Question:
DOES THE RAVENOUSE FEELING TO EAT GO AWAY AFTER SURGERY?
I have my surgery scheduled for 2/25. I am getting very nervous that I won't be able to do this. I am a mother of 4, work full time and do everything around the house. I have never put myself first. I am affraid because of the life I live that I am going to fall back into bad habbits. Does the ravenous hunger feeling go away after you have surgery. For example if you haven't eaten all day do you still get a feeling to gorge yourself? Also I have talked to various people and some wait ten minutes between bites others just continue to eat and don't wait long between bites. I don't want to stretch my stomach back out. — JenP (posted on February 15, 2008)
February 15, 2008
It's normal to be nervouse about what will happen AFTER the surgery...as
well as during.
I think anyone who has tried and failed at so many diets as most of
"us" have would have reason to doubt the results.
I can only speak for myself and I'm only 4 1/2 weeks out. I've lost 22
lbs. since surgery.
I still do get hungry and still do get cravings. And if you're out
somewhere and you haven't had something to fill you up then you may want to
gorge yourself. However, it's more or less impossible to do this,
especially at first because your stomach is so small. So after a few bites
you will stop...if you don't stop you will throw up because large amounts
of food will make you sick.
For me, I don't get the ravenous feeling. Sometimes I can go all day
without eating much and to be honest I'm not very hungry. When I do get
hungry I try to satiate myself with something healthy...and then there goes
the hunger.
I used to drink wine every night with my husband. I haven't done so for 5
weeks and to be honest I don't even miss it. I tried a couple sips last
night and I was full from dinner and I said, I don't even want this.
I'm a mom of 2 and I was only out of commission for a few days. If you can
have your kids help with the cooking and cleaning for a few days and if you
can get time off from work then you should be okay.
You said you've never done anything for yourself, and while you have so
much to gain personally from losing your weight, so do your children. So
look at it as something you're doing for everyone.
WLS is not the magic cure...but for me I never would have been able to
stick to another program of weight loss. You still have to have discipline
but it's so much easier.
Good luck to u.
Chris
— cjjordan
February 15, 2008
I have surgery on 2/20 and I have been unusually hungry as the day
approaches! I have been assured that after surgery one has no hunger
except head hunger and that goes on for some time. You are doing something
for yourself by having the surgery. By doing for your family and not for
yourself you have likely neglected your health--until now! They are going
to have to pitch in and help you out which will be good for them as well as
you. I suggest you make a chart of chores for your four kids, depending on
their ages, and let them know this is how it is! I should tell you I have
no children of my own, so this is easy for me to say. Take care of
yourself!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 15, 2008
You may need some help with the kids and housework for the first few weeks,
so I'd try to find help if possible in that area. You need to put yourself
near the "front of the line" post op, as you'll be dealing with a
new life style. Initially, you probably won't be hungry at all. As your
learn to eat more solid foods, you'll probably fill up quickly. "Head
hunger" is a term used for thinking about food, although you've
already eaten. If you try to gorge yourself post op, you'll throw up,
possibly get dumping syndrome, and most likely end up with the worst HEAVY
stomach ache you've ever had. Eating habits vary with individuals. Eat
small bites and chew your food well is the best advice I can give you. Some
post ops do take a long time for a meal, as that works well for them for
their proper protein intake. FYI, if you eat too fast, you'll probably
throw up. And throwing up is difficult post op, as you don't have the
normal stomach acids to help you regurgatate, so you'll probably only end
up with the "foamies", where foam comes out, not the food. If
you eat too much, you may be in great discomfort for a couple of hours.
Follow your doctors protocol. Get help with the kids and cleaning for 2-3
weeks--you can guage how long by how your feel. Speak with your family,
and tell them about what to expect. Hopefully, another family member
(husband, boyfriend, older child) has gone with you when you speak to your
surgeon, so they too know what will be happening. Find out where local
support groups are, as they may be invaluable to you in the suffessful
weight loss journey. I know support groups are an important part of my
weight loss maintenance. Good luck. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
February 15, 2008
I haven't had the surgery yet, but I know from having been on Atkins for 2
years that once your blood sugar is completely under control (like after
wls/rny), the constant cycle of feeling "starved" shortly after
just eating DOES go away. You still have 'head hunger'...but it isn't as
bad as that ravenous feeling you are describing. But your comment about
not eating all day does worry me. You HAVE to eat regular meals after wls
to be able to take in enough nutrition. You could get really sick if you
aren't eating all day. Why not try the post-op eating program starting
now, to get used to it? I plan to start about a month before my surgery
date...at least the part about 1. taking small bites and chewing everything
really smooth, and 2. starting with protein and getting at least 70gms of
protein a day, and 3. not drinking for half an hour before until an hour
after a meal...but sipping water almost constantly during the rest of the
time. I figure if I can get into those habits early, it will help
afterward when I'm recovering. Plus, it'll help me lose weight which will
make the surgery safer. I can relate to your lifestyle because I'm a
single fulltime-working mom... which is why I've put so much planning into
this. I want to succeed...to be able to use my new tool effectively...so I
have to modify my daily routine in small steps so that I (and my family)
can adjust to the changes. You are thinking of all of this now, and
working through it, which can only help you succeed. Good luck!
