Question:
Is the DS patient hungry all the time or does the hunger go away after surgery?

Since the pyloric valve is still intact and functions normally, it seems to me that it would empty at the same rate as before. Since the stomach no longer can hold the volume it used to, is the DS patient hungry more often or can he/sh still get by on three small meals a day? I asked this question before, but nobody answered.    — artistmama (posted on August 5, 2001)

August 5, 2001
Hi Brenda, I'm almost 2 years postop. I'm not hungry all time. I do eat when I'm hungry but it takes so little to curb my hunger it's not really a big deal. I'll eat a piece of lunch meat, or cheese, or nuts or jerkey, something like that to snack on. All surgeon's have their own philosophy on postop eating, so make sure you talk with him, as well as the nutritionist. At first I was eating every two hours, now I eat three meals & a couple snacks. It seems to be working :>)... Take care for now.. --->http://www.mywls.com/discus
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 5, 2001
I certainly don't feel hungry all the time, but when I'm hungry, I'm ravenous! Thank heavens it takes so little to fill me up. I'll feel like I could eat an entire roast chicken, but am full after one piece :) I have always had low blood sugar issues, and tend to eat more often throughout the day, 3 small meals and two snacks, to keep my blood sugar levels on an even keel. Even for people without those issues, because you cannot eat large amounts, you may need to eat more often to make sure you get in the protein requirements of 60+ grams per day. - Kate -
   — kateseidel

August 5, 2001
I still have bouts of 'head hunger', that is, feeling hungry, when in fact I am not. But I went from 6 small meals a day about 3 hours apart to now I eat breakfast at about 8:30, lunch about 1pm and dinner about 6, with a snack at about 4:30, (usually carrots) and a bedtime snack about 10pm (usually popcorn and a glass of milk or a cup of frozen yogurt). I can pretty much stick to that schedule and I do notice that I am hungry by lunch time, and the mid afternoon snack, but the rest of the meals I just eat on schedule. The bedtime snack, I eat because I seem to sleep better with 'a little something' in my tummy. Good Luck to you!
   — merri B.

August 5, 2001
Hi Brenda, I'm just a little over two months post-op and I am finding I have more severe "munchies" (aka: "head hunger?") if I have a meal high in carbohydrates earlier. If I eat mostly protein, I don't get hungry for a good 4-5 hours. I also noticed that PMS time I had more severe cravings/munchies and was eating more than usual. Hmm, what's strange is that I never really noticed these kind of PMS symptoms with myself as a pre-op. . . ! =) Also, sometimes when I think I'm hungry, I'm actually thirsty and remind myself I haven't drank much for the day! Again, as the previous poster said, sometimes you're ravenous but it takes so little to fill you up, you can't do much damage!! LOL!!
   — ChristiMNB