Question:
Does anyone else overeat and vomit?

I'm 6 wks post op and have been over eating and vomiting. I have to have an endoscopy done to see if my stoma is too small. I don't think so. I have been over eating, drinking with meal (just to eat more), and vomiting my food just because I can with ease. I can't keep meats down well, they work their way back up in my chest. Food can stay in my pouch for five to six hours if I don't drink. I am always thirsty. I can tell I have stretched my pouch by the amount of food I have vomited. Food that I can hold with no pain. I can't lay down flat with food in my pouch or it comes back up. Water dose the same thing too. If I want to sleep and I know I have food in my pouch I have to empty by vomiting so than it will not work its way back up while I am sleeping. No one told me this would not be easy to do. I am starting to think this surgery was not the right thing for me to have done. I started OA meeting and I hope they help me work through this before something bad happens. Like death.    — Maynita (posted on January 21, 2003)

January 20, 2003
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH VOMITING MY FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. I HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH MEAT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS EATING TOO MUCH, TOO FAST OR NOT CHEWING WELL ENOUGH. BUT IT WAS PAINFUL. IT TAUGHT ME MORE CONTROL. I KNOW NOW, LOOKING BACK, THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I LET MYSELF GET TOO HUNGRY AND DIDN'T DO THE THINGS I NEEDED TO (CHEWING, EATING SLOWLY, ETC.) NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND I AM DOWN ALMOST 80LBS SINCE AUGUST. I TRY TO SNACK ON HEATHY THINGS ABOUT EVERY 3 HOURS SO I NEVER GET TOO HUNGRY AND LOOSE CONTROL. GOOD LUCK! DON'T LOOSE FAITH, LOOSE POUNDS!
   — Laurie V.

January 20, 2003
I had open RNY 8/9/02, I'm down 92 pounds. Until mid December I vomited everytime I ate. What you are doing is exactly what I did. You are eating the wrong foods because you haven't changed your frame of mind and you are still thinking that you are pre-op and can eat whatever you want. You are also probably experimenting with foods that you used to be able to eat and will no longer be able to eat. No a days when I vomit it's because I ate too much. Before it was because I ate too much and also because I wanted that french frie or because I wanted one more bite. You need to eat while you are doing something. I eat all day while I'm at work, I'm busy and I am not sitting down thinking that I have to clean my plate. You need to stop this compulsive over eating and get yourself into a WLS support group. You also need to change your frame of mind and start using the tool that you were handed with WLS. I struggle, every day. But, you know I make up my mind before I sit down to eat as to whether or not I want to vomit. I will do laundry while my children eat dinner, or I will make a plate of food and start crocheting. I'll sit and scrap book and forget that my salad is sitting right next to me. Figure out what will work and work it. You have to control yourself. Good luck, feel free to email me if you would like. [email protected]
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 21, 2003
Maynita, after reading your post, I am wondering why you had the surgery in the first place. You seem to be doing everything possible to defeat the surgery. The question is why? Sweetie, I would skip OA and get yourself into some psychotherapy with a specialist that works with people with eating disorders, because that is what you have. You say that you drink with meals just to eat more, that food can stay in the pouch for 5-6 hours if you don't drink. Why would you go that long without drinking? are you aware of the pouch rules? No drinking with or right after meals (for 45 minutes or so). After that you do need to drink lots of water. Thirsty is not good, you should never be thirsty. I also agree with the poster that you are not eating the right things right now. At 6 weeks post-op, meats are too harsh. Try eating softer things like tuna fish, chili, refried beans and cheese, steamed white fish. Be gentle with your pouch. And please seek some help. I know you didn't have this surgery just to go back to your old ways.
   — Cindy R.

January 21, 2003
Please get some one on one counseling with someone who is well versed in this surgery.. does your surgeon have someone on staff.. or someone they sent you to for a psych eval first? You are trying to defeat this surgery.. you'll finally succeed I'm sure... and yes.. you could die... you must keep some food in your body to live... good luck.
   — Lisa C.

January 21, 2003
I just wanted you to know that you are not the only one that this has happened to. I am 2.5 years post op, and the first 2-3 months I had a terrible time gauging how much food was too much, how fast to eat, how much water to drink, how fast I should/not be drinking it; I vomited alot!!!I felt the same as you in wondering if I had done the right thing. My personal advise is to give it a little more time. Watch what you eat carefully. The vomiting should serve as a kind of behavior modification. It took me a long time to break out of my old portion sized thinking, to learn how to eat more slowly, and to not drink after having eaten. Use the vomiting as a tool to enable you to know what will and what will not work in regard of food portions. Good luck.
   — twenc

January 21, 2003
Hi, I don't think you are trying to defeat this surgery, I think you are just scared. Scared maybe because your ability to eat want you want and the amount you want is not there anymore. Sweetie, relax, take a deep breath. Ask your doctor for a feeding schedule, you should be just eating puree at this point. No meat at all, you should be drinking your protein shakes, then your puree meals, maybe you can have eggs, cheese, toast, oatmeal, puree carrots and so on.This will fill you up, only drink water one or two hour after you finish eating. When you get to two or three months, try tuna fish, fish, chicken and so on, This is why a schedule diet is so important. Do you have a nurtistionist? She definitly can help. I saw your profile and you are a beautiful person....Don't be scared of the future... There is a wonderful, beautiful, healthy new you just waiting to happen, but only you can get there by following the rules. Don't overeat(and you know when you do)It's not worth it. You have a wonderful husband and beautiful kids that need you around... Take care of your insides and your insides will take care of you. If you want to talk or ask question please feel free to email me at anytime. I will pray for you,. Take care
   — Rebe W.

January 22, 2003
Maynita, First congratulations on the weight loss and you have done the first step (in my humble opinion) by reaching out and acknowledging you have an eating disorder. I'm still pre-op but I want to encourage you to not look back and beat yourself up but to take step FORWARD to fight your food demons. Along with OA you should really look into a one-on-one counselor that specializes in eating disorders and preferably is fimiliar with the surgery. Your battle is not just with the actual food but the issues that drive you to eat and then throw-up. You can email me if you want to talk or look into additional resources. I will pray for you and ask God to give you the strength to continue on this journey successfully. Vesta
   — vesta D.