Question:
Are there changes in hunger after WLS?
I've heard that many people experience a significant decrease in hunger after gastric bypass surgery. How about for the lap-band procedure? Are there any reports of a decrease in hunger after getting a lap-band? Are there any hard statistics out there on the number of people reporting a significant decrease in appetite, arranged by procedure? I've seen people on this site refer to something as "head hunger" too, which I am guessing is a conditioned eating response triggered by something other than actual, real hunger. I'm curious about this, because at times I have these uncontrollable food binges, which are clearly "head hunger" and I'm worried about how to deal with this after WLS. I've significantly decreased these binges already, with corrective conditioning, as directed by my nutritionist. Getting rid of actual hunger pains, though, would go a long way for me in the lifelong change I am preparing to make with WLS. — waynemr (posted on November 27, 2007)
November 27, 2007
Mike, be sure to do some research on Ghrelin - it's an amazing hormone that
our body secretes - it has SO MUCH to do with our sensations and body
triggers to stimulate the need/desire to eat. There are only two forms of
WLS that resect the tissue where the majority of Ghrelin is secreted - the
DS and the VSG.
I was one of those people who seemed to have an over-active
"hunger" signal - my entire life! I denied myself the majority
of the time, and was very disciplined about dieting and making wise food
choices - yet I ended up as a woman with a BMI of 64! Since my DS those
sensations are a thing of the past - it's amazing. I honestly dont think I
ever understood what "satisfied" and "full" meant prior
to my surgery. I continue to be delighted - nearly 5 and a half years
later - at how well-controlled my appetite is. It's a huge blessing!
dina
— Dina McBride
November 27, 2007
Actually, RNY impacts the production of gherlin and leptin (the two
hormones that control hunger and satiety). Studies have been conducted
that suggest that many RNY patients experience phantom fullness, just like
amputees may sometimes experience phantom pain in the severed limb.
I have never seen the success rates of satiety responses calibrated among
the various bariatric techniques. However, regardless of the extent that
hormonal fluctations can impact hunger, the effect tends not to necessarily
be permanent because so much of our eating (and particularly so much of our
over-eating) tends to be a response to emotional or psychological factors
where we learn over time to ignore the brain signals that signal satiety.
However, the immediate reduction in hunger is so pronounced in DS patients
(who enjoy the greatest initial and sustained weight loss) and RNY patients
that, for many of us, the initial success fuels continued weight loss even
after we can tolerate more food and presumably ignore our bodies' siganls
to stop eating. In other words, because of the initial success, we can
learn to listen more closely to our bodies and sense when we should stop
eating.
— SteveColarossi
November 27, 2007
Head hunger -- wanting burger and fries or pizza or some other favorite
food a week after surgery -- that's head hunger.
Trust me after WLS, your taste buds change for a while. Things you loved
to eat might not taste as good to you any more. Prior to surgery I would
always have ranch dressing on my salads; since I've been able to eat salads
again, I put anything on them but ranch --it just doesn't taste good.
Fried chicken -- you can't give me any. So your taste bud will change just
as your diet changes. Prior to surgery -- just give me chili with no beans
-- now I enjoy the beans in the chili -- go figure.
You will be drinking a lot of fluids and therefore the hunger pains will
not be as great as you might imagine.
You are about to make a decision that is going to change your eating life
and more so how people will react to you --that's another post; however,
weigh your options, research your surgeon and the facility that will be
performing the procedure and providing your care.
Peace,
— the7thdean
November 27, 2007
Hi Mike - welcome! I'm going to be having a Lap-Band (hopefully) within the
next couple of months, and I asked a question relating to this at my last
support group meeting. Ghrelin is NOT affected in Lap-Band patients, but
RNY patients' ghrelin gradually increases after surgery so we are both
prone to head-hunger problems. However, working with your nutritionist will
help you get into the post-op diet mode, so hopefully you can learn to
control much of your cravings before you have the actual surgery. The goal
is to cut down the amount of food you eat at any one time so you'll be able
to eat about every 3 hours, which is what you'll need to do postop to
ensure you're getting enough nutrients. Although Lap-Band patients don't
have to rely on as many dietary supplements as RNY patients, my surgical
group maintains any dietary supplement is not as good as getting as many
nutrients as possible from food.
