Question:
My stomach growls about every 2-3 hours. Is this normal.

MY stomach growls every 2-3 hours . I eat when it growls because I figure my body must be needing it if my stomach growls and I'm hungry. I don't eat a lot at a time but I don't want to overdo it. Is it normal to eat this often?    — Melanie C. (posted on May 15, 2001)

May 15, 2001
I can only speak from my experience, but I recently asked my surgeon about the same thing. My stomach lets me and anyone within earshot know just how hard it's working about 30-40 minutes after I eat, and can continue for up to three hours. It doesn't bother me, physically. It's just annoying. Anyway, my doc said it's nothing to worry about, just the "rest" of my stomach trying to do its thing when there's little or nothing in there to do it to! He also said that this will likely self-resolve eventually, and that it does NOT mean you necessarily need to eat. Hope this helps some...
   — Suzanne B.

May 15, 2001
Maybe my tummy is odd or different but I have never heard or felt my stomach growl since surgery either the new pouch or the seperated one..
   — Victoria B.

May 15, 2001
Rumbling, as in processing? Or growly-empty? We're instructed to eat every 2-3 hours, 1 oz at a time. I think you're thinking is OK in not wanting to stretch youru pouch, yet hold your enegery level steady. The way to not stretch your pouch is to NOT stretch your pouch. Not to graze, but eat small meals often. And no, you're not crazy. 1-2 oz of food is NOT enough to hold anyone. And if there was any sugar in it, you'll be lucky to go an hour without a "request" for more food. Sugar just makes you hungry faster.
   — vitalady

May 15, 2001
My stomach kind of rumbles as my food digests, but it doesn't growl when I need to eat. I do, however, get hungry every 2 to 3 hrs, It's kind of a hunger pain I guess you could say. If I wait too long to eat, the less I am able to get down. I try to carry crackers or beef jerkey around in my purse, usually a cracker or a bite of jerkey will get the job done, and it's not eating enough to stretch things out. I hope this helps, good luck!
   — Kim B.