wondering if the doc gave me a bigger pouch

I have been able to drink like normal pretty much from the get go.  Never sipped.  Always took normal swallows.  I can take 5-6 good gulps in a row and not be bothered by it.  I don't think I could chug a large glass, but still.

I'm 7 1/2 weeks out and I can also eat more.  If I ate less than I do I wouldn't be satisfied.  e.g. last night I had a whole beanburger, 1 Tblsp hummus and 2 rounded T of chickpea masala.  I ate the lot and it doens't take me that long either. My food doesn't get cold. I was very content at the end.  Not overstuffed. Just a happy pouch.  I don't think the stoma is too big because I can stay content for a few hours.  Don't usually need to graze.

I read other people eating a lot less and being full or throwing up.  I've never thrown up or had the foamies and the occasional mild discomfort I felt at my chest was probably becasue I didn't chew properly and it passes within a minute anyway.

I have a hundred pounds to lose which is half my body weight.  So in one way I'm a lightweight but in another not so much.  Wonder if doctors adjust what they do depending on the individual.  I'm going to ask him on my next visit what size of pouch he gave me.

Hope he didn't make it bigger because "only 100lbs" is still 50 % for me.

 

It's possible you just can't tell...the nerves were cut and have to heal for you to really feel the restriction again.

HOw long does that take?  If I overeat, wouldn't I feel it backing up and get that foamy thing people talk about?  I've just assumed because I'm not throwing up or in pain, I'm eating what my pouch can handle.  I've read a lot about people having these issues, nausea etc, but I've been fine. 

I do think I feel the restriction because I know I couldn't eat anything like what I ate  before.  It's not pain, but I know when I'm done.

A couple of times, I have felt discomfort for a minute but that was because I didn't chew enough.  Never been in pain though.  I've been eating ground beef since two weeks out (okay'd by nut) as it was chilli texture and eggs etc.  Nothing has bothered me.  even had a bit of baked chicken boob and that was fine too.  Chewed it up like crazy though.

Each person heals at a different pace but that is why you have to measure all your food for the first year at least.

As far as getting 800 calories, there again each person is different.

Just go back to measuring and you should be okay.

It is possible that you have a little bigger pouch..my surgeon is known for making smaller pouches which is why I picked him..I wanted the most restriction possible..now as I am struggling to eat more in order to stop loosing im not sure if that was the best strategy..it is possible too that you just aren't feeling your stomach completely..best thing is to measure what you are eating and not go over the guidelines...At this point you are eating more than I can over a year out so im wondering if your surgeon told you specific guidelines, like no more than 4 ounces at a time, something like that?

They told me 4 tblspoons which I did initially.  I don't think I eat more than 4 oz at a time.  The beanburger was about 2 oz.  I don't know what that is in tablespoons.  It looked like more than two, though.  I'd guess 3 once it's chewed up.  So in total I think it was say 7 Tbs.  Just shy of 1/2 cup.  I'm measuring the soft food in a spoon, I'm just not levelling it off too much.

  I was getting really hungry on 4T after a while (not head hunger, real hunger)  I know because I was eating baby food to take the hunger away and you don't eat baby food for pleasure.

Maybe I'm just healing faster.  My scars on the outside healed really fast.  Maybe the same is going on inside? 

The nut said 1/4 cup for the first few months, 1/2 cup by month 6 and a full cup by about a year.  AS I recall though she wasn't saying this is what you must do, but what you are likely to manage as you progress.  At my last visit, I told her I was eating about 800 calories a day and she said that was fine.  In fact she said they don't want us to eat less than 600.  Some days I eat a bit less (around 600) but I'm usually quite hungry again the next day.

I was supposed to go to my 8 wk follow up on Wed, but a family emergency has me flying out of country (presenting it's own challenge in itself)  for a few weeks.

Don't feel I'm having issues though so I can wait and see them when I get back and I'll mention it.  (Think I'll take my measuring spoons with me because UK tablespoons are bigger.) 

 

I had only 100 lbs to go, and could drink well right from the beginning as well.  I still can drink quickly.  It is my understanding that surgeons do the same size pouch for all their patients - as you can recall, they mark you with the surgery that they are going to perform, so they don't make mistakes. 

I think it is all about how fast it heals etc.  You may have read that I have a lot of trouble with solid food, even at 3 months out (SPAM, a little ground beef, and white fish is as far as I can go).  That's not usual, but I don't think it is because of my pouch size. My doc and I are watching out for some other things, and are hoping that it resolves without further intervention. 

I may be healing faster if my external scars are anything to go by.  They looked pretty please and a little surprised at my two week check up how good they were.  Kind of surprises me too.  I had diabetes prior to surgery and healed slowly.

Don't have the high sugars now, "cured" from hospital so I guess the healing process is working good.

My dinner is going to be easy to measure in tablespoons tonight so I am going to measure it prescisly.  Guess it's possible I'm not eating as much as I think.  I use my measuring spoon but I don't level it off and I assume the measurement should be.

I suspect from what I'm reading my pouch isn't bigger, but I may be healing faster.

Hope you get your issues resolved soon.

Even though you can, doesn't mean you should be eating that much.  Why push the limits when that is what made most of us get to where we needed surgery to begin with.  Most of us have days when the restriction is greater than other days.  Maybe it was a big pouch day for you.

I have never thrown up.  I could sometimes eat a lot more than I am but I know I don't need it, I want it.  Well, that hasn't worked for me before.  I know I need to set new behaviors and habits if I want to stay like this instead of 200+.  I have had foamies 2x when I ate steak too fast and didn't chew well enough.  I don't think how you can eat relates to the size of your pouch.

You may be losing fine now but as you contiue, if you continue to push the limits, we will see a post that says, why am I not losing.  Look back at your plan and see what it says to be eating now.  At 8 weeks, we were at 1/4c protein, 1/4c veggies or fruit, 5-6x a day. 

All of this is to help, not be mean.  I really want you to succeed and keep losing.  Not to get off track and wonder why this isn't working for you.  Try posting in Miles and menus and see if that helps you see what you are doing and what is working for others.

I honestly don't feel I'm pushing my limits.  I eat about 800 calories a day which the nut said was good.  (Some days I feel I could eat more, but I don't) she doesn't want us going less than 600 a day. 

I just started posting in menus and miles yesterday, it is a good thread.