Do Drs. Vary Pouch Sizes depending on.....

I don't want to sound ungrateful for what loss I have had thus far so I have only been lurking and not really posting much lately.  My attitude stinks. At first I thought I was doing better than I was because I used my Wii to weigh (big mistake).  Plus right when I start feeling better my daughter had to have surgery and so I am cooped up at home. (see my attitude sux!)

I am 1 month post op and have lost a total of 16lbs.

I remember being told that the pouch would be the size of my thumb or 1 oz.
On my discharge paperwork my doctor's summary said the pouch was made 2oz.
In my experience since surgery, I am able to consume more than I expected to and with little consequence other than fullness.  No dumping, no major discomfort.  I have bantered about whether or not I had the procedure done or not.

I can eat an entire healthy choice meal with little more discomfort than feeling very full.

I admit to testing the waters as I have yet to experience any real discomfort.  I guess I feel like I need to.  The only true discomfort I have had has come from drinking too large a sip.  I felt pain.

I've read people's posts that say they know of noone who can eat chicken even months out. 
I have had no problem with grilled chicken, beef or pork.  I'm finding few limits and while others may say that's great........I feel like my tool is not working for me right. 

I bought a mini cake 150 calories that you microwave and thought I would eat a few bites and give the rest to my hubby.  I ate the whole thing with no problems.  No dump, no nausea, nothing.

I am worried about this... not happy about it.

Is it common for doctors to adjust the size they make the pouch depending on how much weight one has left to lose? 
I started as a person who needed to lose 100 pounds.  By surgery date that was down to more like 60-70 to lose.  Would that cause them to adjust the size of my pouch.  I have been bouncing around 3 lbs either way right now and still have 58lbs to go.
Any input appreciated.

Ok what I say to you don't take to heart, but please don't tell me about being cooped up in your home and having a bad attitude because of that.  I have not only been cooped up in my house for almost 5 months, I have been in my bedroom for that long and in a chair.  That is no reason to have an attitude.  Change it, and only you can do it.  It's all in your head.  Of course I have bad days, we all do, but overall, I make each day the best I can and talk to friends on the phone and keep my family closer.  So fix your attitude.  We all have a life to live and it's your decision to make it the best you can

Now, one month post op and you are trying mini cakes?  Do you really want to lose weight?  There is not a chance in hell you should even be tasting foods like that.  I would rethink your committment to your weightloss.  Stop comparing yourself to everyone else.  Everyone is their own individual person and different.  MOST cannot eat chicken, that doesn't mean the everyone can't.  It's great that you can eat all those proteins, chicken, beef and pork.  Has nothing to do with your tummy size, you are just able to tolerate it.  DO NOT eat till you are full, or a little beyond feeling full, that WILL stretch out your pouch, and you are so new at this.  One month out, your insides are still healing, no matter how you feel in the outside.  So stop pushing the envelope. 

You will not lose as fast as everyone else, or maybe you will, you don't have much to lose, not like someone who needs to lost 200 plus.  You are going to lose weight, but you have to eat correctly.  Protein first, then veggies.  No breads, pasta, sugar or carbs.  You worry about not losing, than don't eat a 150 calorie cake.  How many carbs did you consume, how many sugars?  Those are what will keep you from losing.  You wonder why you are bouncing 3 lbs either way, well I can tell you without being there, it's what you are putting in your mouth.  Like I said before, recommitted yourself.  Why would you have surgery if you still want to eat cakes?  I haven't made goal because I am not working at it.  But at one month, at 12 months, I worked my ass off to get down 170 lbs. 

As for why your doctor left you with a 2 oz pouch, that is a question you need to ask him.  So the next time you do there, do that.  Like I said, everyone is different.  For all I know I may have had one too.  I never cared enough to ask, I just knew I had weight loss surgery and I was going to make sure it worked for me.  Drink ALL your water, start to exercise slowly, this is a life changing surgery, but only if you want to make it that way.  We can all go back and eat what we want, especially when you are far out from surgery, but we make choices. 

I know I come off tough, but I don't try to be mean, that is not what I intended.  I am not trying to hurt your feelings, I just know tough love.  Please do not be angry, do not think you need to chew my ass for talking to you this way, I do not mean it in anyway but to try and help you out.  I don't like to be critized for the way that I say things, it's always taken out of context, I just want to make sure that you get a good start and realize who is really in charge of your life...and it is you!

Wishing you luck, and I hope my response will stir you to respond in a positive way and get yourself in order and not stray away from what you are supposed to be eating.

Diane

Diane makes some really good points...I like what she said about how you respond to your cir****tances is your choice. I know its sucks to be cooped up in the house. (I just did that for six weeks when I had surgery in August).....but even though your daughter had surgery, you still have her. She's at home with you, getting better everyday I hope and who else is going to love her and take care of her better than you?? It's all in how you choose to see the situation.

I know what its like to see others losing weight quickly and it seems as if everyone else is more sucessful than you. I can't think of a better way to make yourself miserable than to compare yourself to others. Your body is unique and there is no other exactly like it. You will lose the weight, at this early stage its almost mathmatically impossilbe not to.

Your food preferences will change and will not be like everyone else's. I have days when I can eat eggs and days that I can't. Fruit, as healthy as it is, makes my tummy turn.  A few weeks ago I got sick from salad....yes, SALAD!