— abeeba
February 15, 2008
First....you CAN do this! I didn't have hunger pangs for at least a year. I
never felt hungry. Then little by little I started to get a little rumble
if I waited too long to eat. I felt like I SHOULD be hungry, but I didn't
and was really glad! The hunger pangs will eventually come back if you
start eating unwise choices for foods...such as sugar or starches and (Bad
carbs) If you don't follow the basic rules from your surgeon you will have
trouble...so follow them and you'll do fine...Don't worry about it all
being about you! Let it be and take care of yourself. Enjoy the
journey...It's quite remarkable! And when it stops...You have to take
control and eat right and you'll be just fine! Let you pouch teach your
brain...Listen to it...The brain is too sneaky and will try to pull you
back to old habits...Don't! It's that simple. Especially when it is soooo
easy to lose without the hunger.
Good luck!
— .Anita R.
February 15, 2008
You will do fine!!!! It took me about a year to feel hungry. I used to
have to force myself to eat. The surgery will be a breeze. Do not worry.
I am a mother of three and had a 2 year old at the time, worked full time
and had to move us to another state by myself when I had my surgery. YOU
CAN DO IT!!! Good luck to you!!!
— Carlyn M.
February 15, 2008
Hi, Jennifer! I don't know what type of WLS you are going to have. I can
only tell you about my experience with VSG. I am 3.5 months out and no
longer have any ravenous hunger. Hunger is all but eliminated for me.
Halleluja! Which ever type surgery you are having I am sure all will be
well. We are rooting for you. Pat
— pjennjr
February 15, 2008
It is normal to be concerned. I am three years out and have maintained
weight pretty good. I have 15 pounds to lose due to having a baby. I was
a mother of 2 under 2 yrs old with my husband and family all gone. I had
some friends to help me. It is nothing to worry about. if you do not eat
all day that is not good for you but you will feel full after a cup max. I
am three yrs out though so that cup will not be there for quite sometime.
You do not have to wait ten minutes between bites do not drink while you
eat. Y0u eat normal just slower
— tl_morgan
February 15, 2008
Hi Jennifer, thanks for writing. You have a lot of concerns, and you have
every right to have them. May I be honest with you? It sounds to me like
you are trying to fit weight loss surgery into your busy life, not change
your life with weight loss surgery. You cannot have your cake and eat it
too. This is a huge adult decision that is life changing. You don't have
to put yourself "first" or be selfish, but you will destroy any
progress you have by insisting on not changing. Wls is life changing. You
cannot gorge and not stretch your pouch. You cannot go through the day and
not eat, you can't stay the same and get the body you want.
Having said that, let me say this. I was fearful, just like you. The
ravenouse feeling during the first two years for me did go away, but I also
eat regularly. I am 4 years out now, and I can eat much more so I have to
be careful and it is a challenge. As each year passes you get new
challenges, but for me I have kept off my weight for 3 years now and
personally have no regrets on my surgery. You need to consider all aspects
of having surgery before you have it. It is only 10 days away, and it
sounds to me like you still have too many unanswered questions. You don't
have surgery and the next day go back to your busy life as if nothing
happened. You will fight head hunger, you will fight when to stop eating,
and sometimes to eat at all. Your family life needs support during this
time. I have 3 children, and for the first year I needed both my
children's and my husbands support. Does that mean they did everything for
me? No they did not. But I would cook, and then they cleaned up. I made
time to walk 2.5 miles in the neighborhood twice a day, so they had to help
with some chores around the house. You might have to walk during your
lunch hour, and you may have to choose in what ways your life can change.
But change is guaranteed with surgery, so be careful in your decision.
