Question:
I am 10 days post-op and I'm on full liquid plus I've added beans,eggs,&cream of whea

I am only getting around 230-400 cal a day but I can eat 4 oz at a time no problem. I always feel hungry. I do not get the liquid that I should. A total day count of food and liquid is around 35 oz with 20 gr protien. Is this the way it should be or am I doing damage by eating too much at a sitting. I have not dumpped, felt nausa, and everything taste great including the protein drinks. Please help.    — Jenny W. (posted on October 20, 2002)

October 20, 2002
I'm no expert, but I use to ask the same questions. I'm 5 weeks post op and I promise you the hunger goes away. I too thought I was eating too much at one time. However, if you are not throwing up and not feeling nausa, you should be fine. My doctor told me if I could manage to get 20 grams of protein a day he would be pleased. I hate those drinks. Therefore I use other measures to maintain my protein. My doctor also stated that I would be lucky to get 300 calories a day in the beginning. Now eating solids, I'm averaging 700 to 800. Try drinking tea for your liquid. I have found that it's much easier to drink then plain water. I really missed my diet drinks at first, but the tea has really help me in losing the urge. Good luck and I promise you it gets better. Take Care
   — June S.

October 20, 2002
Drinking to capacity can seriously decrease your hunger pangs. Taken from Pouch Rules For Dummies "FLUID LOADING Fluid loading is drinking water/liquids as quickly as possible to fill the pouch which provides the feeling of fullness for about 15 to 25 minutes. The patient needs to gulp about 80% of his/her maximum amount of liquid in 15 to 30 SECONDS. Then just take swallows until fullness is reached. The patient will quickly learn his/her maximum tolerance, which is usually between 8-12 oz. Fluid loading works because the roux limb of the intestine swells up, contracting and backing up any future food to come into the pouch. The pouch is very sensitive to this and the feeling of fullness will last much longer than the reality of how long the pouch was actually full. Fluid load before each meal to prevent thirst after the meal as well as to create that feeling of fullness whenever suddenly hungry before meal time." I don't suggest gulping water this early on in the game, though I found swallowing a 1 ounce cup full of room temp water and then waiting a couple of minutes and repeating, helped curb the need for more "food". As your pouch heals you can make the amount you drink larger. At 3 months I can now swallow a full mouth full twice in succession to and wait and repeat after a couple of minutes and the need to eat passes. Good luck!
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