Am I normal????

Hello Everyone, I had my surgery on Sep 27 and I have lost 40 pounds . That is not the problem. The problem is I feel I can eat almost anything I want. (In small amounts) On some days I can eat 4 oz with no problems, on other days I can't even eat 2 oz.(those days I pretty much drink all day. I have no problems getting my water down and my protein(Isopure liquid). Should I be able to eat anything this early out. I have experienced not chewing well only one time. (Boy that hurt) I have never dumped. I have even had one little shortbread cookie and had no problem. Do you think I have stretched my pouch? I feel blessed not to have had any problems and doing well, but also worried that I have not experienced any problems. Please let me know your opinion. Thanks. V.

It depends on what types of food you're eating that is up to 4 ounces. If it's a moist/soft food, it's possible. I can eat about 3 ounces of cottage cheese or refried beans because they're soft...I can only do about 1 1/2 ounces of fish/chicken/meat because it's harder and dryer and "sits" in my pouch longer. I can eat a decent amount of salad, too...probably because it's soft and wilts in the pouch quickly. I think you're normal...maybe your pouch was made a bit bigger...or it has stretched a bit. Try to cut back and start measuring your portions again and don't over fill yourself...this will definately stretch your pouch out way too soon, a lot sooner than it should be (about 8-10 months out it'll stretch) I have never dumped either...maybe I'm one of those unfortunate ones that won't...BOO...I want to dump so that I can learn my lesson with "bad" food. But, I've never eaten anything so sugar laden that would cause me to dump. Be glad that you're not experiencing any complications...you've been blessed! Paula

Vanessa, We are normal... I eat just like you do... Dont worry. Just dont go over that.. Your doing great... I am 225 this morning Down from 272 . I wouldnt worry your losing weight. Your doing everything great... It seems to me that you had a succesful surgery like I did., I feel normal Take care Barb

Paula, Thanks for the information. I think I am doing everything right I just need to hear it from someone else. I do not overeat and I do measure, but sometimes I just do not have the time. Thanks again for the information. Yes, refried beans and cottage cheese will stay in the pouch longer. V.

Barb, Just to let you know, Our situations sounds almost exactly the same it is scary. I read you post all the time and it is amazing that everything you post I can relate with. Thanks for letting me know I am not insane. Thanks. V.

Vanessa, I am like you also. I can eat nearly a whole cup of stuff like soups. I have only vomited twice and I think it was because I didn't chew well enough. I can eat anything including noodles (chicken noodle soup, Healthy Choice) and hamburger with no problems. I have never dumped, but I have never eaten anything with a ton of fat or sugar. I think we are just LUCKY is all it is. We have had little to no complications and our tool is working fine, but I think that we are the ones who have to watch it because we are the ones who may be over to overindulge at some point. Or some of us may never get dumping symdrome (some people don't). I just feel good and won't feel guilty for that. You shouldn't either Beth

HI, I'M ALSO LIKE YOU, I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY DUMPED, AND CAN EAT PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER I WANT, I EVEN HAD A SMALL TOOTSIE ROLL AT HOLLOWEEN. (ONLY ABOUT 3 OR 4 GRAMS OF SUGAR). I ALSO GET WORRIED THAT MAYBE THIS SURGERY ISN'T WORKING. I HAD SURGERY SEPTEMBER 1ST. AND TO DATE HAVE LOST APPROX. 50LBS. (WI**** WAS MORE, BUT I HAVE NEVER LOST THIS MUCH IN 2 MONTHS). SOME DAYS I FEEL LUCKY TO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, OTHER DAYS I WORRY I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG. SO YOU'RE NOT IN THIS ALONE, I THINK WE ALL FEEL LIKE THIS AT SOME POINT. REMEMBER THEY DID SURGERY ON OUR STOMACHS, NOT OUR BRAINS!!! GOOD LUCK AUTUMN

V Sounds like most of us are the same. I did give the question to the doc about the amounts . He said if its soup you will be able to eat more because it doesnt stay in pouch as long the softer and thinner the consistency the more you can eat. So your normal. I still eat on a sucer to make sure i dont overdo it. Sometimes I even look at the portion on the saucer and reallize it may be a little too much so i just eat half of it or leave some leftover. Your doing great. Keep it up. Tammy O

I'm so glad you posted this because I'm almost the same. I don't dump, and haven't had hardly any problems with any food. Granted I have not tried anything that is full of sugar because I don't want to press my luck and I also don't want to know if I can tolerate it! Some days I can eat very little and mostly drink. Others days I feel like I eat too much although when I remember what I used to eat, that kind of puts it in perspective. I stopped measuring really soon out because I was able to feel when it was time to stop after taking one bite too many one time and learned my lesson. I've been wondering if something is wrong with me too or if I'd stretched my pouch. But at the same time, I don't want to dump so I feel lucky. Lisa B

Do not feel guilty about having a perfectly normal surgery. You are the rule, not the exception. I'm in the same boat. I can eat pretty much anything, and was putting hot sauce (MMMmmmm chipolte) on/in my food since I came off clear liquid.