Why is my appetite in hyperdrive? I am going nuts!

Hi all,

I am seven weeks out of my surgery and my appetite has nagged me a few times, but today I felt like I was starving. It was so strange and infuriating!!! I managed to keep myself from giving in to it, but it was more than just head hunger.  I was definitely eating my regular meals and not depriving myself, but it was a hard day.  My will to stay on target luckily was stronger than the will to eat, but it was damn hard. 

Is this something that sometimes happens to bariatric patients? I am not PMSing either. 

MsBlues

You are not alone, MsBlues.  I often had the munchies in those early days and I still get them.  I would get jealous of friends who said they were never hungry.  The great thing about WLS surgery (at least for me) is not that I have no appetitite, but that my appetite is much more easily and quickly satisfied--a few (slow, well-chewed) bites of something healthy and I am suddenly full.  Before surgery, my appetite was insatiable.

Thanks Julia.  Like you, my appetite was insatiable before surgery.  Mentioning that is good perspective.  I was so annoyed with things yesterday, but it was one day compared to it being  everyday before surgery.  Knowing that might help me calm down in dealing with the nagging muncher voice.  I was almost in a panic yesterday about my appetite being so present.  If it's there again today, I'll just take some deep breaths and know I can handle it.

MsBlues, I agree with Julia and also remember as time goes on you can hopefully gain more control relative to what is real hunger and what is head hunger.  Don't feel alone as I too feel that my head hunger devil tries to take over here and there.  Just do what you are doing and that is don't give in.  You stayed on target and that in and of itself is fantastic. However, if you absolutely feel you must give in eat some jello, popsicles, fruit and/or some other healthy food.
Wishing you the best.
Terry

Thanks Terry!  I did eat jello and sucked on a sugar free lifesaver.  I just couldn't believe how strong that feeling was yesterday.  I was bored at work. I was feeling anxious over the mundane tasks I had to complete, but didn't want to do and it all created the "perfect" storm for my inner muncher to come out in an insane manner.  I just haven't felt it so strongly before and I think it's because I didn't feed it.  It just become louder and louder.  I hope the  more I don't feed it, it will either die or go away with much less effort. 

Make sure you're getting your vitamins and water.  Water helps with that "hunger" so much.

I had a total meltdown, as I call it.  I wanted to eat everything, and picked and yelled at everyone.  So at one point I said ok, I am just going to eat what I want.  Well when I got done puking my guts up, it was only then that I realized, my life was changing.  I dump if I have eating something wrong.  I am thankful for this surgery and you will be too, just keep working hard to keep your hunger in cheeck.  Your pouch cannot hold that much food, eat more protein than carbs, drink lots of fluids and I think you will be ok.

Good luck, Diane

Thanks Diane.  Good advice. I'll keep on keeping on.  I sucked on a sugar free lifesaver and that seemed to help.