Question:
I am 18 days po and don't feel full after drinking or eating

I am able to sip enough fluids and able to eat 2-3 oz portions of soft foods without feeling full. Maybe I don't know what feeling 'full' feels like. But, I stop eating so i don't stretch my pouch. I am supposed to have a 2oz pouch. I can drink in sips pretty fast and i have not experienced any nausea, vomitting or dumping. I had about 2 spoonfuls of Boston Market mashed potatoes w/a lil' gravy and tolerated it. I also at a half of a sm baked potato. Is this too much.    — diamondyfe (posted on January 16, 2005)

January 16, 2005
It is very important at his stage you are in to measure your food because Your pouch is numb right now from surgery and won't be healed for upto 2 months so no feeling is fine. I couldn't do more than sip until about my second month now i am 3 months 11 days post op and sometimes guzzle I still get afraid to swallow cause I did get nasuas from time to time and over fill it isn't fun trust me the froths yuck. Best Wishes
   — Shell G

January 16, 2005
It takes time to learn the sensation of being full-- and, I think that, at least for me, it took even longer to stop looking to food for that "full" emotional feeling I used to look to it to give me. As a result, as you've already been advised, it is critical to use this early time to learn all the new good eating habits that will last a lifetime. Something to keep in mind-- don't waste space in your small pouch with starchy foods that give you no nutrition. A potato offers you nothing that you need now--- a soft cooked egg, cottage cheese or no-sugar added low-carb yogurt would have all given you protein that it is critical for weight loss and for maintaining a healthy body during weight loss. Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

January 18, 2005
I too had this same issue right after surgery. I was 2 weeks out when I decided, unwisely in retrospect, to test my capacity with instant mashed potatoes. I ate almost 1 cup before I stopped and called my nutritionist who referred me to my surgeon. My surgeon said that I should start eating more solid foods and protein first and see if the problem remained and to be sure to measure my portions from then on. The surgeons explanation was that I am so young and efficient that soft foods just move through the pouch. But always check with your medical team first!
   — argile F.

January 19, 2005
Hi there. I had the surgery on the 28th of December. At first, I didn't feel the full sensation after eating or drinking. But now I do. It's a different sensation. It's more like a feeling of pressure or tightness in my chest and back. It's not very pleasant. It usually occurs when I've eaten one bite too many. Good luck!
   — Donness O.