I NEED to know how much can you eat at 6mths out????

I'm very concerned that something is wrong!! I just ate about 1/2 lb of shrimp, now they were lil but still I'm scared I've stretched my pouch, or the stoma is stretched. I can eat about 1 cup of oatmeal and then an hour later want to eat again. I feel like instead of eating 3 meals I graze all day!! This scares me. I eat more often now than I did before surgery!! I'm gonna talk to my doc abut this on the 4th, but what can I do in the mean time!! Just a lil advise would be very apreciated!!! Thanks so much, Lori 264/168/135

Lori, I have read similar posts on some of the other boards and the main piece of advice that I see is to try getting back to the basics. (Measure your food, eat protein first, then veggies, then carbs, don't drink anything for at least 30 minutes before a meal and don't drink anything for 30 minutes after a meal, plan your meals, eat three meals a day). You can also try reading "Pouch Rules" at http://www.obesitysurvivors.com/PouchRules.html to see if any of this helps you. What I gather from the other posts is that it is fairly common to think we have broken our tool or something has happened to it.... It appears (going strictly by what I've read in other places) that getting back to the basics sort of "tests" to see if the tool is still working. If the tool is not working, I'm guessing you would feel excessive hunger and stuff like that despite following the rules.....and you can report that to your doctor. (I'm just thinking that if you try that out now...maybe you can avoid waiting until the 4th to hear your doctor say it. You can let him/her know that you already tried it) It's good that you have a doctors appt coming up so soon so you can ask him/her about it. In the meantime, DON'T PANIC....try going back to the basics because it will give your doc more information about what you are dealing with. It' worth a shot anyway... I sincerely hope everything is okay....your weight loss is GREAT...so I'd say that is very promising!! ~Hugs, Pam

Oatmeal is like a full liquid and liquids go down faster than solids. Can you eat a cup of Tuna? I don't think so. You are 1/2 lbs of shrimp sounds bad, but did you eat it all at once or nibble over a long period? I also eat small meals throughout the day. I have to. I can't get all my protein in our fluids in if I don't and I also found my stomach hurts if I don't eat small snacks. Question- Are you still losing weight? If so, don't sweat it. I know it is scary, but you probably will never be able to eat like you used to. I think Pam is right to tell you to track your eating. If you are emotional eating then it is a problem, but if you are eating from true hunger and from what your body needs, like protein- shrimp is protein- then I think you will be ok. Wendy

Lori, I too can eat way more now. I can eat a cup of a lot of things. A lot of times I'm uncomfortable afterwards. I eat way too fast and don't get the full sensation until I'm stuffed. I've got a lot of bad habits that didn't go away with surgery. I find the whole thing to be scary. I'm one of those that sweets don't bother too bad. Not a good thing at all. I think the advice above is the best - go back to the basics. We know in our hearts what to do. Its just a matter of making ourselves. I think a little therapy would help me but I just can't afford it. Hang in there. You can do it! Dawn

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one in this place right now. I think the most important thing is to be aware of what we're eating and not to graze. My doc promotes 5 small meals a day because I do get hungry! Stay away from the sweets and starches - you know, eat a healthy diet and get back on the exercise horse (I've fallen off). I'm afraid I've hurt my pouch too, due to food poisoning over the holiday (dry heaves). I did, however, learn some interesting facts about my new anatomy. Did you know that since I can't throw up the acids and bile, my body will continue to try until the offending problem has exited the body one way or another. Be careful about what you eat! Back to the topic. I'm having to really watch my wanting to graze, and be careful about the nutritional value of what I do eat. I've started drinking something when I feel hungry (V8 and Propel are faves), and planning when and what I'll have ahead of time. I only lost 2 lbs. over the holiday - even with getting sick - so I'm hoping I'll get back on track once I go back to work tomorrow. Good Luck, Kristie