— obeseforever
November 27, 2007
The very top of the stomach is what senses fullness, and sends the signal
to the brain quit eating. Pre op I ONLY felt that way after gprging on
holiday meals or buffets:( immediately after RNY surgery I felt endless
fullness:) Probably from swelling of the new pouch. Its been over 6 years
and although I get hungry at times I can ignore it easily as long as I am
busy. The ONLY thing I crave is chocolate:( I havent heard banders report
this you might ask on the bander board here
— bob-haller
November 27, 2007
I have read of many of my fellow surgery alumni watching the food channel
and calling it bariatric porn...because the food looks so very good. To
tell the truth, most of us relate the same thing: we are full with very
little food and only look at food now. I had the RNY and I found that
dumping syndrome is an excellent deterrent to sugar and that I no longer
have the urge to eat sugar or high fat again because of the pain that will
follow. After a few weeks, I found I no longer wanted those things at all
and lost my craving. I still look at food and remember the nice things
about it, but I do not have the physical yearning for it that I once had. I
did a research paper on bariatric surgery for my college courses and
discovered that most patients lose their physical addiction to food (the
hunger and yearning) within the first few days. It is the addiction that
needs to be dealt with in order to keep from transferring the addiction to
something else like alcohol. People who eat a great deal are addicts and
enjoy their addiction. The mental loss of the thing that gives pleasure
leads to seeking out other things to substitute for it. The problem is
finding a healthy balance and a strong mental outlook. It takes work to
overcome both sides of the addiction. The surgery makes the hunger a thing
of the past for most people, but it then takes work to find a healthy
balance that will take you through the rest of your life. It is a challenge
that I think you are up to taking. you have a very good chance of winning
this battle. Good luck to you.
— Sandra L.
November 28, 2007
It's really amazing how after my lapband I wasn't hungry at all for the
first 2 weeks. I only had my clear liquids to keep my self from getting
dehydrated. So to answe your question after the band you're not as hungry.
Its 10:09 and I haven't had anything to eat this morning and I'm not hungry
yet. Prior to my band I would have already eaten breakfast. I normally eat
my frist meal about 11:00 am
— bchicks42
November 28, 2007
I am 10 months post op Lap Band.I rarely get hungry and I do not constantly
think about food anymore.It still tastes really good, but you cant eat as
much.I used to love a double Whopper, but now I order a Jr Whopper and only
eat 1/4-1/2 of it.You just get too full.It's a little frustrating because
it tastes so good, you want to keep eating but you can't.So it's better to
avoid junk food altogether.
— pattyann
December 1, 2007
I am an RNYer so I can only speak to that. For the first six months after
surgery, I had little hunger. I had to tell myself at times that I had been
a long time without a meal and so I'd better eat something. As often as
not, this turned out to be my protein drink (which I DO like the taste of).
Things tasted good to me but I just did not get beyond more than marginally
hungry. After about six months (the "honeymoon period"), my
hunger began to return in full force. That's where my RNY surgery has
really helped me. When I ate too much, the dumping syndrome would (and
still does) kick in. It's a VERY unpleasant feeling so I eat to avoid it,
even to this day. Also after the upchuck, I lose any residual hunger for
several hours (even though that which comes up usually does not taste bad).
The dumping syndrome usually does NOT come to people who have had the
lapband procedure. In my view, this is a drawback of the lapband procedure;
I consider "dumping" to be a positive factor in favor of RNY over
lapband. Other things that have helped me (as an RNYer) are: (1) water
preloading and, (2) taking in what I eat (generally a bout the volume of my
fist) RAPIDLY -- about 5 - 10 minutes -- so that my small pouch fills and
stretches just a bit, telling me that I'm full. If this does not work for
some reason and I eat too much, then I dump and that's enough to keep me on
the straight and narrow for the next few days (or even weeks).
— [Deactivated Member]
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