Pouch question

Typically sometime during the 2-8th week you WILL have a stall...it's a good thing though.

After surgery your body has been sustaining its energy by burning off your quick energy stores. Eventually your body realizes that this is an inefficient way of doing things and that it makes much more sense to start burning off your stored fat on your body rather than keep using your "quick" stores.   So as it figures this out, the body usually stalls out for a week, two or three even. Then eventually the real fat burning begins =) It's a good thing.

As for the "I don't vomit" etc... many of us have iron clad pouches. I am 5.5 years out and have never once vomited (I sometimes get gaggy and nausea once in a blue moon) but have never thrown up. I never have had the foamies or anything stuck.  From day one, I barely dumped at all and it would take a lot to make me feel even close to dumping.  

I didn't have the feeling of full for a long time. I actually had no sense of where in my gut, my pouch even was - very little sensation.

One thing that helped me was that my surgical centre said to eat til I was satiated -- basically that I wasn't feeling hungry anymore....rather than look for a sign of being "full".  sometimes we equate "fullness" with that "I"m going to bust a gut cuz I ate too much" feeling and that's not the same.  When we get to that point, we could do more harm than good to our pouches...so I always ate til satiated.

Good luck Harold! There is a learning curve for sure -- that's why being here and posting here really helps!

Dawn

Hi Harold,

I had my surgery Dec. 14th. Glad you mentioned that weight gain is normal. I don't want to go the wrong way. It is so exciting to see the scale go down. I haven't seen these numbers in many years!! I'm sure you'll do well with pureed foods. I had no problem at all with both switches. I took it easy and took the proper amount of time to eat. I think it took me 4 days to finish one pot of soup! We don't eat much!! Keep us posted on how you're doing. So far, so good!

 Hey where did you have your surgery?? I had mine on December 14th as well at Toronto Western. Would love to keep in touch!!

Krystal

Hi Krystal,

I had my surgery in Ottawa. Love to keep in touch too. There were a few of us who had it on the same day but different places!

Relax Harold, and enjoy the fact that you aren't having any problems.
I didn't have any issues either.. Actually I've never once thrown up..  I read all the stories about being doubled over in pain after surgery and then so many reports of not being able to keep food down.
When I first got up to pee after surgery.. and stood up.. I just sorta blinked .. wide eyed.. and thought jeez this doesn't hurt bad at all..
Like the others have said.. folow the guidelines and you'll be fine.. I too was disapponted that I didn't feel full when I first started eating.. I wasn't starving.. or even that hungry,, but it took several months before I recognized and appreciated that "full feeling"  Now that sensation is very recognizable and keeps me on track.. Even though I'm lucky enough to eat anything I want.. I stop as soon as I feel full, otherwise I feel very uncomfortable (but still won't throw up)..
Sometimes (rarely) I wish I could eat more (like the Xmas Eve pot luck dinner our kids whipped up). but mostly I'm just so appreciative that I've now got this tool that says.. STOP.. and it's very specific. One more mouthful after getting the "full feeling"  and I'll be uncomfortable..
Enjoy the ride.. No doubt you will have a few issues as you start eating more real food. but for now just follow the guidelines and enjoy the fact that you are not having any problems.
J

Thanks John - This is very helpful!

I am excited by every ones feedback and am excited for my new life.

I start puree tomorrow ad now confident that it will go smooth.

Can't wait to have the "full feeling".

Happy and healthy new year.

HC

Harold, I had my surgery on December 23rd and other than if it were not for this one pain that I keep having (and it is quite minimal) I wouldn't even know I had surgery. I started pureed foods on Friday and so far everything has stayed down with no nausea and no vomiting. I do get a full feeling, however, I am still measuring measuring measuring. I think that is the key for all of us for the rest of our lives, measure measure measure and always protein first.

Good luck with you journey.

 my goodness i want puree....... i had surgery on 14th of december and don't get puree for another week from now , wow sure makes you realize the differences in the centre's recomendations.  i am still on cream soups stage.  

Robin

I was exactly the same as you....i followed the liquids to a T and never felt any discomfort or nausea...then when i went to puree and tried fish....i immediately found discomfort even with less than a teaspoon....just take it easy and follow directions....you will probably find that there are some foods that you just don't feel good with....i am fine with fruits, salads, and most soft foods... but when it comes to any meat or poultry....i feel the discomfort immediately. JUst follow your body...it will tell you what works for you.

Thanks everybody!