When?

I am 6 weeks post -op and until today I can't seem to feel when I'm full usually I look at how much I've eaten and determine then when I should stop. Is this normal it scares me that I'm goin to stretch my pouch never learning this.

Hi, You don't feel full at all?  What would happen if you kept on eating?  You must have a feeling of fullness?  Did you try to keep eating, and see when your stomach says it is full?  You know what that full feeling feels like.  If I was you I would talk to my surgeon, and ask him how he feels, if your not getting full and you can keep on eating, am not sure  you really had the surgery?  I have always had a fullness from day one.  My suggestion would be to eat until you do feel full, and then tell your surgeon about how much you consumed. He would know if something wasn't right or not.  I hope my suggestion helps.  Good-Luck on your continued Journey.

Did you have RNY?  Sorry, I didn't look before I hit "reply." If so, the nerves in your stomach would have been cut during surgery and will take time to heal.  That's why it's IMPERATIVE that you MEASURE your food and not eat more than recommended by your surgeon and/or nut. The senstation of fullness will come back, but it may take time.  Be patient with yourself and measure your food.  When you've eaten the measured portion - STOP! ~wendy

I didn't know what it was to feel full for quite some time - that being said - I also didn't feel hunger till about 3 or 4 mos out.  I ate by the clock and ate by measurements. I figured out how to stop eating by realizing little things - for me - it was a signal like a yawn or a burp that I was done.  Other times, I just wouldn't feel like eating any more - then I figured I was done.  I measured out my portions, especially protein and counted fats/sugars.  I would at first aim for 2 ounces at a time, and then moved on from there.  I quickly learned that if I kept eating I would feel sick and learned not how to do that.  As far as stretching the pouch - I don't quite believe in that - because it has two outlets.  It's not like a balloon where if you blow it up and tie it off, it stretches out because there's no outlet from the balloon.  Meanwhile, with your pouch, there is the outlet to your stomach and an outlet to your esophagus (where the food enters your pouch to begin with)  The food will move through either opening.  The stoma might be stretched a little (the opening from your pouch to your intestines) if food is constantly pushing against it - but that probably won't happen if you are careful.

Keep measuring and counting, and you will succeed!

Pam