Should I be feeling hungry all the time? Or is it pain?

I had my wrap and hernia repair done 4 weeks ago and am on total rest after a failed return to work after 3 weeks off.

My main problem is that I feel hungry all the time. I am trying to improve my nutrition now as 6 weeks pre-op my surgeon put me on a 800 calorie a day diet, which was very difficult as it meant I had to stop most of my exercise regime.

Before all this I was following Joe Wickes plan, I was doing 3 x 20 minute HIIT sessions in the morning, weights and cardio one night, boxing circuits another, body attack and total conditioning class followed by more weights in the gym....all this had to be stopped apart from the weekend classes (I ate normally at weekends). I lost 1.5 stone in 5 weeks! The reason for this was my weight, I weigh heavy due to muscle but am not fat although still need to lose weight (I've lost 8 stone over 4 years so far) but doctors don't see that, so it was assumed I'd have a fat liver, which I didn't have.

I am eating an omelette for breakfast but am hungry within an hour or two, so I have had things like a pot of custard or yoghurt as a snack, then soup for lunch followed by yoghurt or mousse but I'm starving by dinner and want to eat decent meal, I've gradually increased quantities but then feel discomfort afterward so am cutting it down again.....but I'm hungry again. Plus, the half stone I lost in the first week has gone back on. I just don't understand it, I'm gaining weight, not losing it. It's stressing me out as I can't exercise. Everyone else loses weight but after the first week I didn't lose anymore although I could barely eat. Also, I'm terrified that I'm going to stretch my stomach because I'm hungry all the time and will the undo all my hardwork.

Prior to the op I had a miserable time with reflux. I had grade 3 oesophagitis, hiatus hernia and chronic reflux. I was taking 60mg lansoprazole a day to try and prevent the reflux and, whilst it controlled the acid it didn't control the food reflux. I was vomitting my food every day as nothing would stay down. In fact, the crazy diet my surgeon had me on made it worse. Whilst the diet shakes and soups during the day stayed down, my evening meal would come back up with a vengeance. It got so bad that I would have to leave a gym class to vomit the water I was drinking as it kept coming back up and I couldn't risk it going everywhere....it was horrible.

Sorry for this long post. I'm guessing I have a few issues going on here, my body being starved for so long when it's been used to high calories and high protein with low carbs for so long to suddenly being starved in 800 calories with little nutritional quality. And, the fact my stomach is not used to food per se and carbs; the cheesy mash I've lived on for 2 weeks or so prior to advancing to minced diet.

Im not seeing my surgeon for follow up until 29th Dec, nearly 2 months post op (my op date was 31st Oct)

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

My surgeon looked at my BMI and concluded I must be obese and whilst I still need to lose some weight, I am super fit and was UK size 14 and am now a 12. I have a lot of muscle from doing weights and being a swimmer. This diet was the same diet they give to super obese people who are about to undergo weightloss surgery a couple of weeks prior to shift some weight fast.
The purpose of the surgery was to shrink my liver as it must be huge...which it wasn't but hey, I lost a lot of weight with it so I'm not holding a grudge.
As to contacting the surgeon, well, in the UK surgeons are not so easily accessible and you have to wait until the appointment, which she said would be 6 weeks after surgery...but is 8.

I have planned my food for next week and going to eat more protein and go back to the pre-op diet I was following before....chilli with baked sweet potato. I am also going to make smoothies with coconut milk and spinach to try and get my fibre and vitamins. All in smaller quantities but every couple of hours...eg...25g oats, then a smoothie, then half sweet potato with chilli beef, then yoghurt or soup mid afternoon...I'm hoping this will work better for me.

Not all surgeons give enough post-surgery instructions about what you body feels like and how you should be eating. I'm not a doctor, but I believe that you should not be eating chocolate because of the caffeine content, fried foods, anything tomato based, spicy, etc. (especially not chili - LOL). Also any type of carbonation in soda or alcoholic beverages. Believe me, it will make a huge difference. I think most people on this Forum will agree, proper diet post-surgery is essential.

Keep me posted with how you are progressing.

Sharon