Question:
What's happening?

Am not over year out (8/27/01) RNY, down 142lbs. For the last few days I can't seem to get enough to eat. I stay hungery. Before I had to force myself to eat, not now. Has anyone experienced this, does it pass?    — darrell G. (posted on September 5, 2002)

September 5, 2002
How much do you eat at a meal? How often? How long does it stay with you? What is your basic meal? I eat about every 2 hours or so. Maybe 3, rarely more or I'm ravenous. Could your staple line be disrupted?
   — vitalady

September 5, 2002
Mary- I am only 6 weeks out but, those rules seem a little off base to me. 5-15 minutes to finish a meal? I can't even begin to chew everything up properly in that amount of time. If I eat too fast...I get pain in my chest and feel sick. I have never heard of trying to eat that fast. And waiting 2 hours after a meal? I heard that 45 min- 60 min was a good amount of time. If I waited a whole two hours, I would never get my daily requirement of water in. I guess everyone is different...but that was something new. To the poster- I hear it is common to get your hunger back with time. You sound like you are doing fantastic with a 142 pound loss! Congratulations! (open RNY 7/23/02 -42lbs)
   — Shawnie S.

September 5, 2002
I read the entire article of Pouch Rules For Dummies...and the doctor had a lot of good stuff to say. I guess each surgeon prescribes his own rules though. I at least understand it now. With all these rules floating around though...it makes a new postie wonder which is right! :)
   — Shawnie S.

September 5, 2002
Darrell, There's no info on your profile page; what kind of sugery did you have? I had a proximal open RNY 7/25/01 and am having the same problem (I was transected so there is no possibly of a stapleline disruption). My nutritionist told me it's normal to be hungrier at this stage. How many calories are you taking in? How often do you eat and how much? My surgeon told me 1200-1400 was ok if I was satisfied. Unfortunely I have also plateaued for the last 3 months and was told that the only way to continue to lose is to increase my exercise! I have days were I'm hungry all day and others where I'm not hungry at all. Carbs definitely increase my appetite I've found, so I really have to watch those. Regarding those famous "pouch rules". I don't believe they work for everyone. My weight management program wanted me to take AT LEAST 30 minutes to eat (10 minutes per ounce). That was ok when all I could eat was 2 oz but now it would take me an hour to eat!! At present I can eat a 6 oz meal in 20-30 minutes. Originally my program called for me to STOP drinking a half hour before the meal but I had trouble getting in all my water that way and was told it was ok to drink up till mealtime as long as I didn't drink during the meal and to wait a half hour after before starting again. I've found that protein bars help to suppress the hunger between meals (the shakes don't for me)but you have to watch the calories. Anyway, you're not alone. Let me know if you find something that works for you.;)
   — LLinderman

September 5, 2002
ME TOO:( I have days that ALL I want to do is eat!:( Other days I could care less. Now on the non hungry days I DONT EAT! Saving those cal;ories for later... I dont know what causes this but remember fondly the days I was never hungry. Sometimes eating protein helps, but other days it meaningless...
   — bob-haller