Can I make a clarification about hunger?

[LORAW]

I still get hungry and I still think about what I will eat later when I am eating now!!!!

I have seen several people on the forums tells newbies that they "will not be hungry" after the surgery. While this may be the case for many, it is not the case for all.

I expected to not be hungry, based on my research about the removal of the stomach and the ghrelin, etc. etc. But, I now know that some people, like me, still feel hungry A LOT.

Mind you, I do fill up fast and rarely can eat more than about 250 calories at a time. But, I just want to give the cautionary warning that everyone is not the same. And, we will all have success at different rates.

Good luck to everyone!

[Quarry]

This is an important talking point. I've really been thinking about the exact nature of hunger. Going from top to bottom:

Head hunger (emotional, habitual and/or addictive)
Throat hunger (related to heartburn which is assuaged by food passing through)
Gastritis hunger (gnawing, burning stomach acid, again soothed with food, especially carbs)
Empty stomach hunger
Bowel-emptying hunger (shortly after emptying, can leave a person feeling tired)

Then there's the sense of a drop in blood sugar where a person feels light-headed or like you can't think clearly.

It's not a simple subject. Ghrelin supposedly triggers hunger, but then leptin is supposed to show up to signal satiety. To complicate matters, ghrelin is produced in places in the body in addition to that top portion of the stomach (the fundus) that's removed during a gastrectomy.

From Wiki: "Ghrelin cells are found mainly in the stomach and duodenum, but also in the jejunum, lungs, pancreatic islets, gonads, adrenal cortex, placenta, and kidney."

Edited to add:
Dehydration can sometimes " read" as hunger to the brain.

[Watkinsthirty]

I know I was hungry after having the surgery!!! I would have to plan my meal a head of time to make sure I stay on track and not eat anything I shouldn't eat.

[amt5298]

i had hunger pains up to about two weeks ago they have just about gone away from time to time i will feel that pain but nothing like i did i first sometimes i have to make myself eat

[Joe Poppa]

....Then there's the sense of a drop in blood sugar where a person feels light-headed or like you can't think clearly...

Thanks for the info. Now I know why a former coworker of mine was such a screw up, all he needed was a Snickers bar.
And to think, we all thought he was just incompetent all these years.

[niki k]

Wow, my husbands surgeon even told him, you wont be hungry for about a year, it must be like everything else....different for everyone. He does miss certain foods but doesn't have the hunger issues.

[KarenJean]

I still feel hunger too, although that "insatiable" feeling I used to get is mostly gone. Now it just pops up about an hour after I take my prednisone dose.

I really have to watch myself though--most of the time my hunger is really thirst.
K.

[shparks]

I know that it took me quite a while before I ever felt any physical hunger.

[BBCorvette18]

Head hunger is the only hunger I've dealt with and that's only been a handful of times.

[Ann2]

This is an important talking point. I've really been thinking about the exact nature of hunger. Going from top to bottom:

Head hunger (emotional, habitual and/or addictive)
Throat hunger (related to heartburn which is assuaged by food passing through)
Gastritis hunger (gnawing, burning stomach acid, again soothed with food, especially carbs)
Empty stomach hunger
Bowel-emptying hunger (shortly after emptying, can leave a person feeling tired)

Then there's the sense of a drop in blood sugar where a person feels light-headed or like you can't think clearly.

It's not a simple subject. Ghrelin supposedly triggers hunger, but then leptin is supposed to show up to signal satiety. To complicate matters, ghrelin is produced in places in the body in addition to that top portion of the stomach (the fundus) that's removed during a gastrectomy.

From Wiki: "Ghrelin cells are found mainly in the stomach and duodenum, but also in the jejunum, lungs, pancreatic islets, gonads, adrenal cortex, placenta, and kidney."

Edited to add:
Dehydration can sometimes " read" as hunger to the brain.

Quarry, that's some good stuff there. Thanks.

[brownas5]

I still get hungry and I still think about what I will eat later when I am eating now!!!!

I have seen several people on the forums tells newbies that they "will not be hungry" after the surgery. While this may be the case for many, it is not the case for all.

I expected to not be hungry, based on my research about the removal of the stomach and the ghrelin, etc. etc. But, I now know that some people, like me, still feel hungry A LOT.

Mind you, I do fill up fast and rarely can eat more than about 250 calories at a time. But, I just want to give the cautionary warning that everyone is not the same. And, we will all have success at different rates.

Good luck to everyone!

I AGREE! I definitely get hungry. Now some days not as much as others but I definitely feel hunger and still like the same foods for the most part. This was an exaggeration that I fell for to before surgery and was kinda dissappointed to see it was not the case for me after. I worry sometimes that if i have hunger now, what will I have a year or more out. I hope to be successfull long term. :-/

[Captkev]

This is day 4 post op for me and I am definitely feeling hunger, and it's not coming from my head because I can hear my stomach grumbling. The protein drink helps a lot though. I'm hoping with a little time this hunger will go away because it's taking all I can to resist temptation and eat something besides liquid.

[Watkinsthirty]

It's tough stage, but it will get better. Hang in there!!

[thenewmetoday]

fantastic blog, great info. Thanks

[Ann2]

Gentle suggestion (based on my own experiences):

For those who aren't regularly eating protein first, you'll find if you do eat protein first that your restriction will be greater and your hunger will be held at bay for longer.

The sleeve is only one of your tools.

Some other tools are the eating Rxs we all received -- eat protein first, then (if room) veggies / fruits, then (if room) whole grains; drink no water 15 mins before / 30 mins after meals, drink at least 64 ounces/day of water and non-calorie liquids.

Another tool is exercise daily (when you're exercising, you can't be eating, plus exercise promotes feel-good biochemicals and hormones that reduce impulses to eat emotionally).

Another tool is building your resistance to eating compulsively when old food triggers present.