Question:
Is my pouch starting to relax already?
I've heard that the pouch relaxes after 6 to 9 mos and that is why the 'honeymoon' period ends. Could mine be doing that now? I'm twelve weeks post-op and have noticed that in the past couple of days I have been able to consume a little more. For instance this evening I went to our county fair and got a country ham sandwich (my favorite!) I would say it was about 2-3 oz of lean meat on a regular size hamburger bun and I was able to eat all of it (minus two bites and some of the bun I removed) and I didn't feel full, satisfied, but not full. I chewed well but I was still able to consume it in less than five minutes. A bad choice? Most likely but I've been pretty good otherwise. I'm 12 weeks out today and down 42 lbs, but I am SOOO very scared that my 'honeymoon' period will end before I even get halfway and if my pouch is already going to let me eat more I'm afraid I'll be back to square one. Maybe it's just me obsessing and it wasn't a GREAT amount of food, but it sure looked like it when it was over and I looked back at what I had done! PS- I started with a 1 oz. pouch. Thanks, Pam — Pambylah (posted on September 18, 2003)
September 17, 2003
Just my opinion here. I would trash most of the carbs in that meal. In
other words get rid of at least half the bun and preferably all of it, or
at least somewhere in between. I don't eat 1/2 a bun as to me it's wasted
carbs. I rather save it for good grainy bread. You can eat some but you
are pretty early to eat that much carbs in one meal. I assume you are not
drinking with eating or for a while afterwards. This will be critical. It
would seem like a large quantity but I do not know how big the sandwich
was. I cannot eat a whole restaurant sandwich of any kind.
<p>I think the piece here is you need to double check what your
post-op plan says you should be eating for quantity at this stage and learn
to visually know what that is. When you meal comes cut that part off, ask
for a box immediately and put the rest in there. Out of sight out of mind.
Then learn to savor every bite and chew it well. SLOW down. I am not a
slow eater many times either, but a whole sandwhich in 5 minutes or less -
YIKES! You are going to have to do your part to not stretch your stoma.
Eating slower will also possibly give you that full signal. I know it's
not easy but make a list of the pouch rules and read them before every
meal. I find I usually eat less when I go out with people because I gab
more. Try being the chatty one.
<p>I'd also consider going back to liquids for a few days to start
the process over again and decarb and shrink the pouch etc. It might help
you refocus. You are doing great on the weight loss but are at a critical
point where things will continue on well or take a turn for the worse.
<p>One last thought. Are you transected? If not call the doc
because you may have a staple line failure.
Good Luck!
— zoedogcbr
September 17, 2003
I have had them panic episodes several times throughout this process. You
will be able to eat more and some days you will feel like a pig and then
some you will feel like you're eating like a bird. It is perfectly normal
to bounce around. Listen to your body, follow the rules and enjoy. You
need to find what works for you, if you can eat the carbs and do okay, I
say go for it. I have found that FOR ME, I have to keep carbs under 30-40
grams per day (on maintainance) or I will gain weight. I am a firm
believer in the fact that we are all different and we need to find what
works for US. I have found that I can still LOVE to eat and enjoy myself,
I have just used this time to find and create recipes that work with the
plan I need to be on. Please use this time to find what works for you, and
don't worry about what works for others. I made myself a promise when I
had this surgery - that I would never again eat something that I didn't
ENJOY. Why?? Because for years I ate mindlessly, eating to eat and never
really enjoying the food. Now I take my time and I enjoy what I do eat and
I have found that I no longer feel trapped by food. If I am in the mood
for something sweet I have yogurt with grapenuts or fruit with a little
splenda and cream..... before I would have had 1/2 bag of oreos and
milk..... you know what I mean? Enjoy yourself during this process,
because it's just the beginning of a lifetime of balanced eating, you need
to have your favorites along the way, or it's just another diet. Good
luck!!!
— Dana B.
September 18, 2003
2 to 3 ounces of meat and a bun is not a huge amount of food. I agree that
it's more than you should ideally be eating at a meal at three months
post-op, and the regular bread is not a good choice, but I didn't get the
impression that this is a normal meal for you. There will be times when
you can eat quite a bit more than usual for no apparent reason. As long as
you are not often able to eat a whole sandwich, and you do not frequently
make poor choices, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
— Vespa R.
September 18, 2003
I doubt your honeymoon is over. Your pouch will "relax" just a
little over time because it's healing. I was under the impression that when
the pouch "relaxes" that it's not like it goes back to being a
regular sized stomach, it will stretch just a little. I also think the end
of the honeymoon period also has to do with the return of some amount of
hunger, which happens at about 6-9 months. I doubt one sandwich will make a
difference-- and the great thing is that you know you can make better food
choices and you will make better choices. Don't beat yourself up for this--
we have all been there and we have all worried at one time or another that
we've screwed up. You sound like you are right on track otherwise.
— lizinPA
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