However, a day will come when you will have to fight for every pound lost. Take the time NOW to change your habits. You can't eat like you did before, you have to make healthier choices NOW so that you will enjoy the weight-loss for the long term.

I was also going to suggest to going back to the basics.  Exercise, protein, water....are you meeting all your surgeon's requirements?  If not, that's where you need to start. Forget about yesterday's mistakes, and start today to do what's healthy for you.

:)  You can do this! 

Hey Deb
I love Diane...she does not mince words...but she has only your best interests at heart when she speaks as blountly as she does.  Monica is one of the most inspirational successes this surgery has to offer...she has become so active, she gets teased constantly..with love, from everyone.

I respond to you from a different direction..from a sister-Kaiser patient. Where is your BIBLE???  Your Kaiser Bible???  At what stage are you? What does the BOOK say you should be eating...portion size? soft or solid foods?  How much water are you getting in??  The keys to weight loss is WATER and PROTEIN, not the size of your pouch.   I understand the frustration...you can eat almost anything without consequences...but! Before you think this is great...it's not! It's a curse!  Believe me, I know...I haven't found a food yet that I can't eat; if I don't lose, it's no one's fault but MINE.  Is your pouch 'working'?  NO...because you are eating foods that are not on plan and eating portions that are not controlled.   Remember, RNY patients have a 30% regain factor!   Just because you can eat whatever, does not mean you should.  Look in the mirror and ask yourself...why did you have this surgery?  Read your BOOK!  Are you attending support groups? I mean other than our No Cali luncheon?  I think hearing from others who are 18mos or more out from surgery will be an eye opener for you.  You can not continue to 'push the envelope' and keep the weight off.  Your pouch is only a tool...use it incorrectly and it won't work for you. (think of using the wrong end of a claw hammer to place a nail...going to take a lot longer than using the flat hammer side)

My pouch is the same size as yours...and I am 25lbs away from goal...and it is getting harder to lose 1 lb than it was 7 mos ago. The closer you get to goal, the harder it is to lose.   It's taking more and longer exercise...my metabolism isn't the same as it was 7mos ago...if I don't make the life style changes NOW...if I don't learn to make correct choices NOW...when the 'honeymoon period' is over....the weight will return. And I don't want to feel like a failure.

My final question to you:  when was the last time you lost 16lbs in a month??  Our journey is about ebbs and flows...we lose...we maintain while our body adjusts to the weight loss...and we lose again...only to maintain while we adjust again.  When I'm in this 'stall', it is even more important that I follow my BOOK...that I reinforce the choices that I must make..in order to start the losing again...and eventually to maintain and keep the weight off permanently.

Deb, all of us here only want 1 thing for you:  SUCCESS!  Please refer back to your book...follow Dr Chu's protocol...you will succeed and the weight will come off!   You have already had great success...16lbs lost since surgery! Congratulations!
Nancy aka Sunray

OK first, no offense taken, Diane.  I'm a tough love Mom so if I can di**** out I damn well better be able to take it.
That's why I'm here.  If an a** chewing is what I need, that's what I need.  Don't hold back... feelings are unimportant and irrelevant at this point.  My future success is not.

2nd the mini's cake......... this is not the type of stuff I have in my house on a daily basis. 
I did buy them only a couple of times when losing for surgery.  I was pretty successful with pre surgery weightloss.  The cakes are 2.5 oz total, 25 carbs with 15 sugar.  Some Yogurts have more sugar.  I used them preop to guage portion control for the rare treat.  I bought it yesterday specifically to test the waters and as bizarre as it sounds I was hoping for a negative reaction.  Isnt that part of why we have the surgery, as a tool to draw a distinct line in the sand for us? 

If it's not working as I expected then I guess I have more work to do to keep myself in check.  I havent done any bread or white carbs and have used only met RX bars (1 sugar, 0 fat, 19 protein) for emergency (out and about foods) or to get a chocolate fix.  I can only handle 2 or 3 small bites.  My vice is not generally sweets but steak and potatoes and sauces.

I am getting closer to my liquid intake daily. 
Protein seems to be a bit easier to get in 60-80 grams if using a shake w/30 grams to start.  But again Im not a sweets person...they get hard to choke down.
I know I will do and feel better when I can get out of the house.  My daughter is sleeping in the living room so the curtains are drawn and its dark.  Im the type that gets drepressed in winter due to lack of sunlight.  I have been reading up on working toward a 5K and am chomping at the bit to get out and walk/run to get started.

I know I'm being a whiner.  This has been an intensly personal but it's also a very selfish process with MY food and My drinks and MY clothes, My exercise time, My blah blah blah. 

I guess Im getting carried away with that self thing and avoiding self discipline.  Ouch, that hurts.
I know I need to concentrate on where I am compared to where I've come from, not where others are  in the process.  I'm nearly half way to my goal and its taken me 5 mos to get there pre and post op.  That's something I couldn't accomplish for nearly 15 years.

I appreciate the attitude check.  I am extremely happy my daughter's sugery went well and she is healing on schedule.  I'm very fortunate I can be home with her all day.  I have lost some momentum I guess because my expectations on unrealistic or out of wack.  But I will do as suggested and go back to basics and stop testing the damn waters and just meet my numbers.

Thanks
Deb

Let me know how WELL you do when you stick with it, I will do a back flip for you!  Thank you for not taking offence, it makes me feel like sometimes people do pay attention and don't take offence to something that is not meant to be

Hugs to you, and you need an ass kicking, you know where to come now huh???

Diane