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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dutchie's Avatar
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    Simonne
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    01/03/2017
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    Dr. Pablo Enriquez Valens
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    Default Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    When the gastric sleeve operation is performed, about 80% of the stomach is removed.
    This includes the part where the ghrelin hormone is produced.
    I am 11 weeks out, and have still no hunger sensation, but that was to be expected.
    My question though: when almost all of the hormone producing stomach is removed, does the remaining part, the sleeve, eventually take over this production?
    Or is this loss of feeling hunger more or less permanent?
    I hope for the latter, but I really haven't got a clue.
    Any veterans out here, who can answer this question from their own experience?
    I'm not talking about head hunger here, but genuine stomach hunger.
    English is not my first language anymore, so I may and do make mistakes in my spelling, or say things oddly. Please ask me, if you want any clarifications.



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  4. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member Tamera2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Tamera Anderson
    Surgery date
    01/24/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr Mario Almanza
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    Good Morning Dutch Sleeve, my understanding is hormone production should stay permanent if your surgeon removed that part. Your sleeve can't take over this. However your brain can crave food and trick you into being hungry and eat things you shouldn't. Good to be aware of this for better control. Good Luck with your continued Journey.
    Highest weight- 288 / Wt at Surgery 268
    1 month 236 -29lbs 2 month 214 -22lbs 3 month 206 -08lbs 4 month 196 -10lbs 5 month 185 -11lbs 6 month 178 -7lbs 7 month 172 -6lbs 9mos -12lbs 156 13mos later wt.144lbs, Wt.138 -150lbs in 15mos

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  6. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member TarotAces's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Odessa
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    01/11/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Mario Almanza
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    Nov 2016
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    My understanding is a bit different.

    Ghrelin is produced by our stomach, and when you remove 80-85% of it you remove 80-85% of the hormone. Your body/brain is used to that 100% level of Ghrelin, so you don't feel hungry (you're only getting 15-20% of what it was used to recognizing as 'hungry'). Over time your brain adjusts a bit and you become more sensitive to the new hormone level of 15-20% of what it USED to be to compensate so your brain knows when to eat. So, eventually the hunger feelings return, though they don't feel the same that they used to.

    That said... the 'mental hunger' part, or 'habit of eating', remains; the surgery is on the stomach, not the brain. lol

    I hope that helps.
    HW: 297+lbs ( stopped weighing myself, it was probably 318 ish)
    Pre-op: 280 lbs (-17 lbs)

    CW: 142 lbs -Down 178 lbs from my highest actual weight!

    Week 1: 270
    M1: 257
    Week 6: 255
    M2: 252
    Week 10: 241
    M3: 237
    Week 14: 234

    GW: 145 lbs




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  8. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Shirl's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Shirl
    Surgery date
    05/17/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Sergey Lyass
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    There is ghrelin in the bottom portion of your new sleeved stomach which was not touched, so there is that. From what I remember reading the amount of ghrelin depends on the shape of the Sleeve, bougee tube used, and how much of an upper portion of your stomach was left. You should really get this information from your surgeon. I had a 40 french bougee so my sleeve is larger than most, also probably why I have lost weight slowly I'm guessing.

    Consider yourself blessed because I feel hunger 80% of my day, even from the beginning! Now I know the physical difference between physical hunger and mental/emotional/boredom hunger. Normally if I get hunger pangs before three to four hours now, I really try to distract myself. I can eat more in one sitting so now I've spaced out my meals, but if I feel weak or nauseous or light headed I will have a small snack or protein infused water or something to help.

    Since I added complex carbs I haven't had as many light headed episodes. A whole grain slice of bread with peanut butter will do the trick.

