Losing4Lundyn

I am 9 months post-op now and am having concerns about my tiny tummy. My surgeon informed me quite a while ago--probably about 4 or 5 months ago--that it has already stretched to about 1/2 cup in size instead of the 1/4 cup he made it to be. I'm not even sure how that happened considering I spent about 3 months not able to hold anything down--not even water--due to the nausea and pain related to kidney stones and an ulcer and another month or two afterwards with no appetite and eating practically nothing. The last time I saw him I told him how I get upset that I can't gulp down Water. I get thirsty easy and want to be able to chug water. I told him I can only drink about 5 swallows of water and then I'm full and don't feel satisfied. He scoffed at me saying that most people can't even do that so I should be happy. Recently I've found that I can drink pop now. And I can drink a good 3 swallows with no problem. I can also eat some things I couldn't before like tortillas in a tortilla wrap and fine Pasta like angel hair if eaten in teensy pieces. Sometimes I can eat what seems like more than 1/2 cup of food (but not sure because I quit measuring a long time ago when I couldn't eat) and other times it seems hard to keep about 1/4 cup of food down. The vast majority of the time, however, I'm afraid that I'm able to eat too much and my stomach is forever stretching and my doc said it can't shrink back up. I've gained about 4 lbs in the last month due to being able to eat more, regaining appetite, and the junk foods of the holidays. What size should my stomach be? Is it still at an okay size at 1/2 cup? My surgeon also told me that most people don't have a stretched stomach like me and it makes me feel like a failure already despite my almost 120-lb weight loss in less than 9 months! I'm just terrified of gaining more and I want to keep losing! I realize that I need to start measuring my food again, but I really want to know if I'm on the same track as other people or if my surgeon is right about me? Also, on a side note, what other health issues have you encountered as a result of the surgery? I've had somewhat of a difficult time with other health problems arising post-op and I'm curious if other people are experiencing some of the same stuff. THANK YOU in advance for any input!!!

Really?? I'm starting to wonder about my surgeon now. I don't know if it matters, but Nebraska isn't necessarily on top of things. I might get a 2nd opinion about everything from a different hospital.

That makes me feel so much better! Weight lifted off my shoulders for sure! Thanks for your input.

Really??? Is it possible that he knows a better, newer procedure? Cuz how else could a lot of people pack all their weight back on if it doesn't stretch? I'm curious now...

Awesome! Thanks sooooooooooo much!!

So it is true that whether it's being stretched out or not, we'll be able to eat more in quantity the farther post-op we get? My doc told me that it can't be reset. Have you been told otherwise? I've been hoping he's wrong.

I'm just terrified of being someone who was presented this wonderful opportunity and screwed it up by gaining a bunch of weight back. Therefore, I don't know if I'm just so concerned because I'm paranoid or because I really am headed in that direction. My surgeon doesn't help matters much, either.

Yes, I feel judged by him and it's upsetting me. I was considering seeing a doctor at the other hospital I started the process at, but I didn't know if that would even be allowed. He knows because he's gone in for 6 endoscopies because I had a stricture that wouldn't stay open so he'd go in and stretch that junction. While in there he noticed that it's been stretched already. You know, the only reason I just found out that I can drink pop is because I bought some because it was ridiculously cheap and I thought I could keep some on hand for when people come to visit and temptation got the best of me--I used to be addicted to it. Then I got worried because I was able to drink it. My dietitian told me that some people will be able to drink and some won't, but my biggest concern is for things like this--where I didn't use to be able to eat/drink certain things that now I can. I don't know if it's because I've stretched it out too much or just because I'm getting father out. Thank you so much for this info! It sounds really interesting. Can't wait to check it out! Also, does anyone know, I was told by my doctor that you aren't to drink anything half hour before or after eating because the Fluid could wash the food right through. I have never been able to handle this. I get soooo thirsty eating that I HAVE to at least take a few sips after eating. Depending on how full I am, I'll drink more or less; but can this also stretch the stomach if it's not washing the food right through? My dietitian told me not to worry about fluids stretching the stomach, but I'm thinking she meant just when drinking it alone, without food. Thank you everyone for your responses! It helps so much!

Hello!

I am 4 months post-op and down 75 lbs (yay!), but suddenly I'm noticing heartburn and possibly too much acid in my stomach causing ulcer-like pains (it feels like someone is trying to burn a whole through the wall of my stomach). Sometimes it seems to get better with food and/or Tums. Anyone else experience this? I thought I was cured of heartburn once and for all! Also, since I've lost all this weight, I started hurting MORE! I started having knee pain just a year or so before my surgery which went away at some point post-op. Now that I'm the lightest I've been in over 10 years, my ankles have started hurting when I go shopping as do my feet, and my hips! Why the hips?? My knees will hurt on occasion too. Is it from increased exercise, possibly? Thank you for your input!

Well, I had an endoscopy done and found out that I had a stricture, but no ulcers. That's what I was concerned about. It's likely that they're just hunger pains, but man, it's painful! I have to keep something to eat with me at all times so that when it strikes, I can put something in my tiny tummy. I was really hoping to never have to take an antacid/reflux med again; but by the sounds of it by hearing your stories, I just might have to.

LOL Yes, the burping. That's for sure! Thanks for the response!

No one, huh?

Thank you for the help!! What does teriyaki taste like??

