The war against head hunger

Sometimes reflux can mimic hunger. I often get that grumbly, hungry feeling without any actual burning and know that I am not hungry. Much better since I re-started my Nexium that I thought I was ready to go off.

Leisa

 

Yes! Reflux can mimic hunger and I thought I was starving post-op. I wasn't starving, I was having reflux that gave me a nice gigantic ulcer in my nice shiny new pouch.  :(    

Oh and I was also hungry. Now that I'm able to eat again, I can feed the hunger which doesn't take much. It does get better. 

Re tv: Not only commercials are a problem; I noticed how (painfully) often characters in sitcoms EAT! I mean, every time they walk into a room there's a pizza or a bowl of popcorn. I finally decided to have the TV on, but get on the computer or do something that required my eyes to be averted. That way I could listen and distract myself, but not see them enjoying junk food!

I knit.

Check with your doc as to the amounts you're to have. Protein shakes are more than 2 ounces from what I understand. Most post ops do their protein shake for their meal and broth, water, decaf tea or whatever between "meals". And going to the gym? Most aren't cleared for that until 6 weeks out. You don't want to rip out anything by working out too early. At this point just walking is usually allowed. It's head hunger - no matter what you eat you can't feel full, overfull or hungry at this point. Your nerves were cut during surgery so they can't send you any messages of full or hungry. That will be weeks away. Your stomach will gowl - you've cut it, re-routed it, put air bubbles in places it didn't have before and you're going to rumble, make weird noises and everything while it figures the new route food and air have to take. Work on changing eating habits now, later when you think you're hungry you might be but you'll be on a whole different eating schedule by then. Take it easy, you're still healing. Eat/drink what your surgeon says and stay away from the gym for now.

Jen 12 yrs post op RNY

Thanks Jen. I have checked with my doctors, I even called today to make sure and that is his post op diet. 2 ounces 3 times a day for 2 weeks in addition to clear liquids, that's what they confirmed. It's very little, and hard to do. He told me before surgery that I could exercise right away, when I felt up to it, so all I did was walk on the treadmill for a 1/2 hour. Aside from feeling like it's too little "food" I feel great.