Need Answer!

What is the difference between regular hunger and Head hunger? 

How do they differ?

If they feel different, how?

Fred

head hunger is psychological, it's not specific to surgery, it's "thinking" you're hungry because you want it, not need it.   head hunger seems more prevalent after surgery because you're aware at that time that you can't chew.

Head hunger to me is when I just want something to eat...need something to eat .... I am not hungry....usually it is high carb foods I want or sweets. Real hungry is when I miss a meal and it has been over 4 hours since I had any thing to eat. I would have a balanced meal of meat and potatoes and be content. Not needing to eat after a meal.

Fred, Here is my take on it.... Head hunger is when you just want to eat for whatever reason (bored, stressed, happy, sad, etc.) You are hungry in your head (or mind), but your tummy is not hungry. Regular hunger is when you stomach might growl (mine never does!) and you really need to eat for nutritional value.  You stomach is empty and needs some fuel. To be honest, since I have had surgery I don't feel hunger like I used to, such as tummy growling, hunger pangs, etc.  I just know when my body needs to fuel up again.  Sometimes, I have to remind myself to eat.  I hope this helps! Brooke

For me, head hunger is "ooh, gotta have some....chocolate, potato chips, ice cream...a specific "gotta have it" or worse "gotta have MORE!" Whereas, real hunger is "hmm, I need to fuel up, I'm getting tired or light headed".  This is a new sensation for me, I really don't know when I felt real hunger pre-surgery, other than if I'd been sick for a few days perhaps. What I try (and my brain is very resistant) is when it's head hunger I try to take a few minutes and close my eyes and ask myself "if you could have ANYTHING else in the world right now, what would it be?"  and usually I find I'm bored, disappointed, overworked, anxious or something like that.  SOMETIMES it gets me past the moment to know it's really emotional not physically driven. Also, head hunger is fueled by getting what it wants, and real hunger is satisfied by getting what it wants.

I've had a hard time understanding head hunger since I have not had any cravings since my surgery a week ago.  I do know MOUTH hunger, though which for me is when I see somethng yummy and just need to taste it.  I swished around one macaroni from mac and cheese in my mouth and then practically let it melt before swallowing and it was delicious, even though I know its not a great thing for me to eat.