Question:
During the days after surgery, will I be hungry?
Surgery is scheduled for May 20th. After I wake up, and make it thru a few days in the hospital, will I return home and be seriously hungry? Or will hunger be the last of my problems? Appreciate your comments during the last few days before... Thanks, Lynn — Lynn P. (posted on May 12, 2003)
May 12, 2003
I have not been hungry since surgery, especially during the first few weeks
following. I have read a lot of postings here of those who said they were
hungry only days out. Seems to vary a lot. Best of luck to you on your
journey! RNY 11/19/02 - 117 pounds.
— Lisa W.
May 12, 2003
I had what I thought was hunger for a few days after surgery. But I found
out that I was experiencing 'head hunger'. It seemed every single
commercial on TV was selling food. I was thirsty though, I could not seem
to get enough to drink. About a week out of surgery I had no hunger. I am
6 weeks out now and have to make myself eat. Good luck :) Lap RYN 03/31/03
309/267/156
— Missy W.
May 12, 2003
seems some do and some don't. I was. Not voraciously hungry, but
certainly interested in food. THEN I discovered my tastes were off and
nothing I like pre-op tasted good post-op. Sucked lol. Nowadays I have
days I eat every 3 hours and days where I have to remember to eat. It's
weird.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 12, 2003
I wasn't hungry at all after surgery. Even now, 2 years post op, I don't
really get hungry, though I do get munchie. It isn't generated by hunger,
just my silly little head and usually the fact that others are eating. My
personal experience is that eating doesn't do much for me anymore in terms
of satisfaction. I have to learn this same sad fact over and over. One
day, I will get it. I still occasionally vomit if I eat too fast, or too
much chicken or beef. Those foods have been trouble for me from day one.
Don't fret over hunger. You won't be wanting food for several months after
your surgery if you are anything like me.
— Bobbi G.
May 12, 2003
Lynn, I think the first few days especially you're right, it will be the
furtherst from your mind. You may be somewhat hungry the next couple of
weeks, I was, but it was more of a head hunger from seeing all those food
commercials while recooperating. After that, most people say they aren't
hungry at all, in fact have to force themselves to eat most of the time.
Then after 6 months many of us have a normal appetite. Goodluck on your
surgery- wish you the best!
— Lezlie Y.
May 12, 2003
Well, it varries. I can tell you the first several days after, you will be
lucky to get water down. I'm almost 3 weeks out, and the first week, just
the smell of food made me nauseas. Everyone is different. Also, it depends
on how long you are on full liquids. I've seen some people be on liquids
for 2-3 weeks, and when you hit that time, you may start wanting food. I
can tell when I need to eat because my pouch rumbles, but as for feeling
hunger, I just the garden variety head version. 2.5 weeks out, down 22lbs
— mellyhudel
May 12, 2003
I guess I'm the odd one here. My surgery was on a Tuesday, I was home from
the hospital on Friday and by Sunday I was SERIOUSLY hungry. Not head
hungry, but real starvin' marvin' kinda hungry. You figure the IVs came out
on Friday so by Sunday my body had not had any nutrients/nourishment to
speak off and I was weak, dizzy, and irritable as anything (just ask my
husband). Life improved 110% when I was able to go on full liquids 1 week
after surgery since that meant I was able to drink my protein shakes. So
just know that even if you are hungry, it will only last a few short days
before you can atleast get in some liquid meal replacements. Hope this
helps.
— snohflake
May 12, 2003
Hunger is the last thing I am dealing with. My wife has to make me eat as
I have no desire to do so. As everyone else has said though it does seem
like every other commercial on TV is some kind of food but once you
overcome the mental aspect the physical hunger will not be there.
-TJ 3 wks post Down 46 lbs.
— TJ M.
May 12, 2003
It depends. You might be. You might not. 2 days after surgery I was
surprised because I could drink the 1/4 cup of liquid every 2 hours as
suggested by my surgeon. But I realized it was my period because that came
the next day. Good luck and God bless!
— Kimberly L.
May 12, 2003
I was one of the seriously hungry postops. I was really hungry for a few
weeks but right after surgery (the first week) I felt I was starving. This
went away after a few weeks but early on I thought I was going to be THE
failure because I was hungry and thought I shouldn't be.
