Some Friday morning pondering

As I sat down this morning and ate two turkey sausage patties in less than five minutes I began thinking about something that has been on my mind a lot lately.  How hard is it going to be to slow down while eating.  As my date approaches, I've been very much aware that I am a "sprinter" when it comes to eating food.  And more than just eating food, I've noticed I even drink my water at a fast pace.  For insance, I can down 20 ounces of crystal light in less than 10 minutes sometimes.  I know this is not going to fly "on the other side."  So my question to you all is - was this a difficult transition for you - or is it something you forget to do once (slow down) and the physical consequences kept you from forgetting in the future?

As always your thoughts and advice are much appreciated

The good thing about RNY and the way you'll be configured, Russ, is that your body will let you know IMMEDIATELY what you're doing wrong.

For instance, I was always a water chugger.  In the hospital, though, liquids were given to me in tiny medicine cups, mere ounces at a time.  I was, however, allowed to bring my own "approved" liquids with me, so I brought s/f lemonade.  Well, let me tell you - I "forgot" and took a normal sized swallow and right away, regretted it as the cannonball ricocheted into my chest!!!!  It passed almost immediately, of course, but it was just enough of a "Slow down there, pardner," for me to remember it today!!!

Same thing with food.  Eating too fast, taking too big a bite, not chewing well enough or eating something too dry will cause what we affectionately refer to as the "food induced heart attack," or, more simply, "STUCK FOOD."

Now, stuck food is NOT to be confused with dumping syndrome.  Stuck food is just what it says.  Food lodges at the opening of your pouch and sits...and sits...and sits.  Sometimes (if you're lucky), it'll pass on its own.  Sometimes, you'll have to bring it back up (you need to try hard to NOT do this too early out as you'll still be healing), and usually, bringing it back up is preceded by the "foamies," clear-whitish slimy looking spit (looks like dog puke).  The relief that you'll feel once it passes or you revisit it will be INSTANTANEOUS, and it's not uncommon for your pouch to feel like a pulled muscle for a day or so afterward - because you've strained it - NOT stretched it!

Conversely, dumping syndrome is a metabolic reaction that occurs when you eat too many carbs (refined sugars) or, for some, too many fats.  It causes a spike in your blood sugar that results in you possibly feeling like you're "outside of yourself," like you can see what's happening from a distance.  Shakes, jitters, sweatiness, irritability, nausea, extreme fatigue can all occur, too.  RNY patients are most susceptible to dumping because of the way our intestines are now configured.  BUT, not every RNY'r dumps - only a percentage.  My advice?  Don't open the carb door if you can avoid it.  Don't push the envelope to see how much sugar you can tolerate - chances are, you'll deeply regret it later.  Unlike stuck food, dumping DOESN'T occur immediately - of the few occurrences that I've had, some developed within 30 minutes, others, up to two hours later.  Often, you'll feel the need for a nap, and wake up feeling okay.  Dumping is dicey - no two instances are the same, just like no two wls patients are the same.

Okay, now that you know everything you DIDN'T want to know, and I've scared the hell out of you, let me just say that you'll do fine.  Follow your doctor's guidelines - take small bites, chew, chew, chew....and then chew again, sip, walk, rest - and you'll be a mere shadow of your handsome self before you know it!!!

Hugs,

Tia

Can not think of a single thing to add that Tia didn't already say.

Shes so totally right about your body letting you know what to not do!

You will do fine

I ate too fast last night (scrambled egg) and I hurt.  I'll be more careful from now on...

in the begining I could only sip water.  now I can down 8 oz in a couple of minutes not a problem.  I still drink protein drinks slowly... but I would not say I'm sipping.  I am not GULPING that's for sure.

one of the things that really helped me was that I purchased small spoons (like baby spoons) and tiny plates (appetizer size) in a fancy design and we use those now... the small spoons help me take tiny bites... the plates remind me to slow down (if i remember to pay attention to what I'm eating)

I worried about this too.   But it becomes kind of intuitive after surgery.  Sort of like you know what your can and cannot handle.  and if you don't.  you learn.... and after all the journey of life is a learning experience.

It will be easy once you get there. I promise!!! I was the same way I use to be such a fast eater too. But you will have to chew your food now and pay more attention and the very first time you get that God awful pain in your chest from eating too fast............YOU WILL KNOW NOT TO DO THAT AGAIN! :o) Your body will adjust and so will your mind. It fell in place for me after the first time I ate the wrong way. And you will have plenty of people to back you when you start to slip. (((Hugs)))

yeah Tia is 100% correct.  Although each wls patient handles food differently from the next person, i can say that for me, I still have issues with sausage patties.  if I do't chew it thoroughly, it will get stuck.  I have had many issues with food getting stuck and as like Tia says, it's not fun.  it's imediate and you can't eat or drink anything until it either passes or you bring it back up.  it is the most painful thing to experience for me.  Think of it as swallowing a dagger and as the food is sitting there, it churns and that dagger is just moving and moving and moving. 

One thing you'll realize after surgery is that there's going to be many queues your pouch will give you if you're doing things wrong.  Just listen to it and you'll be fine.

Well, you have just heard from the experts on the board, Tia is always my go - to person whenever someone I know has the RNY and has issues. 

I'm a bander and although I don't have the dumping issues, I do get those too fast issues - and as Tia eloquently put it, it does feel like a food induced heart attack.  Whew - not a very pleasant feeling at all. 

All I can say is what others said, take your time, listen to your body (and your mind, sometimes your mind will warn you before your body does), and keep yourself hydrated - most most most important thing!

And 2nd most important thing?  Enjoy the journey, it may be rocky at first as your body overcomes the shock of surgery and sudden reduced rations of food, then it goes smoothly from that point on. 

Congratulations and I see that Tia has already dusted off a seat for you on the bench.  :)

Thank you all so so much.  Your wisdom and perspective are so comforting to a guy who has thoughts going on in his head at 100 mph on this upcoming new life.  You all have made me feel so welcomed and supported - and that's a really comforting thing.  Someday, I hope I can be the one returning the favor to some else.

thanks again everyone.

Hi Russel,
99% of all obese people are fast (sprint) eaters. As it was explained to me before surgery, when we are eating like we are going to the chair, we(I) are(am) eating so fast that our brain can't keep up with us, and that's where the stuffed(sick) feeling comes from. By the time our brain catches up, we(I) have already eaten enough for the whole neighborhood! It is also extremely normal to have racing crazy thoughts prior to WLS. I used to give myself migraines all the time! LOL  Leslie:) P.S. Listen to the others about the stuck food, I had VSG, sorry!

Since everyone else is chiming in on the stuck food issue -- I will too.  My best description of food getting stuck is like :giving birth through your esophagus."  Listen to you body after your RNY.  It will talk to you!  Good luck!