Hunger and Ghrelin

 

A question for all: 

1- If the hormone Ghrelin, which is in the stomach and intestines is removed during surgery, why are so many patients feeling hungry again ?

2- Does the hormone Ghrelin regenerate or grows back again ?

3- Is that not one of the benefits of WLS, not feeling hungry all the time ?

 

I ask these questions, because I read some post which mention feeling hungry again at times or all the time. Then again I hear about patients that need to remember to eat, because they don't feel hungry at all. Now What's up with that ?

 

I have not had WLS yet, but would like to understand why this happens to some patients and not to others.

I f anyone has any information on this subject. I am very eager to hear what you have to say.

 

Thanks: 88  

 

It is a little too simplistic to just say removal of Ghrelin stops hunger.  Ghrelin is not solely produced in the stomach but most of it is. 

There are other hormonal things going on that come in to play.  Beyond that there are the "head hunger" issues that can mess with the mind. 

So, some folks seem to nearly loose all hunger, other not so much to not much at all.  My own personal experience at 3 months post op is that I have had a very significant reduction in hunger but not total.  Sometimes it is just enough to tick me off but if I get busy doing something, I normally doesn't bother me.  If I am bored...then I have to deal with it.

 I had RNY over four years ago and have never felt hungry again. Some people say that they are still hungry sometimes and some all the time.  I still eat and enjoy the food, but never feel actual hunger.   With RNY the surgeon told me he cuts the vagus nerve and that removed my hunger.  

Everyone is different.  Lack of hunger is one of the great aspects of the surgery for me.

I am the exact same way, I never feel that stomach growling hunger at all, and when I am busy I really do forget to eat.  My protein bars are in my car today but I didn't want to go outside in the wind to get them, no I am not hungry at all.  I do miss them but I will have one a soon as I go home.  I had one on my way to work and that was it.

Unfortunately I am one of those who never lost their hunger, luckily, I get full easily.

VSG here, I woke up hungry from surgery.  I did get some reduction in hunger early on, but ghrelin returns and so does hunger for some folks.  Blood sugar and insulin  issues have a lot to do with hunger

I would like to know how many people get theri vagus nerve cut and how is your hunger because of it?

Not sure that I like what I read but...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve#Medical_treatment_involvin g_the_vagus_nerve

I am going to have to read that more carefully when I have more time.  There is a strong connection between the gut and the brain.  The gut is actually called your second brain.  That is why a reaction to something horrific can be felt in your gut.

Even though I would love the results of never feeling hunger and I would love to forget about food sometimes, I think I would feel lost if I never got hungry.  I think it would depress me.

1- If the hormone Ghrelin, which is in the stomach and intestines is removed during surgery, why are so many patients feeling hungry again?

Ghrelin is primarily produced in the greater curvature of the stomach.  All WLS result in a significant reduction of its production.  Some make more than others after WLS.  No way to tell who will realize less post-WLS. 

One thing to consider, there are many components of the hunger mechanism and Ghrelin is only one small part of it.

2- Does the hormone Ghrelin regenerate or grows back again?

Some people adapt and produce more.  See above.  BTW, its not a matter of "growing back," but of production.

3- Is that not one of the benefits of WLS, not feeling hungry all the time?

Yes, but people experience a reduction to a greater or lesser extent.  For instance, my partner and I both had RNY nearly 8 years ago.  She experienced strong sensations of hunger within days of her surgery.  I rarely feel physical hunger.  I'm one who eats by the clock.

Pre-op, I was literally hungry ALL. THE. TIME. Even after finishing a big meal, I still wanted one more bite.

Since my DS, I have what I think is normal hunger. I get hungry, I eat a reasonable portion, I get full and satisfied. I eat about five times a day---not full meals, but I eat something every 3-4 hours.

Occasionally, I have days when I don't get hungry, have no appetite, and food's kinda---eh. But I still have to eat, or I'll get nauseous, dizzy, and definitely disgruntled. So I make myself eat, and that's...disgusting.

What I'm saying is, I do still get hungry, and I'm glad that I do. I'm also glad that my hunger is normal now, not the ravening wolf it once was.