Anyone able to get in too much?

Yesterday I made myself some cream of tomatoe soup. I was able to down it, WAY too fast. My surgeon says that I should be able to eat 4 ounces of semi soft (mashed potatoes & gravy) over 20 minutes. I can do that (unfortunately) in about 10 minutes. I'm not sure when the full feeling sets in either. See I used to be hungry across my whole tummy and now that feeling is in just one teensy area. Now occaisionally I get this little pinchy feeling just above my belly button. Is that the full feeling that I should be looking for or what???? I have never had a problem getting in my water, just seems to flow right down. Oh and I can take three fairly full swallows of that, is that too much? I think I see a future of self limiting, just like before surgery and I think that sucks. I had so many hopes and right now they seem downed. Any advice? Gayle Queen of Yarn Balls

The full feeling does not completely kick in for very many people until two months into the process, i.e., when the physical healing is complete. I got this out of reading many, many messages here and on other boards when I was feeling the way you're feeling now. I don't know why my surgeon didn't tell me about it, it was certainly disconcerting! I'm starting to feel the famous fullness now at one month out and more in relation to the solid food I am starting to eat. So, do not panic, it happens. Until then, follow directions and practice the slow eating and stop when you have eaten the required amount. If you don't practice the slow eating, you'll have a lot of trouble when you get to solids. Eating solids too fast can be really painful or nauseating or both, so practice, practice, practice. Solid food is way more filling that the mush stage. I can take in pretty much water, too, and it was a relief as how else to do all tha****er in a day. You are stopping drinking 1/2 hour before and 1 hr. after the meal, right? Otherwise, you wash out the pouch, don't get the nutrients, and you'll get more hungry. We all have those down moments, so just go easy on yourself. You'll get there and it won't be like all those diets we all did. But you have to give yourself the time to heal -- that's your biggest job right now, to take care of yourself and heal. I read bios when I started feeling this way. Gano

Regarding the water. When I was at my support group a gentleman there who is 7 months out CHUGGED his water down. Taking big gulps all the while. He was fine.. didnt get sick. etc. Im sure its all what you will get used to.

It is hard to feel full on soft foods. I can drink 8 oz of fluids now in about 15 min. Tomato soup is not much more than a fluid. Cottage cheese is a good way to learn about the full feeling. There is a point where either you feel uncomfortable in the pouch or you feel like you are full up to your throat. If you ignore that and put in another bite you will be decidedly uncomfortable for a few minutes. For me, with cottage cheese, that is 1/2 cup. I am allowed deli meat, not pureed now. I can only eat 2 oz of that before I get the same feeling. The doc said that the heavier (more solid) the food, the less it leaks out the other side of the pouch, so it takes less. That is one reason for the protein first rule. It is a very different feeling from preop fullness, but the few times I have ignored it I have been sorry. up the excess and I was fine. Just like filling a funnel faster than it can drain. You reach overflow! Joy -26

Gayle - sounds like you have a 4 oz pouch like me. I found that eating quicker will let me feel full faster. With the soft foods, it can drip through and you could most certainly eat more than 4 oz if you took 20 minutes. At least I think for me I could. I started eating more solid foods and I do feel it more and feel like it lasts longer. On the up side to having a 4 oz pouch - you get to chew a little more than other folks, and for me that means no head hunger or cravings. I also like that I'm able to drink my liquids quickly and easily. I did do a little research on this subject awhile ago and apparently the 4 oz pouch has less risk than the smaller ones. I'm happy with my pouch - I'm sure we'll lose fine! Dina