Question:
4 Days post-op and hungry...Will this change?

I had my surgery Monday afternoon (2/24) and they let me leave the following afternoon Yippee! Four Days later I am so hungry most of the time I have heard so many of you talk about not being hungry after surgery and I'm wondering what's going on with me. How long did this last and what did you do about it? This is only my 4th day since surgery and I am having a hard time getting in protein. I'm thinking this may have soemthing to do with my hunger. I try and drink 10-12 ounces of the ISO Pure Fruit Drink everyday and thats really the only liquid I'm getting in...other than a sugar free fudgesicle here and there and maybe a little broth. I would love any tips or advice anyone has. Thanks to all of you in advance!!!! I would also like to thank all of the wonderful people that posted to my profile...Thanks so much and I will be getting back to each and everyone of you! You guys are the best!!!! Josii*    — meltedbuttr (posted on February 28, 2003)

February 28, 2003
I had my surgery on Frida the 21st and I am hungry also, not terrible hunger pains but an annoying feeling of constant hunger, im drinkg all my protien and drinking lots of water but im still hungry. This is discouraging, my doctor told me my old stomach is sending hunger signals to my brain and it will go away after I start eating more solid foods...
   — Elaine S.

February 28, 2003
WOW! I was still in the hospital at 4 days post! You ROCK! LOL! I started feeling hungry about 5 days post, and I ate a LOT of sugar free jello, broth, cream of chicken soup, water, and crystal light. I never stopped feeling hungry, but the intense hunger seemed to subside after a couple of weeks.
   — Diana L.

February 28, 2003
I was famished the first 3 weeks after surgery. I kept feeling like I could eat anything in sight (of course I could not). Like you, I had heard that people are NEVER hungry after surgery and thought I would be the failure/freak among everyone. However, after 3 weeks my hunger (both head and stomach) started to subside. At 7.5 weeks I find that I still get head hunger every couple of days for a short while but rarely get any true physical hunger and I can forget to eat for hours at a time. Congrats on your surgery and hang in there!!!
   — susanje

February 28, 2003
I am 5 weeks post-op, and I was always hungry in the beginning. My nutritionist told us to drink 3 glasses of milk a day, and I don't like milk, so I mixed in a package of sugar free carnation instant breakfast. That all helps with getting in your protein. The hunger will slowly go away. I am just now getting a hang on what is real hunger, and what is head hunger. Everyone else said there is no way I could be hungry, but I really was. Now that I am eating regular foods, getting used to everything, it gets better. I was convinced this wasn't working for me, but it is. Good luck with everything ~ Sandy
   — Sandy H.

February 28, 2003
I am 10 days post op an don a liquid diet for 3 weeks. Grits are on the list of approved foods. I got the instant kind and have been eating one serving with strained cream of mushroom soup mixed in to make it soupy. Yummy and fills me up for quite a while.
   — Sandy T.

February 28, 2003
I'm 10 weeks postop but In the beginning I found the Carnation SugarFree Instant breakfast/Sugar free jello & sugar free pudding really helped me. I would have that whenever I was hungry. Also freezing the Instant Breakfast was really good. I also made a milkshake with 1 cup of skim milk, vanilla yogurt and a banana. That seemed to fill me too and got the protein in. Good Luck
   — donna C.

March 1, 2003
Congratulations on your new surgery- you're on the "losing" side now :) I had hunger as well in the beginning. Can I ask you, are you watching TV while recovering? My main problem was all those food commercials, so I then realized alot of my hunger in the beginning was all in my head. Could be your tummy, too. This will almost definately pass. You will enter the "honeymoon phase" where you literaly have to force yourself to eat, all the while losing alot of weight. DO make sure you are getting as much food as you can right now. It's okay to eat!! ANd drink plenty of fluids, your body needs to stay hydrated, it's so important for us post-op! I know it can be hard for many people to get in the 64oz + of water a day, but you need to try as hard as you can! Try drinking crystal light or adding lemon or orange to your water to spice it up a little! Drinking ISOPURE is great! You said you drink about 10oz- that is 20 grams of protein right there! Broth is great, soups, yogurt, SF/FF pudding made with skim milk is also a good way to get in some protein- and a good snack! My surgeon said that when you are so early post-op, you don't need to worry as much about the protein. Ofcourse, get in all you can, but if it's only 30grams a day, that is fine. Even in the beginning, if it is less than that- he just said to make sure to drink, drink, drink! Goodluck to you, you will do great, it gets easier- I promise!
   — Lezlie Y.