RAVENOUSLY hungry (or nausea?)

Hi friends,

I had my VSG four months ago, and for the past two weeks I have been RAVENOUSLY hungry.  I feel physical hunger within two hours of eating, maybe sooner.  To be honest, I can't tell if it's hunger or nausea.  It feels like hunger, but it's not pangs, so maybe I'm confusing it.  I did almost vomit the other day, after my first bite of food, so I could be wrong about the hunger theory.  Has anyone else experienced this?  It's making things tough for me because I'm back in that old battle of my brain telling me I don't need to eat yet and my stomach telling me that I simply MUTS. HAVE. FOOD. NOW.  So far I haven't fallen into any old traps, but I'm worried that I will.  Is this the hunger hormone coming back into play?  I thought I had at least another couple of months before that hit.  I'll definitely call my surgeon, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this.

Thanks all!!

It could be acid. Acid will make you feel like you are hungry. Are you on a PPI? 

The other issue is thirst.  My surgeon's office kept repeating that thirst can mimick hunger.  Their advice, drink a glass of water and weight 15 minutes.  If you are still hungry, then a light snack on plan.  One suggestion they made was 5 almonds.  Not 5 oz, 5 almonds.  :) 

I find what really helps me is a good dill pickle.  I really like the Clausen cold pack pickles in the deli section.  Costco also sells a good one, dill pickle spears from Nathan's.  A little high in sodium, but low calorie, crunchy and filling.  If cold pack pickles are not available, then I go with Vlasics.

For the most part, if I feel my stomach gnawing, the water usually helps. 

Head hunger is a whole other issue!

I have problems with a "gnawing" feeling in my stomach, if that makes sense.  I don't really know how else to say it.  It's like a rumbling gnaw.  It feels different from pre-surgery hunger, but I respond to it like hunger.  Water doesn't not make it go away, it just makes it gurglier. :)  And I'm on a PPI as well. 

Let us know if you find out anything!

Try a couple Tums when you get that hunger/nausea feeling and see if it goes away within a few minutes.  If it does, it's acid - not hunger - and you need to get on a PPI or switch to a different one that works for you.  

I hope you quickly figure out what this is because it's not normal to get ravenously hungry at 4 months out.  And I'm assuming that you aren't doing simple carbs.  THAT would make you ravenously hungry at 4 months out if you are doing any form of bread/crackers, rice, pasta, sugar, etc.  

Thanks for the tips, all!  I am eating exactly the way my nutritionist has prescribed, so no overload of simple carbs (very few at all), and lots of protein.  I called my doctor's office today, and he is ordering a barium swallow study b/c he thought it might have to do with not "going" regularly, which isn't really a problem for me.  We'll see how that goes!  I may call back and ask about the PPI as a couple people have mentioned it.  I'm in omeprazole, but maybe I need a different one or a different dose.

Thanks all!!

I get the same thing and taking ppi hasn't stopped it. Been feeling that hunger since week 1! I get it between 3.5 - 4 hours between meals like clock work!