Newbie Questions

Can someone explain what physically happens in the pouch went the food comes in?  I think I'm eating too fast, but I have no sensations of fullness, no pain, not much of anything.  So far, everything is going down just fine with the exception of cold water - that aches momentarily when it hits the pouch.  If I have 5.5 oz of tomato juice and 1/2 cup of Cream of Rice, is the stoma at the top of the intestine functioning like a drain in a sink?  Does the Cream of Rice flush the tomato juice out, or does the tomato juice pretty much drain as soon as it comes in?  Does the Cream of Rice drip through, or just sit there until 45 minutes later the water comes in?  I don't really understand why I'm not feeling full.  Also, I have diarrhea - is that pretty much expected while on full liquids.  I'm charting what I eat and I'm getting in about 65 grams of protein a day so far, but I feel like I must be doing something wrong.

Hey sweetie! I can answer part of this for you, but I don't really know how the whole pouch and stoma thing really works. lol As for not feeling full yet, that is TOTALLY NORMAL!!! I didn't feel the fullness till about the 4rth week and I was sooooo scared in the beginning! Your muscles are cut to do the rearranging so it takes them awhile to have feelings again. Don't panic, you are fine!! As long as you aren't drinking with meals or until 30 minutes afterwards and you are measuring you should be fine!! Even if I had a protein drink or soup broth, I still waited the 30 minutes so the protein had some time to digest before drinking any liquid!     To this day, I still won't eat anything like soup after a salad, like at Souplantation, or eat a bowl of cereal with milk, because to me it is eating and drinking together. My pouch luckily doesn't handle that to well. I say luckily, because not many OHers I've eaten with, follow the not drinking while they eat and waiting 30 minutes after eating rule. And I thought that would be the hardest thing for me to do. The only time I miss eating and drinking together is with coffee, when sometimes I want a protein bar with it or something legal!! lol I hope this helps some and maybe someone more technical can answer the rest! You are doing just fine, don't worry!! Have a great weekend sweetie!    biggest hugs, Becky

Thanks, Becky.  I was getting worried.  I appreciate knowing I'm normal, at least in this case. Carol

You are very welcome sweetie! I soooo remember being there and being so scared. I was on the phone with some postops freaking out!!! lol   

Hi Carol,

Welcome to loser ville!

To answer your question, your new tummy is very similar to a drain when it comes to fluids. That why is so important that we don't drink with meals. It'll water down our meal and wa**** right out. As you progress, harder food will make you feel full. When you get to that point, really focus on eating slowly. Eating fast will fill your new tummy and the 'overage' will stay in your esophogus. which can also stretch over time and accomodate more food.

Wishing you well,

Rachel

 

 

Hi Carol, My surgeon explained it me like this. It is not a holding  tank but a conveyor belt. And the further we get out from surgery, the more efficient that conveyor belt becomes. I am very consious of not eating with my meal. I believe it "pushes" the protien down the conveyor belt faster resulting in feeling hungry before I should be eating. I am also suprised that I don't have any problems with that. Hope this helps Sue

Hey Carol thank you for asking that question I was kinda freaked that I didn't feel full yet ether

Diana - What everyone's answer told me was to measure - which I hadn't been doing.  I went back to my "instruction book" - AKA The Bible - and I'm doing everything all wrong anyway.  According to my doctor's protocol, I'm supposed to be eating caloric meals only three times a day, and in between should only be non-caloric liquid.  Well, I was eating a pudding cup as a "meal", and having my protein drinks as my in between liquids.  I was hoping not to have to do three protein shakes a day as my only "food", but that was a little optimistic, I guess.  I'll be good now, (mostly at least), so that when I see my doctor on this Thursday, maybe he'll release me to Stage III.  I guess the correct answer is don't wait for your pouch to tell you - just feed it on schedule. Carol