Why do we have to chew, chew, chew?

Okay, I'm a slow learner, I admit it. I have been taught from the beginning when I was pre-op that we need to chew, chew, chew our food. If we don't than we may . I always thought it was because if we don't chew thoroughly the food might get stuck in our newly formed outlet and cause us pain and misery. Although this is too true there is another reason we need to chew, chew, chew. This is where I say that I'm a slow learner or should I say slow to understand the importance of this rule. Our new pouches no longer create the amounts of stomach acids we need to start the digesting process of our food. The only digesting process we get before the intestines occur when our saliva is added to our food when we chew, chew, chew. If you don't believe me, if you have the unfortunate experience of vomiting, notice that you have no bile or stomach acids in the vomitus. It will consist primarily of foamy saliva and any food you may have in the pouch. Thought I would share my insights with those of you who are new to this process or those of you who are post op and like me- are oblivious to the reasons behind the rules. Melody (1 year post op) -120#

Thanks Melody-I gotta admit this is the rule that is gonna be the hardest for me to get used to-that and little bitty bites! The harder I try to practice the more I want to wolf down my food! I know that I will get it in time. I hope I don't spend my first few months barfing! lynn k

You'll learn quickly Lynn to take smaller bites and to eat slower. I, too, ate quickly and took large bites. When I was able to eat real food again post op I returned, subconsciously, to my old eating habits of taking a large bite. BIG mistake. I learned that only one bite filled me up. I enjoy food too much to have my entire pouch full in just one bite. I learned to take smaller bites so I could enjoy the taste of the food with more bites. It's a tough lesson to learn but we all have to learn it. You're also going to be shocked (at least I was) that it won't be obvious that you've had enough to eat. You won't feel full. You'll feel a very uncomfortable pressure in the upper left part of your abdomen where your new pouch is. You're still going to be hungry (head hunger). You're going to want to eat until you reach that comforting feeling of being full and satisfied. It's not going to happen (at least not for the first 6 months post op). The nerves to the stomach are severed when our new pouches are created so we don't get that familiar feeling of being full and satisfied. We just feel miserable and hurt a little bit. That will be the feeling of being full that you're going to have to get used to for the first 6 months or so until your pouch heals more and your brain catches up to the surgery and the way your body is now reacting. Good luck. No one said this was an easy surgery. Would I do it again? YES, in a heart beat. Don't let me discourage you. Like someone else has said "nothing tastes as good as thin feels". Melody

Melody I am 7 mths out and started to eat the same way and was hungrey all the time and felt like i wasn't getting enought protien. Yes if we don't chew chew we want get that protien in are system if it is not obsorbed in the mouth. Thats why we need are pills to be very small or powder or chewbale or spray. I just have learned this hard rule just now too. It must be in the air. I just loved confrence yesterday--- It is so true about feeling. I grew up in a part member family and my mom was inactive. They both smoked and it was so hard. My sister and I were the only ones sent to church. We had the same Family take us to church for 11 yrs till we moved I feel so much gratitude for this I can't explain. I had a hard time with members of thechurch I still hung in there. Where my sister is addicted to script drugs and Alchole (sp). I have had my mom and dad work done in the temple and just waiting for the day to join us all as a family. In Gods good time. Sorry Melody for venting. Love Saralan