I saw the Taco Soup recipe! That sounds sooo good, but I'm looking for more. Does anyone know how to cook up some mean tofu?? I've never made tofu before, but would love to learn how and make it good! I like to use Boca crumbles and Morningstar bacon. I plan to go to Whole Foods to see what other meat alternatives would be RNY-friendly. I also need recipes that my 2 1/2-year might eat. She's sooo picky--worse than me! LOL

Yep! That's exactly what I did. A package of the sugar free chocolate Carnation and 1/2 scoop of chocolate protein powder. It takes a while to get it all down, though. I got the unflavored protein powder to add to cream of wheat and mashed potatoes, but it can be kinda gross depending on what you add it to. I've been told that BeneProtein is the best cuz it doesn't add as much texture or flavor.

Hi! Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Michelle. I am a 33-year old single mom of a 2 1/2-year old who I had made a promise to when I was pregnant that by the time she was 3 I would be healthy and no longer embarrassed to wear shorts, tank tops, and maybe even a swimsuit out in public. So far, I've accomplished the first two!! The first time I put on a tank top and walked into the Walgreens in my town, I was sooooo excited and proud! I am currently 15 1/2 weeks post-op and down 68 pounds! I haven't been at this weight for over 10 years! It's been amazing as well as trying. Luckily the issues I've run into are probably just because it's only been a few months since my surgery and my "pouch" (I hate that word--I say tiny tummy) is still adjusting. I have a few more obstacles than the average person who had the roux-en-y surgery in that I have some "mental illnesses" (hate those words too!), I'm a vegetarian, and I'm an extreeeemely picky eater (and since the surgery, that has just gotten worse--suddenly foods taste different--and not in a good way! In one sense that's good, but in the sense that I need lots of Protein and I'm not getting enough, it's not.). My main hurdle, however, has been keeping foods down. My doc thinks it's just because my medications have possible side effects of nausea and vomiting and/or that my tiny tummy is still adjusting. But, I wondered if it could have anything to do with the enormous amount of drainage I've been having probably due to allergies, because when my food comes up, lots of (sorry) mucus comes with it. Anyone else have this problem?? This is why I am excited to join this support group. To get answers, to get to know other people in my position, to share my experiences, to hopefully help other people, and to inquire on what is yet to come.

Being a picky eater, it's really hard to get all that protein in, but I will tell you... I have already seen how important it is. I'm losing TONS of hair! Since I haven't been able to keep down foods or even Protein drinks and Vitamins, etc., my hair is paying the price. So if you can choke it down, do! I found at Walmart protein shots. They're not the greatest alone, but I added some of the watermelon to a little bit of juice and Water (reduce the sugar) and that helped me get 20g+ protein in one little drink. Each vial has 48g in it so I'm going to be trying pretty hard to get those down. Another thing I've found is that Carnation Instant Breakfast tastes better than the actual protein powders. If you can handle milk, there's 13g per 8 oz. serving. I haven't tried it yet with soy milk, but I have to use it with water, because my tiny tummy rejects milk; but when I do that I have to also add some Protein powder because 8g comes from the milk itself. Either way, it tastes better. Sometimes that protein flavor can get to be too much.

Thank you! To be honest, I don't avoid liquids when I'm eating, but I keep it very minimal if I do take a drink; and if I do, it's super tiny sips just to get some refreshment in my mouth. I try to be conscious of chewing to applesauce consistency and take my time, but I'll catch myself not doing that sometimes. But, I will still have instances when all I do is swallow a little pill or chew a Tums and I'm suddenly "too full" and throwing it back up. Another issue I have is when I get hungry, it comes on fast and strong. If I don't eat something soon, it will be painful. I get hunger pains. I'm curious to know if others experience this as well.

Oh wow! So nice to find someone else like me! Exactly why I joined this group! Has being a picky eater what got you overweight in the first place? That's what happened to me, because even though I've been a vegetarian for 11 years, I still packed on the weight because I technically don't like vegetables but love (loved) carbs. I used to call myself a carbivore instead! LOL I will say that for me, finding things that taste good got harder and harder as time went on, because all these foods that I used to think were soooo good, I developed an aversion to for a few different reasons. Some of them made me feel nauseous and I'd throw up, some of them I could eat so I'd eat it so often that I couldn't stand it anymore, and anything rich or creamy just makes me sick to even think about it! I too am hoping to find some good vegetarian/vegan recipes here. I also need added spice to foods since the surgery. Things are just so much more bland now and I pepper the crap out of everything! And I also had a really hard time in the very beginning, because it was just impossible for me to drink liquid foods as often as I was supposed to and there was hardly anything I wanted or could stomach. Tomato Soup ended up being something I had a lot of and now I can't stand. Popsicles were also a life-saver for me. As far as the sugar-free foods, I've always had an issue with any foods containing Splenda/sucralose and that hasn't changed. I just try to stick to finding foods with real sugar but low sugar. One thing that I've always been able to handle is sugar-free maple syrup and I would put a little bit of that into some cream of wheat instead of brown sugar and not only would it be sugar-free, but the syrup helps liquify the cream of wheat to make it easier to eat. I hope to keep in contact with you and maybe I can help you along the way. It's really tough in the very beginning, because you're stomach has changed, but your mind hasn't and you think you still want those bad-for-you foods and you want solids--now! But it'll come sooner than later and the results are well worth all the hassle!! Good luck to you!