Does anyone still get hungry?

I’m three months post-op and most of the time, I don’t get hungry
between meals but sometimes - I really do feel hungry. I’ve read that
others don’t have these hunger pangs…..am I the only one? Could it
be phantom hunger pangs (whatever those are)?

20 Responses to “Does anyone still get hungry?”

  1. Jamey Lancaster Says:

    Hi, Ahsrey!
    Well, there’s hunger and there’s hunger <G>. And there’s head hunger and body
    hunger. I find that when I think I’m hungry (when my tummy says ‘hungry’), if
    I wait about 15 minutes, I’m no longer hungery. It’s the wierdest thing. But
    today, I had head hunger, and have been hungry all day long. The best I can
    do then is to keep drinking.

    Don’t know if this will help - I’m about 10 months out.

    Pam in Niceville

  2. Carlo Mickie Says:

    You are still going to be hungry after WLS. A part of it may be hunger pains but
    most of it is probably because you are hungry. The felling of being hungry ever
    now and again will never go a way.

    I’m three months post-op and most of the time, I don’t get hungry
    between meals but sometimes - I really do feel hungry. I’ve read that
    others don’t have these hunger pangs…..am I the only one? Could it
    be phantom hunger pangs (whatever those are)?

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  3. Jamey Lancaster Says:

    Hmmmm. I have found that I am a "cheap drunk" after surgery. <G> I can
    occasionally have 1/2 a glass of wine - I prefer to water it down into a
    sort of cooler. I think that in the last 10 months, I’ve probably done it 3
    or 4 times at social functions. You get a buzz very fast, and then it
    leaves pretty fast - at least that has been my experience. It also makes me
    really thirsty.

    So, yes, you can. However, I understand the surgery causes it to be
    metabolized differently, and it’s harder on your liver.

    Pam in Niceville

    Phil asks:
    can you drink alcohol after surgery?

  4. Kari Linnea Says:

    I have had a few glasses ( small ) of wine, nothing else..and let me just
    say…i am officially labeled a cheap drunk..lol..I was told by my surgeon that
    i could indulge in wine after a few months, but nothing else for a while..and he
    recommended that i not drink anything that had carbonation in it..ie, beer,
    coke, etc..

    Erin Scheck
    post op 344/272/Goal 180
    (-72)WHoooHoooo
    surgery date 04/28/03

  5. aaron_1700 Says:

    I have some input on the drinking thing. I’m six months post-op and I’m in my
    early 30s and still in the "single scene" so this comes up alot for me. My
    friends and I frequent bars, clubs, etc. Like Pam, I am a "cheap drunk" now
    too. Let me start by saying that drinking on a regular basis is not healthy for
    ANYONE, and I imagine it’s even less healthy for WLS patients. That being said,
    I do have a few drinks on the weekends and here are the rules I follow that seem
    to work for me:
    1) No beer or carbonated drinks (pouch stretch & burn factor)
    2) No sugary liquors (Baily’s, Kahlua, Schnapps - way to much sugar - don’t
    want to "dump" while you’re in a social situation)
    3) White wine doesn’t seem to bother me, but I usually put a few ice cubes in
    so they water it down a bit
    4) Vodka & cranberry juice doesn’t bother me at all

    *BUT, I learned a very hard lesson about a month ago and I should share: I was

    very bad and hadn’t had ANYTHING besides a glass of milk to eat all day (extreme
    no-no), I proceeed to meet friends for drinks and had a vodka cranberry followed
    by a glass of white wine. Well, when I woke up the next day, EVERYTHING I
    swallowed hurt very bad (even sips of water). I called my doctor and realized
    that I had burned my pouch by drinking without having anything in there all day.
    For the next two weeks I was back on a liquid/soft diet and had to go on two
    different medications for my stomach because I was in so much pain.
    Hope the info is somewhat helpful.

    Jen in Naperville
    Surgery date 3/3/03
    259/175/150

    The lesson here is: In matters of alcohol, proceed with EXTREME caution and
    DON’T do anything without having a little something in your tummy.

  6. Bret Mckinney Says:

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  7. Kari Linnea Says:

    Diana,

    Have you tried searching for this information on obesityhelp.com ? They often
    have lists that show how hard etc for each insurance company..try there if you
    get no results here.

    Erin Scheck
    post op 344/272/Goal 180
    (-72)WHoooHoooo
    surgery date 04/28/03

  8. Jamey Lancaster Says:

    Are you self-pay or is this a company policy? If it’s a company policy, I’d
    get my HR involved in trying to find out what the requirements are.

    If it’s self-pay, I’d get the insurance agency that sold you the policy
    involved. I’d think that they have to tell you what they cover. I mean, you
    could go to the state insurance commissioner, I guess, and file a complaint.