— susanje
May 12, 2003
I was hungry post op, even in the hospital - AND it was real hunger. I need
to qualify that by saying, though, that I am hypoglycemic, and now I mostly
only get REAL hunger when my blood sugar is low. They warned me about this
before I left the hospital, and how to deal with it. If I don't have
SOMETHING, I get the shakes - dizzy, weak, headachy. But I'm learning how
to ward it off. Now, that being said, it used to be that I would eat
ravenously when I got like this. Now I have a couple of bites of something
(even a cracker or two that I carry in my vehicle for
"emergencies"), and that takes care of the blood sugar problem,
and then I feel back to "normal". The trick for me has been what
some would consider close to "grazing" - I have to have little
bits of something every few hours, or I'm in trouble. I eat the Nitro-Tech
protein bars - they're BIG - but I work at them all day long. It takes me
an entire day at work to eat one. Which is good - keeps my blood sugar
stable, and keeps those hypoglycemic ravenous episodes at bay.
Other than that true body hunger issue to deal with, I have not noticed too
much of the cravings - and any eating at all brings about quick and
effective satiety, which helps tremendously (I NEVER used to feel full or
satisfied before) - makes it so much easier to stop.
— johanniter
May 12, 2003
I remember being VERY hungry initially... so, I ate. I made pureed chicken
salad and spread some on 2 ritz crackers. About half way through the 2nd
cracker I was soooo stuffed...felt like I just ate Thanksgiving dinner!!
My advice is to eat what you are allowed at the time... eat slowly and
learn to recognize early on when you are full (to avoid being terribly
uncomfortable!) Believe me, over the first few weeks, you will learn to
recognize the signs your body gives you. Best of luck to you.
— teresa M.
May 13, 2003
Hello...I posted this question, and want to thank everyone for your
individual answers. What a tremendous resource this website is, and of
course, the people are who really make it happen. As May 20th rushes into
my horizon, it is such a comfort to read your responses. Knowledge is
power, and you guys are so willing to share a slice of your's.
Thanks again, and I look forward to providing post-op answers to some of
the great questions that are going to be posted on this website.
Lynn
— Lynn P.
May 13, 2003
I am like a lot of previous posters in one way - I am hardly ever hungry -
sometimes I wonder if I am "eating" enough... but sometimes when
I forget to eat I eventually get hungry - feel like I'm starving - then
after a bite or two - I'm completely satisfied. I try to drink
continuously - but as far as feeling hungry - that is rare. Good luck on
your surgery.
— Stephanie C.
May 13, 2003
Lynn,
I wasn't hungry I think the mind plays tricks on you, when I came out of
surgery and about 2 days afterwards, with the first meal, even though it
was chicken broth I teared up in the hospital,...... I was a baby go
figure.....
Following the surgery, I wasn't hungry but I really missed the taste and
consistancy of things, Ie Hamberger, Pizza.... after about 3-4 weeks of
shakes... and nothing but shakes, it cured the urge to want thoes things.
I remember going to the mail box and go threw the ads to find a pizza hut
advertisement, that made me tear up, it's a love/hate relationship that we
have to find a way to let go of it, Hang in there, you'll get threw it when
the time comes.. If I can help email me .. :)
Post op 12 months down 130 pounds
— tannedtigress
May 17, 2003
I'm a little over 2 weeks post-op from an open and I have to set an alarm
to remind myself to eat. I try to eat six 1/2 cup meals per day as
instructed by my dietitian. Usually a few bites are sufficient and it's
rare for me to complete the entire serving.
— Billysmawmaw
May 19, 2003
I was one of those people who did get hungry starting around my third day
post-op. In fact, I was nauseous and weak (from hunger I believe) that
last day in the hospital. They tried to feed me stone cold beef broth, and
I couldn't drink it even though I felt like I was starving. I made my
husband sneak some warm chicken broth into the hospital for me after the
cold beef broth fiasco! He was scared he was going to screw up my post-op
recovery, but I was DESPERATE. Turned out I only drank a few sips, but it
helped. With my doctors permission, I started on pureed food on day 6.
Once I was able to get a little real food into my stomach, all of my
weakness and nauseau disappeared completely. I've had a wonderful post-op
experience. -125 lbs at 15 months now and at goal.
— Kathy J.
August 20, 2006
I was not hungry at all for the first 4 months except around my period and
that only started about 3 months post op now I seem to have days I feel
hungry right after I eat and other days I dont eat much of anything just
try to be calm and ask yourself if youve drank any water or ice chips (they
always help me) and if you really think your hungry try a protein shake
first....april
— april-rose
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