Starving all the time since liver resection!

bbbelinda1 said:

my experience

I had two-thirds of my liver plus my gallbladder removed about six weeks ago. A couple days after the surgery, while still in hospital, I began experiencing the starving hunger that some of you have described. When I got out of hospital, I had to eat every two hours, including overnight, for the first 3+ weeks.

I also experienced terrible acid in the beginning -- I would describe it like "battery acid" -- if I didn't eat on time. I believe the acid was a side effect of having my gallbladder removed because my husband experienced the same thing when he had his gallbladder removed a couple of years ago.

My guess is that while the liver is regenerating (it apparently regenerates in about 4 to 6 weeks), it demands a lot of food. In fact I joked that almost everything I ate was immediately grabbed by my liver (located under the right side breast) before the food could make it down into my tummy because my belly remained flat for the first month or so. Before the surgery I always got a belly after I ate.

I believe one of the best things to eat to satisfy the hunger for a regenerating liver is protein in the form of low-fat meat. I noticed I felt much better when I had meat with every meal. Chicken, turkey and fish were the easiest to digest, but my liver definitely wanted red meat. I normally don't eat red meat, but I have temporarily added it into my diet while I recover from the surgery.

Over time I was able to get up less times in the night to eat. Around four weeks after my surgery, I was able to sleep through the night for the first time without being awoken by the starving hunger feeling and forced to get up to eat something.

Since then, during the day, I try and eat small, low-fat meals and often. I can happily report that I have not gained an ounce from my pre-surgery weight despite all of the food I ate during the "starving phase".

I want to thank SueRelays and everyone who posted and contributed to this discussion because it was the only thing I could find on the Internet regarding the "starving all the time" issue after my liver surgery. It gave me great comfort to know others had experienced the same starving feeling too. I am adding my own experience to this discussion in the hope it will also help others.

This week I received some wonderful news. I learned that my tumour, considered rare, was benign. I will continue to be monitored for the rest of my life by Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital, the top cancer hospital in Canada. Apparently these rare liver tumours can turn to cancer, which is why it was removed.

To all those reading this post, I am sending you positive thoughts for a quick recovery and excellent health going forward.

Thank you for sharing your story and I'm glad that everything is going well for you.  Hope you continue to do well.

Kim

beaumontdave said:

yes, I recall she was really

yes, I recall she was really "floored" by the breast cancer diagnosis, and she had been such a great voice here, I'd hoped she'd keep chiming in once in a while. Thanks for checking.................................Dave

and I too miss her post. 

Tru