at all. It's the full filling that scares me. I can not really eat any more than say 3-4 months ago, some things make me fuller than others, it depends. But for the most part, I can not eat more.
   — bevewy

February 16, 2003
At one year out, I can now occassionally eat a whole bagel or a large bowl of fruit. Yes, I can eat more than at 3 months post-op, but I'm still eating a tremendous amount LESS than pre-op. I figure I'm a normal, very light eater now. Some days, if I'm really hungry, I probably eat as much as a light eater. I think it's the ability to eat more than a snack that's scary. But it's normal, and I'm happy with where I am. I really like being able to feel full. It's noon, and so far today, I've eaten 1/2 cup cottage cheese with a small sliced banana, and 3 cups of coffee with a Tablespoon of half-n-half. I'm full. No urge to eat more.
   — Kathy J.

February 16, 2003
Its unfortunate that the hunger does come back-usually around the 6-8 month post-op for most. That early pre-op, never hungry, eating because you have to, doesn't last, though. As time goes by, you will eat more. Its because your pouch stretches to accept more food-and before you get nervous-it is supposed to stretch some. Early post-op we have tiny pouchs of just an ounce or two- by the end of a year, the pouch has stretched to about 6-8 oz or a little more, depending on what you started with. All normal-so after 10 months or so, you are eating more than you did at lets say, 3 months. When you experience lots of hunger, eat small frequent meals, every few hours or whenever you are hungry-small, protein based meals of just a few ounces. It will not stuff you but will keep you from being hungry.
   — Cindy R.