    But since you are not feeling hunger at all (again, lucky you!!!), I would really stick to an eating schedule so you can get your required protein and other needed micronutrients for your body to function well.
    HW: 245lbs (11/15); SW: 226lbs (5/17/16) - Height: 5'6"

    Post-Op Weight:
    M1: 211.3 (-14.7)
    M2: 203 (-8.3)
    M3: 196.5 (-6.5)
    M4: 191.5 (-5)
    M5: 186.3 (-5.2)
    M6: (?)
    M7: (?)
    M8: 179.4 (-6.9)
    M9: 177.1 (-2.3)
    M10: 174 (-3.1)
    M11: 171.5 (-2.5)
    M12: 171 (-.5)
    Y1.1: 170 (-1)

    "Today is another day to get it right!"






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  10. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member Christie13's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Christie
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    Dr. Wright
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    You still produce it. Eventually you will feel more hunger.



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  13. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member Tamera2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Tamera Anderson
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    01/24/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr Mario Almanza
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    The Ghrelin is mainly produced in the upper stomach called the fundus. There are cells that release small about ghrelin that will still be produced in the pancreas, small intestine and brain. Thats why the doctors Say this will mostly be gone and why there is a chance this can increase.
    Highest weight- 288 / Wt at Surgery 268
    1 month 236 -29lbs 2 month 214 -22lbs 3 month 206 -08lbs 4 month 196 -10lbs 5 month 185 -11lbs 6 month 178 -7lbs 7 month 172 -6lbs 9mos -12lbs 156 13mos later wt.144lbs, Wt.138 -150lbs in 15mos

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  15. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dutchie's Avatar
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    Simonne
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    01/03/2017
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    Dr. Pablo Enriquez Valens
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    Thank you all, for taking the time to answer my question.
    There doesn't seem to be concensus though.
    My surgeon used a 36 French size tube, but I honestly don't know, which part he removed and which part he left.
    I'll ask him when I have my next appointment.
    Shirl? I'm only 11 weeks out.
    Isn't it usual to not feel hunger at this early stage?
    I still have to watch the time to dertermine when it is time to eat.
    I also understand that the brain might compensate, which is what the brain does with every aspect of our bodies, when changes occur.
    Well, lots of opinions.
    I find this very interesting.
    English is not my first language anymore, so I may and do make mistakes in my spelling, or say things oddly. Please ask me, if you want any clarifications.



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  17. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Ann2
    Surgery date
    08/18/2014
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    n.a.
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    I am not a physician or a metabolic scientist. So all I know is what I've read, which is a combination of some things several of the folks above have said.

    Yes, ghrelin is produced in the human body mostly by the fundus (stretchy portion) of the stomach, but also to a lesser degree by the small intestine, the pancreas and the brain. See http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/ghrelin.aspx

    BTW, don't forget that ghrelin is not just the hunger hormone, but the thirst hormone. That's why you have to drink water post-op whether you feel thirsty or not.

    Anyway ... when your surgeon removed your fundus, s/he removed the greatest ghrelin producer in your body. And yes, for a long time post-op you probably won't feel nearly as hungry as you did pre-op. I say "probably" because much less hunger is the reaction most WLS patients have post-op. However, some post-op patients insist that they still feel physically hungry. Because I wasn't / am still not one of those persons I can't speak to that phenomenon. I'm not discounting their experience, just repeating what some WLS message board members report.

    One of the Big WLS Questions is whether and to what extent and when post-op the body figures out how to make up the ghrelin deficit. I asked my surgeon's extremely knowledgeable, up-to-date-with-all-WLS-research nurse practitioner this question: Does it come back? And she said she has never read any research that supports that theory.

    Again, I have not studied all WLS research nearly well enough to say that ghrelin comes back or doesn't come back. But I will report that my hunger these days (nearly 2 years, 8 months post-op) is so much more controllable than it was prior to being sleeved in August 2014. I can also report that how hungry I am these days is a function of:

    * Which foods I eat
    * How frequently I eat
    * The proportion of nutritious foods to treat foods I'm eating
    * How well hydrated I stay
    * How tired, bored, irritated, stressed I am

    In other words, everything you've been taught and are learning about how to eat well for nutrition and the eating rules you should be following and learning how to better manage the stress in your life without using food to do so, etc., will continue to serve you well after weight loss and for the rest of your life as you maintain your weight.

