Just wondering - Baby bites forever?

I am just wondering if the baby spoon, baby bites, chew chew chew until pasty like is a forever life change for WLS Post Op Folk.   I am trying to get a handle on this, gout, crap I never thought about that - I've had that twice in my life and never want it again. Right now I'm fighting Sulphoric Gas from both ends, is it worse Post Op. I guess I'm getting a little more worried and doubtful as the time closes in....BobM.

Maybe your first several months, but after that the bite sizes can be pretty big, maybe even as big as you want. If they get too big though they may bite back, by making you full right away or uncomfortable. Depends on what it is. Big bites of mashed potatoes may be fine, but you probably won't be able to take many big bites of meat. It's really odd sometimes what you can get away with - you wonder where you're packing the stuff. A whole  bowl of veggie salad may go in, then you'll try something else and only be able to get down a little. Also varies according to the day or even the time of day (harder to get stuff in in the morning, for example).

Don't worry, though. It's not that bad. You'll be surprised how normally you can eat after 4-5 months.

Dave 

Bob -  Dont get discouraged.  The 3-6 month lifestyle changes are worth the forever future outcome.  Yes you will need to take small bites and chew chew chew for a while (I am in that stage)  It gets old.  BUT, in the future the bites will get bigger - but you still need to chew.  I can tell you from experience that if you dont chew enough at first, the pain is not fun.  The key for the first months is that you dont want to damage the stoma or stretch the stomach. As far as gas.  I have always been a gassy guy - both ends.  I was told by a friend who had the surgery that that would all change.  He stated that post op he could not burp.  Well for me, burping and farting are still not a problem.  I know that burping sometimes is a life saver. Keep your chin up.  Read the sucess stories here.  I know that reading what others have done and went though keeps me encouraged.  I know the 6 months of hell is worth it,  Remember, we didnt get mobidly obese overnight, and we wont loose it overnight either. Keep it up and keep posting. As they say - May the FARTS be with you.

Hello Cradle robbing Bob.....(you didn;t think I was gonna let that young bride go did you???) 2 years out, I can take big bites....but not of meat...I just settle in for the long haul....and take my time..... As far as the sulfuric acid from both ends..is it liquid or gas.... the liquid part will stop/////I always traveled with an arsenal of tums, gasvescon and baking soda...(in the car) but not one time since RNY... no acid stools either....you milage may vary.. the gas part.....yeeeee howdy.....I am a would class farter...and they are nasty too.... hope this helps Russ

It comes down to figuring out what "Normal" really means. At first, Your "eyes" really are "Bigger than your stomach." About an "eye-ball" sized "meal" is about the limit. By 6 months, the swelling in the pouch has ended and more "normal-sized" amounts of food can be eaten. But- "Normal-sized" is the whole issue. If anyone was eating "Normal-Sized" portions prior to WLS They wouldn’t have needed it in the first place. Yes? Just remember, You know that little "*****ditty?" "More than a Mouthful is a Waste?" Same after WLS. You will be able to hold in your mouth, about the same amount of food As you will be able to hold in your pouch. Get that in your head, and it’s easy to see why learning to Take a little time and chew the food better is important. Do I still chew everything to complete and total mush? No. BUT- I also don’t inhale a burger the way that I used to. And "Used To," That was "Normal" for me….. Best Wishes- Dx

Bob - I was able to eat like a "normal" person at about 7 months out.  If you were to eat dinner with me today, you would never know that I had WLS.  I take normal bites and still eat too fast.  You might wonder why I ate only half my dinner, though. As we all know, results differ from person to person, but I can eat anything and eat it in a normal fashion.  However, from months 3-6 I did puke in the parking lot outside a restaurant a few times when I pushed the envelope too far.  I have finally learned that it is not a sin to leave the plate half full.  Frankly, I have even a had a few episodes lately where I felt painfully full after a meal, so I've had to recalibrate my thinking again. I did finally learn to not order an appetizer.  In the old days, I was always the one at the table who insisted we had to have the chicken wings before the meal came.  Even post WLS, I ordered apps because I could not stand the idea of not having food in front of me at at all times at a restaurant. I found the 3-6 month period to be the most frustrating.  I expected the struggle in the first three months, but I was not mentally prepared for months 3-6.  Believe me, it was not awful, it just wasn't what I expected. Good Luck, John

Hi Bob,  I was told to do the baby spoon thing when I started eating soft stuff. I tried it once couldn't do. I am a grown man, I had to learn what was the correct size bite was for me. I still catch myself trying to eat to fast and have to slow down, I have have never "yakked' as my surgeon called, but I will feel some serious discomfort. Your stoma will let you know. Like one of the other guys said, in the begining you want to take it easy and let yourself heal. I am 32 weeks out know and I think for the most part I eat like a normal person. I am not the first one finished when the family sits down to eat, but thats ok. I tell my wife now she needs to slow down and enjoy her food and to chew it better to help her digestive system out. If you notice, most people just whuff it down like it is some kind of a race. I use to be the same way. One other thing, when I was in the hospital after surgery I was told to make three sips for an oz. of water and take fifteen minutes per oz.. The day I was getting ready to leave, the surgeons Phys Asst. told me that it was OK to take small sips or drinks, tha****er would pass straight on through. He said they told everyone to sip because they did not want us to stress the pouch. We had to give it time to heal. Sipping from the little medicine cups was a way to get me use to taking it easy at first. Years ago some old guy told me "No guts, no glory", which to me means sometimes you have to put yourself out there and just take a chance. I know that is easy for me to say now because I have done it and been sucessful.  pan head

Hi Bob: I am nearl;y seven months out and I still take small bites, chewy thorughly and slowly.  When I don't my pouch rebels.  I am getting a tremendous amout of air in my pouch which means I beltch more than before WLS.  This air causes me all kinds of problems.  Talk about pain -- eat and trap a pocket of air in the pouch.  You pray to toss your cookies for relief.   The probelm is if I eat even a little too much, I produce a large quanity of saliva.  The saliva is full of air.  Swallow it and swallow the air.  Maybe I should carry a spitoon with me.   Anyway, each person is different.  Don't dispair.  Keep reminding yourself that you are getting healthier.  No one ever told us it would be easy. Rich

I only had to take really small bites for the first 3 months.  After that I mostly had to make sure I chewed well and by that time it was already second nature.  Overall the biggest change that I have had to make was to slow down how quickly I used to eat to a slower pace.  If you eat quickly after surgery, you will find yourself very uncomfortable or wind up spitting up food sometimes.  Even 8 months out, every once in a while I'll scarf something down and regret it in about 2 minutes! But I haven't had a single regret about having the surgery! JP