2 months out

Hi everyone,
It has been two months and one day since my surgery. I to date have lost 58 pounds. The only concern I have is I feel like I can eat and drink more and I just get nervous that my pouch is stretching back out. Does anyone have any advice on this issue?
Hope everyone has a great week
Freezing in NY
Erin

Hi Erin,

2 months out, your pouch is not stretching back.  When you first had ur surgery it was the size of your thumb from the nuckle to the finger tip and it was hard.  Since then it's gotten it's elasticity back.  That's it.  You'll be able to eat more that's for sure, but nothing like what non-WLS folks can eat.  Don't worry about the amount of food you can eat right now.  Just focus on proteins proteins proteins right now.  Make sure you're getting all your vitamins & supplements in that your dr & nutritionist told you to take and drink all the water.  The more water you drink the more full you'll feel.  But don't drink much water with your meals because you'll need to get all the proteins in.

You're fine!  Keep up the great work.  And hey... how 'bout a pic?

Hi Erin:

This is SUCH a common musconception. I finally emailed my bariatric doc, and here was her answer (well the original question was more abotu revision surgery due to the stretching of the stomach)... Hope it helps!

And it's really warm here in Cali..

Heather

Hi there

Good question. I usually explain this visually in person, but I'll try with email
Let me know if I do not make sense.
1. Yes there are revisions, banding of the bypass and all sorts of "additional" surgeries
Bottom line they do NOT work. What caused you (not you specifically!) to regain is still there, snacking and grazing and not enough exercise.
2. Think of 2 elastic bands, one a large newspaper holder band which will stretch along way. (full stomach) The other a tiny kids hair band, still stretchy but will NEVER EVER stretch as much as the big one. (this is the pouch) Initially after surgery the little band is swollen and healing and will not stretch but as you heal the potential it ALWAYS had to stretch a little returns but NEVER to the degree of the big band. Remember all human tissue is stretchy (pull on your skin). What happens is people compensate for having to eat smaller meals by eating more often ending up with the same amount of calories as if they ate 3 large meals a day. In addition they eat consistently past the point of fullness so the body turns off those "wow I'm going to explode" signals.

thank you both, this helps alot, thank you very much :-)