Worried about my pouch.

Hi, I am new to this board. I had open RNY on July 22, 2004. I seem to be able to eat more than I should. I eat what I call the amount for a "normal" person. A sandwhich and cup of soup or meat, vegetable, and potatoes. 2 lowfat,low calorie lean pockets. Is this normal? Have I stretched my pouch? I am told I should only be able to eat 4 oz. at a time. PLEASE HELP!!

I wish I had an answer for you. There are days, many many days, when I can eat more than 4oz at a time. I think I tend to hover around the 6oz mark most of the time. There are times when I can eat an entire sandwich and a piece of string cheese, and then there are times when it's hard to choke down just part of a sandwich. It worries me when I read about how little everyone else eats. Thankfully, I have my six month appointment tomorrow, and I will also be seeing my dietician, so maybe I'll have an answer for you...and me...and everyone else who's starting to panic over this. Pamela stuck at -74, but I think the scale will move tonight!

Gee I dont know hon. Does seem like a lot. YOu need to call your doctor and ask them. I'm like Pamela, somedays I can barely eat 4 ounces, others I feel like I can eat 6 ounches, and maybe more, but I dont. Here's hoping Pam can answer some questions tomorrow.

I went to a support group tonight, and we were discussing this topic. Sometimes, people can't feel hunger or fullness. It just all feels different and we are waiting for some kind of response with our bodies. It takes time for our bodies to adjust and in some cases nerve endings which trigger fullness have not yet healed from the surgery. That, or we have not become practiced at what our bodies are trying to tell us. This is especially true for those of us who are lucky enough not to dump or vomit very often. I have noticed that I have begun overeating for what my pouch can handle too... perhaps going beyond the 4-6 oz at times. This is because I am eating faster than I need to, and forgetting to slow down and chew slowly. We are so used to eating fast from all the years of overeating. Are you paying attention to how large your mouthfuls are, and how quickly you eat? Remember, small bites, and chew chew chew. ( How quickly we forget! ) I don't know if you have a medical problem, the surgeon would be the best to tell you- but perhaps not, if you are still losing weight. But I would ask you, as we asked ourselves tonigh. are you really paying attention to your body's signals, or bypassing them as we have all done from time to time? When all else fails some in my support group suggest going back to weighing and measuring our portions and eating a scheduled intervals. I think its a good plan. Our minds eye, and the measuring cups have to reconcile. Good luck. Marcy -72

Thank you all for your insight into this. I think I will just have to go back to measuring. I do have a surgeon appointment in about a month. I will measure until then and see what he says. I really am having a hard time with this. I also think I am eating to fast. That really does make a difference with me. I just am afraid that I have made my pouch too big. I am really worried.

Hi Janice, I would recommend you read "Pouch Rules for Dummies" since it will teach you how to measure the size of your pouch with the cottage cheese test as well as help you use water loading to curb your hunger. It will also help you understand how your pouch works. http://www.wlsfriends.com/pouchrules.html May I inquire what your weight loss has been since your surgery. I realize we are all different but if your pouch is stretched and you've been overeating perhaps your surgeon didn't make it as small as most surgeons do. Do you know if your RNY was Proximal or Distal? What did your surgeon's nutritionists say you should be able to eat at this stage? When did you last see your surgeon's nutritionist? When did you have your nutrient labs drawn last? Sorry to seem nosey but these questions might help figure out how to best get the most out of your surgery. Cathy 301/223/145

Dear Cathy, I have lost 92 pounds so far. I had my labs drawn the last time I was at the surgeons and they were all good. He says I should be eating only about 4 ounces at a time and about 6 times a day. I eat 3 times a day and usually about 6 ounces. I also snack one time in the evening. Sometimes I eat only 3 to 4 ounces. I have not seen the nutritionist since I was in the hospital. I had RNY distal. Let me know what you think. I hope this will give you an idea and I will check the web page about pouch rules for dummies. Thank you for your help. Janice 330/238/150