[Janandonly]

I just tried to post a new thread - poured my heart out clicked post and was told I was not logged in (which I was) I logged in again and now cannot find what I did! To make a long story short my fears were that I feel like my pouch is too big and that I am slowly starting to fail at this and that I will go back to my old ways. My questions were if you streatch out your pouch can you ever get it back into shape? And has anyone else every experienced this - When I eat at night (dinner) sometimes my entire midsection feels like it goes into a very tight muscle spasm. It is very,very painful, I start to sweat and sometimes have palipatations. I have to walk around for it to pass which takes about 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour. The pain is so bad that the first time it happened I was on my way to the emergency room when it suddenly passed. The pain starts just under my breasts, goes down to the belly button and also involves the back. I don't have a gall bladder so I know it's not that. I have put a call into the doc but thought I would see if anyone else has experienced this. Thanks for any help or support or suggestions anyone has. Jan

[lezlyrs]

I dont know exactly how you felt, but last night i felt so full, i felt like my whole stomach was bloated and had pain where my gallbladder used to be. I took Gas-x and felt better. Maybe that would work for you.

[clancythecamper]

What you experienced sounds like what my surgeon's nurse practitioner told me to expect if I over ate, ate too fast, and the like. How much are you eating at one sitting? are you chewing each bite into oblivion - like 30 times? As Boots likes to remind me - measure everything - it really does help keep things in check. Sometimes I feel like I eat more than others - I think I read that Kenya only eats like 1/2 - 3/4 a pack of sugar free instant oatmeal and I can eat a whole packet - but I eat on it for like 90 minutes - I also use a few ounces of instant breakfast with skim milk to dilute it so I think that varies the amount of intake for me. -- ps I've done that posting thing before where it decides you weren't logged in - ugh! I hate when that happens.

[DocSanae]

Are you chewing carefully, in small bites and not eating too fast? If you aren't that may be the cause.
Another concern is that the pain could be from the earliest stages of a stricture.
In any case, talk to your surgeon.

On the other hand, your fear about the surgery not working for you, and going back to your old ways, is quite common.
Keep up with the fluids, get in the required amont of protein, take all your supplements, take small bites, chew chew chew, eat slowly and you should do fine.

((((((HUGS))))) May your journey go well.

[Janandonly]

Thanks to everyone for answering so fast. I think that I am chewing enough but I think that when I'm home, watching TV or otherwise occupied that I may not be chewing as much as I should and that I also may be eating too much before I even realize that I have. I will be talking to the docs office on Monday and hopefully everything will be okay. I am so surprized when I hear the amounts that other can eat. I know that I can eat a lot more without any problem, in fact I have felt that I could eat a lot more than most from the very beginning. I really can't understand it because for the first 6 weeks I measured everything and ate only what I was told I could eat at each stage. After I was allowed solid food I still measured for quite a while but now after 6 months I think I have to go back to measuring. Has anyone tried the 5 day pouch test? I found it online on a site called LivingafterWLS. It's a great site with lots of helpful hints and inspirations. I think I will try it to try to get myself back in line. It is supposed to help you readjust what you you eat back to the proper portions. I'll let you all know how I do. Good luck to all and by the way I also have used Gas-ex not only for gas pains but also to help with the embarresment of exploding while in public and I am very happy to report that it helps in both cases

[fr1endly2]

well from my experience...
i dont think we stretch the pouch.
BUT we CAN and dooo get into bad habits.

FOR me i found once i worked hard
and did my carb detox...i wasnt able
to eat as much as i did.

SO my best advise is get on track
go back to ur basic pouch rules
you will find u fill on smaller amounts.

I am gonna get on track myself monday!
MAYBE WE CAN CARB DETOX TOGETHER~!!!

[Janandonly]

Lisa - I totally agree with you about the Carb thing. It is like poison to me, it sets off my hunger. Before WLS I did Atkins and as long as I stayed off the carbs I did okay. The 5 day pouch test that I spoke of from the livingafterwls site also is to help you carb detox. The first two days are all liquids, day three is as much soft proteins as you want day 4 moves on to firm protein and day 5 is solid protein. There are recipes for each day. Check it out and let me know what you think if you get a chance - Jan

[DocSanae]

Okay, one thing I noticed in your post. You say while watching TV or otherwise occupied.
Never, ever eat while doing something else. When you eat, always only eat. Concentrate on your eating, no TV, no nothing else.
Doing something as you eat, is going to get you into the kind of mindless eating, grazing, snacking, which can really spell trouble, as well as not paying enough attention on chewing well and eating slowly.
And yes, measure your food to keep track of your eating.