Question:
I took the cottage cheese test this morning and my stoma is <14 ounces.

Does this mean I need to have a revision? I couldn't believe that I could eat the whole pint. I left 2 ounces of the cottage cheese because I felt so badly that I wasn't real full yet. I have been noticing that he amount I can eat is far more than it should be and I have been on a plateau for three weeks. I get in plenty of water (64 to 90 ounces), and protein(70-95grams), and my calories range from 750 to 1200 daily. I have lost 60 pounds in four months, which is behind the average weight loss scale. I started at 255lbs. now at 195; and I'm 4'11 and 3/4" tall. Help!!    — Diana M. (posted on May 9, 2002)

May 9, 2002
Since I am pre-op, I can't really relate, but since you just had your surgery 5 mos ago, I think I would call my surgeon as this seems to be too much, this soon.
   — DJeffrey

May 9, 2002
I recently listened to a RNY surgeon at a support group meeting and he stated that another dr. had done a study using the cottage cheese test. He found that the size of the pouch "did not" effect the amount of wieght lost. I myself have not taken this test but I know that my pouch is about your size and I have been mantaining my loss with reasonable food management.
   — Dennis J. B.

May 9, 2002
60 pounds in 4 months is great! How long did it take you to eat, cause when I am eating I can feel and hear the food being digested, which means its left the pouch...maybe it was being digested as you ate it??
   — kittycat

May 9, 2002
I have a couple of questions: Did you drink anything while you were eating the cottage cheese? (any liquid will cause the solids to wash down faster) Also, how long did it take you to eat it? (after 20 minutes your pouch will start to empty) I am assuming that you had RNY based on your profile. If you didn't drink anything with the cottage cheese and you ate it in 20-30 minutes, I would definitely be concerned enough to see the doctor about it. Sometimes it is not a staple-line disruption that causes these types of issues, but that the stoma is too large and allows the pouch to empty too quickly. If you were a year, I wouldn't be as worried about it, but at four months that does not sound right. Get to your doctor and don't let them brush you off. And let us know what happens! Good luck and congrats on 60 pounds lost!
   — ctyst

May 9, 2002
Was your stomach transected or just stapled? How big was the pouch to start? How is it oriented--vertically or horizontally? How long does it take to empty? Check the mechanics on the thing and SEE before you drive yourself nuts, oK?
   — vitalady

May 9, 2002
I really don't mean to scare you, but I am 13.5 months post-op and can still only eat 6-8 oz. using the cottage cheese test. The fact that you can eat 14 oz. at 4 months post-op is a little frightening. My opinion: consult with your surgeon ASAP.
   — Terissa R.