    Another option would be to get in touch with the lawyer who basically handles
    obesity cases (I’m not at home, so I can’t get you his URL) but the name
    starts with an L. Lindstrom? Lipscomb? And get him to do a letter for you.

    If worse comes to worse, I’d go back to the surgeon’s office and explain the
    situation and ask them to get the information -

    Pam in Niceville

  9. Carlo Mickie Says:

    Is it Health Alliance Plan (HAP) or just Health Alliance?

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

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  10. Bret Mckinney Says:

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  11. Carlo Mickie Says:

    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an email
    on Monday.

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

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  12. Bret Mckinney Says:

    Thank you for your time and efforts. I appreciate it.
    Diana

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  13. Jamey Lancaster Says:

    Oh, great, Jason. On one of my SF lists, they joke about AKICF (all knowledge
    is contained in fandom) - looks like we’ve got the same thing here <G>.
    Pam

  14. Carlo Mickie Says:

    LOL :-)
    Oh, great, Jason. On one of my SF lists, they joke about AKICF (all knowledge
    is contained in fandom) - looks like we’ve got the same thing here <G>.
    Pam

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  15. Carlo Mickie Says:

    Hey kids,

    Here is the scoop on Health Alliance - they require a psychological evaluation
    and you must have 6 months of consecutive diet documentation. I hope this helps
    Diana.

    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an email
    on Monday.

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it

    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

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  16. Bret Mckinney Says:

    That’s all they require. Good grief I have been going to the dietician for the
    last 18mths. I was thinking there was going to be a huge list of comorbs that I
    needed or something like that. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
    diana

    Here is the scoop on Health Alliance - they require a psychological evaluation
    and you must have 6 months of consecutive diet documentation. I hope this helps
    Diana.

    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an email
    on Monday.

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana


    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  17. Carlo Mickie Says:

    I forgot to mention that it has to be medically supervised, sorry. I hope you
    still have that!

    That’s all they require. Good grief I have been going to the dietician for the
    last 18mths. I was thinking there was going to be a huge list of comorbs that I
    needed or something like that. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
    diana

    Here is the scoop on Health Alliance - they require a psychological evaluation
    and you must have 6 months of consecutive diet documentation. I hope this helps
    Diana.

    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an email
    on Monday.


    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

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  18. Bret Mckinney Says:

    Well I had to go to the drs office every month to be weighed in. I had to write
    down what I ate everyday and what exercises that I did. I saw the nurse and the
    dietician every month for the past 18 months. I hope that qualifies me. I guess
    I will send in the info and see what they say.
    Diana

    That’s all they require. Good grief I have been going to the dietician for the
    last 18mths. I was thinking there was going to be a huge list of comorbs that I
    needed or something like that. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
    diana

    Here is the scoop on Health Alliance - they require a psychological evaluation
    and you must have 6 months of consecutive diet documentation. I hope this helps
    Diana.


    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an email
    on Monday.

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval? I
    had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send it
    in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I said
    could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I then said
    this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to know what is
    required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you there. I was told
    this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and talking to different
    reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  19. Jamey Lancaster Says:

    Well I had to go to the drs office every month to be weighed in. I had to
    write down what I ate everyday and what exercises that I did. I saw the
    nurse and the dietician every month for the past 18 months. I hope that
    qualifies me. I guess I will send in the info and see what they say.
    Diana

    That’s all they require. Good grief I have been going to the dietician for
    the last 18mths. I was thinking there was going to be a huge list of comorbs
    that I needed or something like that. Thanks for putting my mind at ease.
    diana

    Here is the scoop on Health Alliance - they require a psychological
    evaluation and you must have 6 months of consecutive diet documentation. I
    hope this helps Diana.


    Our coordinator who handles Health Alliance is out today. I’ll send you an
    email on Monday.

    It is health alliance ppo.
    diana

    Does anyone out there no the requirements for Health Alliance for approval?
    I had Healthlink when I started this journey then work switched our plan to
    Health Alliance now the dr says to make sure I have everything before I send
    it in. I called Health Alliance and asked and was told the list is to long I
    said could they fax or mail it to me and was told no that is not allowed. I
    then said this is my insurance policy I am paying for it I have a right to
    know what is required of me to use my policy. She said sorry can’t help you
    there. I was told this an additional 2 times when I tried calling back and
    talking to different reps. Can anyone help me?

    Diana

  20. Frank Elna Says:

    You should not have any problems then. It sounds like you really did
    work at loosing weight on your own and that’s what the insurance
    company is looking for :-)
    Best of luck!

    Jason

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