Question:
9 Weeks Post Op, Hungry Every 2 Hours- Anyone Else?

I am 9 wks post op and I wanted to know if anyone experienced being hungry about a hour or two after eating? If so how can you contro it better?    — chocolatlatina B. (posted on March 24, 2003)

March 24, 2003
Hi there, I am a pre-op, but I did get alot of information regarding "staying full" from my surgeon. Are you eating liquid/soft foods? Or are you eating meats, veggies, etc? If you are eating cottage cheese, yogurt, etc those things wash out of your pouch faster, or if you drink with your meal it washes food through faster too. The trick with the pouch is to eat foods that will take longer to pass and therefore keep you full longer. If you are eating bulky foods and still hungry, you may want to just check with your surgeon to make sure the sutures in your pouch have held. Hope this helps!
   — beeda

March 24, 2003
Well, you didn't give any information like if you are drinking with your meals or drinking within an hour of your meal. You haven't said what kind of foods you're eating at this point or even which surgery you had. There's very little to go on but here are some ideas... <p> <OL><LI>Don't drink within an hour of your meals and don't drink during any meals at all. <LI>Also, you will become hungry again sooner than expected if you are still eating pureed foods or alot of runny or lose foods. <LI>Also, stay away from caffeine, it causes hunger. <LI>One last idea, stay away from carbs. Carbs cause hunger and slow down your weightloss!</OL><br> Lap-RNY 1/13/03 -83lbs & Counting!
   — thumpiez

March 24, 2003
Early post-op until you are able to eat larger quantities per meal and more dense foods, many of us moved to 6 small meals a day rather than 3 meals. These small meals consist mostly of protein but can include fruit, veggies, and some snacks-the good ones, not the cookies! If you are hungry every few hours (and I assume you are not drinking for a good 45 minutes after you eat a meal), you must first determine if it actualy hunger or just psychological head hunger. It may very well be hunger. If so, then eat! Along with lots of water and exercise, and focusing on good for you protein foods, you will do very well with 6 vice 3 meals. I am almost 14 months post-op and I eat if I am hungry, regardless of whether it is meal time or not. It still amazes me that such a small amount of food can satisfy me and take the edge off of hunger.
   — Cindy R.

March 24, 2003
I am 9 weeks out, i had my surg on 1/27 and i have felt the same way. My surgeon says to drink at the end of the meal if your thirsty. I noticed today that i have actually gotten down alot of water so my hunger wasnt so bad, Its weird to feel hungry now, cause its not the normal hunger pains you have before surgery, its like a ach in your stomach that doesnt growl. Atleast mine is. I drank a cup of water this morning at 5:30 cause i woke up thirsty 16 oz (not in one gulp but i drank it in about 10 min) then I drank another cup at 6:30. Then i ate at 7:00. I drank some water with my breakfast and wasnt hungry until 10:30! I was so happy that i actually made it past 2 hrs. Then I had lunch at 2:30, i drank some water in the the time period between. I drank more water after lunch, and made it until 5:30 for dinner and then i was fine until 8:00. So i made it past my every two hr schedule. It was a nightmare. I am thinking that the reason i was feeling hungry alot is cause i was actually thirsty cause i wasnt getting enough water or any other drink in me. I was only drinking about three cups of water a day. I just thought i was hungry all the time. Well, today was better. Also, i was up doing house work and not being bored so I think activity helps too. Exercise gives you a sedaty effect so your not hungry. I would follow what ever your doctor says to do though. If your should eat every two hrs do it cause maybe your body is needing the nurishment you are giving it. My case was i was missing out on water and i'm feeling much better today then i have in a while. good luck.
   — rachel W.