What is a lap-banders "mouthful"?

Cheryl Ann · June 17, 2008

Having had my third fill last week, bringing me up to 5.5 cc, I am definitely feeling restriction. The problem is I don't know how much may be too much. I can swalloe Water just fine, except first thing in the morning.

I was wondering, though: How much is our new "mouthful"? Whereas before this fill I could eat things by the teaspoonful and not really have to chew all that excessively, since this last fill, I pretty much just put a bit of food at the tip of the spoon, chew thoroughly (even chicken salad, which is already chopped and most), swallow, and then wait a bit between bites.

Is this normal?

vegwannabe · June 17, 2008

The bite the size of a pencil eraser is what I read in the patient's manual given to me by my bariatric coordinator.

FeliciaLevy75 · June 17, 2008

The pencil eraser is a good way to measure it. Then chew it until it can't possibly be chewed any more, regardless of how chopped it may be in preparation. You essentially want to make it a thick liquid by chewing it so thoroughly you have no chance of getting pieces stuck.

Cheryl Ann · June 17, 2008

So then what I'm experiencing is proper restriction?

aubrie · June 18, 2008

I just had my third fill to 5.5 cc last Friday. I didn't feel it until last night. WOW what a difference. I would have to say a teaspoon was my previous bite size. NOT LAST NIGHT. I had microscopic bites of pork chop and salad and chewed until gross, and it still got stuck. I didn't PB, but it wasn't very pleasant. The only thing that went down easy was the butternut squash.

Had two cups of coffee this morning before I tried to eat. The warmth helped so I got down my 4 oz. of cottage cheese without a problem. We'll see how it goes.....