    Let's face it -- whether ghrelin comes back or doesn't and to what extent it does, you / I / we all still have to figure out how to respond to it. Bottom line is that we have to control what we put in our mouths and chew and swallow. And that's a very big subject.



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
    M8 151 -84
    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
    M11 144 -91
    M12 143 -92
    M13 142 -93
    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

    First Surgiversary post

    Second Surgiversary post

    Third Surgiversary post


  18. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member Katrina's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Katrina
    Surgery date
    11/04/2014
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    Dr. Borland
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    Oct 2014
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    I was told by my surgeon that it does indeed come back, that your brain starts creating more of it. I believe him. I'm hungry as a damn hippo all the time! But, my sleeve works very very well. I got the smallest size, and it's still quite tight 28 months later. Its weird though how some days I can eat much more than others. No matter, I'm always hungry not too terribly long after I've finished eating and have to eat again within a couple of hours.
    No pre-op diet
    Day of surgery 11/4/14: 5'4" 213lbs
    1 month: 187
    2 months: 171
    3 months: 155
    4 months: 148
    5 months: 142
    6 months: 136
    7 months: 131
    8 months: 125
    9 months: 120
    10 months: 114
    11 months: 111
    1 year: 109
    1.5 years: 105
    2 years: 108
    2.5 years: 102
    3 years: 113
    4 years: 115
    5 years: 115
    6 years: 117



  19. #10
    sraebaer
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    Wish it was, but the loss of hunger is totally not permanent! I'm three years out and get hungry just like I used to. I have to make the right choices or I could easily gain back my weight.

    Those beginning months when I couldn't have cared less about food were dreamy.....

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  21. #11
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    12/20/2013
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    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    I can't add too much more to the scientific side of the Gherlin question. But for whatever reason, my hunger (physical, not just head) returned around 10 months out. At 3 1/2 years out I have some days I could go without eating at all and other days I am ravenous and nothing satisfies my knawing hunger. But regardless of Gherlin, most WLS patients still battle head hunger, and that's the biggest challenge of all.



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  23. #12
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    12/20/2013
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    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    Quote Originally Posted by sraebaer View Post

    Those beginning months when I couldn't have cared less about food were dreamy.....
    ....oh yeah!



  24. #13
    Gastric Sleeve Member manzerick's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    11/04/2013
    Surgeon
    Dr Bernard Benedetto
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    They have GHRP2(something like that) that will duplicate gherlin. Not sure any of us need it but, it's our there



    Date***Weight
    1/30/2013***443
    6/8/2013***414
    8/8/2013***416
    8/15/2013***423
    8/26/2013***415
    10/11/2013***426
    11/6/2013***403
    11/12/2013***391.8
    11/15/2013***389
    11/21/2013***387.2
    11/26/13***384.5

  25. #14
    Gastric Sleeve Member Merry Mary's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Mary
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    09/29/2014
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    Dr
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    I have not been hungry since before surgery. My surgeon said some people eventually experience hunger and some don't. Thankfully, I don't get hungry, and learned to eat based on when I last ate. So another thing that makes us all unique, whether or not we experience hunger after surgery.
    HW - 394
    SW - 366
    One year post op - 191
    Goal - 177 met 16 months post op
    Current - 174

    220 lost since June 19, 2014




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  27. #15
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dutchie's Avatar
    Name
    Simonne
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    Dr. Pablo Enriquez Valens
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    Default Re: Question about the ghrelin hormone after surgery

    Thank you all!
    It seeems I'll just have to wait and see what happens and when it will happen.
    English is not my first language anymore, so I may and do make mistakes in my spelling, or say things oddly. Please ask me, if you want any clarifications.



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