Pouch stretched?? Need help!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone. I was wondering how soon you could stretch your pouch because of what I can eat. My husband noticed it more than me. Last night I cut a cantalope in half and ate a whole half. My stomach is supposed to be only the size of a golfball, so how in the heck can it hold that much food? My PCP said it should hold no more than 2 oz. of food at this early stage. I really need some advice. I can't eat other foods like that too, mostly fruit and alot of veggies. Cheri

Don't worry about cantalope, once you chew it, it reduces to pure liquid and it goes right through your pouch. Try somthing solid and you'll realize you're fine. I can eat alot of cantalope and honeydew but give the toppings of a pizza and I can only get down the toppings from 1/2 of 1 slice down before I'm stuffed. I'm talking meatlovers so sausage, pepperoni and cheese. The 2 oz of food you're suppose to be able to eat is after you chew it, not before. Janice

remember to measure your food... even if you can eat more- stop at the 1/2 cup (or whatever your dr sets at this stage)... i don't get full either.. but i know i have to stop when the plate is empty no matter what i'm feeling... you're still healing- and i heard that some new people don't get teh full sensations right away- takes a few weeks/months for the signal to star****ch the fruit intake protein first.. good luck jennifer

Hi ladies, Thanks so much for the support, I was really starting to get worried. You are both right, I need to weigh my foods and is it was anything other than a cantalope or fruit there is no way I could get that kind of food down. Cheri

Cheri, are you still following up with your dietician? Even though Cantaloupe is a fruit, by eating and entire half you are falling into an old eating pattern. Get yourself to a department store and buy a food scale. Wal-Mart has them for 3.99. It was the best thing I ever bought. I didn't realize how much I could actually eat until I started measuring! Good Luck, D

Thanks for the advice on the scale. I'll get one tomorow. I can't eat other foods like that, just fruit and veggies. It's so odd though ya know what I'm saying. As soon as my stomach tells me I'm full I listen to it and put the food down. Like tonight I had 2 spoons of mashed potatoes, 2 spoons of string beans and 2 bites of chicken and I was done. I'm also going to see my Dr. on Tuesday so I'll ask him what's up too. I'll post again. Thank you, Cheri

I feel I'm not eating enough. I take 5 or 6 bites and I am full is anyone else feeling this way or is it just me??

The density of the food makes a real difference with me. I had a DS so my stomach started at 1/2 cup size. I can now easily eat 3/4 cup of yougurt but something like chicken still less than 1/2 cup and that feels too full. Some stretching is normal and desirable I beleive, but I am trying to do as Jennifer E. pointed out and watch the volume of what I am eating. And sometimes I'm too full and sometimes no I don't think I'm eating enough.

Hi Cheri, I too can hold alot of fruit especially watermelon. But you have to realize that melon is mostly water anyway. My Doc said that doesn't mean your pouch has stretched. He said it will eventually get a little bit bigger and you can hold more once all the swelling and stuff subsides because of the surgery. I know it's scary and you don't want to mess nothing up. Just stick with the amount your dietician sets for you and you should be fine. The whole reason we had the surgery was for a LIFETIME CHANGE. So we have to learn to eat the right stuff and the right amount. I know it's hard but we can do it.

Cheri, I'm sorry to know that you're worried, but I'm relieved to know that I'm not the only person that's been worried about this. I could easily eat about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of cottage cheese and be ok, but once I started eating chicken and turkey, I got full a lot faster. I made a ground turkey meatloaf, and was surprised at how quickly it filled me up. I think everyone here has given you some great advice. I'm so grateful for these boards!!! Thanks for posting this. I wish you lots of happiness and success on your wonderful journey. Diana