You get to control what changes you make, but you will have to make
changes. If you continue to lead the life you are as you state, you will
absolutely return to bad habit and if you lose your weight, you will regain
it, and if you don't lose it, it will crush you. Be afraid, be very
afraid, but let that fear fuel you to make the right decision and make some
changes in your life. You can make positive, wonderful, active changes
that will work well for you and your family. Change is tough, but it
doesn't have to be bad. If you have surgery, follow the rules, exercise,
diet, water. Get your family on board. No matter the age of the child,
they can help. Your job is another issue, but even in your job, you can
make good choices. I wish you well, and hope you do well with your
surgery. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
February 16, 2008
Jennifer: I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy on 12/18/07. Most of my
stomach was removed with no changes done to my intestines. You did not
mention what type surgery you are having, but all of the wt loss surgeries
require removal of some of the stomach tissue.
The reason I said that is to explain this: There is a hormone, recently
discovered, called Grehlin. It is secreted by the stomach tissue. It is
the hormone which starts the "hunger cycle" and is primarily
responsible for initating those hunger pangs.
With a portion of stomach tissue removed, you will have less Grehlin
secreted, since it actually is secreted from the stomach tissue.
Before my surgery on 12/18/07, I would characterize my hunger as "a
large, hungry lion's ROOOOAAAAAARRRRR!" Now, post-surgery, my hunger
is like a cat's "meow." Sometimes I don't even get the
"meow." I just feel like my stomach is "empty" and I
will look at the clock and know that it is time to eat.
It is so nice now to be able to eat to live and not live to eat.
Best wishes to you, Jennifer, on this marvelous journey which is akin to
rebirth.
Janet, RN
— JStangel
February 16, 2008
Going all day without eating and then eating a huge dinner is how we got
obese in the first place, so that cannot happen anymore, especially after
surgery. You will have to eat throughout the day and take heed of your
body's signals regarding how much and when to eat. You are not doing
anyone a favor by skipping yourself and doing for everyone else instead.
Your children will be much better off if they learn from example that their
mother takes good care of herself AND them, and does not deprive herself of
sitting down with them to eat something at mealtimes. I have not had
surgery yet, but everyone tells me that the hunger pangs go away and the
head hunger, thinking about missed foods to binge on, can continue. Best
of luck for a safe and successful surgery and enjoy the weight loss! You
deserve it!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 16, 2008
Your questions are all normal. We all had ones like these. Can I really
do this? All you can do is your best effort. You get to decide how this
is going to work for you. The best description I heard about eating
throughout the day was when someone asked me if I would take off on a road
trip without putting gas in my car. I was stunned...that's what I was
doing everyday when I skipped eating, thinking that would help me lose or
keep the weight off. You have taken the courageous first step. Take your
family with you. Lead by example on eating something in the morning. Your
kids will do better throughout the day if they are eating breakfast. Use
K2O waters at work for protein and take or keep quick protein items with
you all the time so you can eat, even on the run. Good luck and take care
of you as well as everyone else. See this as a start of good things to
come for all of you. Each of us does it differently. Find your way.
Julie
— JulieJD
February 16, 2008
Your profile did not say what surgery you were looking at. I know that
with the RNY hunger seems to be a thing of the past. Not that you do not
see something and what it. I still fix too much steak when I cook for the
family for myself, even though I have never eaten more than 3 oz at a time,
I cook more and just can't eat it. My eye's are bigger than my pouch which
I know is about the size of my thumb. I was very nurvious before surgery
and they had to give me a shot to relax they day of surgery, but I have
never regreted it and just wished that I had it done years before. Best of
Sucess and congrads for taking the step for yourself, and providing for
your family with a longer life from your efforts!
— William (Bill) wmil
February 19, 2008
I went through different stages. During prep, I went from wanting to pig
out to following the liquid diet. After surgery (RNY), I was pretty much
afraid to eat for fear of pain and throwing up. At about 2 weeks out, the
head hunger hit really hard. During that time I did some chewing and
spitting of food because I missed the taste and texture of 'real foods'.
When I was able to add additional foods, it got better. I'm now 9 weeks
out and notice I have cycles of head hunger, but never any 'real' hunger.
My suggestions... get support (group or therapist) and stay out of the
kitchen as much as possible. When you get cravings, acknowledge them and
remind yourself that it isn't time to eat. Follow your meal plan -
provided by your surgeon/nutritionist.
I just had a stricture corrected, so I'm back to liquids for a week. I was
hoping to be eating meats by now... guess that will have to wait a while
longer.
Best wishes! Kris
— gonnadoit
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