Week 3 - I ate a whole 6 inch sandwhich?

[jessicakolman 3]

So 2 weeks ago I could barely eat a snack cup of Jello, and now I feel no restriction. I got a 6 inch sandwhich with the intention of only eating maybe 1/4 of it at a time. Next thing I knew I was done with the whole sandwhich. Granted I wasn't hungry anymore, but I wasn't full if that makes sense.:wink2:

I know that people say that when you get your band they don't put any saline in it, but I was told by my surgeon on Tuesday that they did put a little saline in there even though he didn't specify how much he did put in the band.

The surgeon did say that I have lost more weight then normal patients in the time frame. I lost 15 pounds in the first week 1/2. So he thinks I don't need a fill for a while.

I'm feeling a little down I havn't lost a pound since then. :wink2:

But what I'm worried about is that I did eat a 6inch sandwhich and I didn't have a problem with it. I'm worried that I could possibly expand my stomach. Is that possible? :biggrin:

[LollyMoe 1]

In the future, if you order a 6" sandwich, cut off what you really need to eat and get a go box for the rest. Put the box out of sight on another chair. If you leave it on your plate you will just keep eating as you have already done. You have to find ways to eat less. Just b/c it's in front of you doesn't mean you should eat it.

[kannruss 0]

My surgeon doesn't want me eating bread at all. Very carb restricted, very specific diet. Do you not have one of those? Just curious - I know not all doctors are the same.

[jessicakolman 3]

lolly that's a great idea -- I'll do that next time!

kan - my surgeon does not want me eating too much bread, he pretty much told me to find my limit. If I can't handle it, don't eat it.

Thanks!

[ElfiePoo 109]

So 2 weeks ago I could barely eat a snack cup of Jello, and now I feel no restriction. I got a 6 inch sandwhich with the intention of only eating maybe 1/4 of it at a time. Next thing I knew I was done with the whole sandwhich. Granted I wasn't hungry anymore, but I wasn't full if that makes sense.:wink2:

Of course that makes sense. Did your surgeon say how much fill they put in? It's likely .25 cc or some minimal amount. It won't cause restriction. What's happening is that the swelling from your surgery is doing down or is gone. You now have the ability to eat what you did prior to surgery.

The surgeon did say that I have lost more weight then normal patients in the time frame. I lost 15 pounds in the first week 1/2. So he thinks I don't need a fill for a while.

I would go back to your surgeon and explain that fills are not determined by the amount of weight you lose but by whether or not you are hungry and whether or not you can still eat to excess. The band is for restriction. Without restriction you can eat to excess.

But what I'm worried about is that I did eat a 6inch sandwhich and I didn't have a problem with it. I'm worried that I could possibly expand my stomach. Is that possible? :biggrin:

I asked my surgeon about that. He said it's highly unlikely. If you can eat to excess without the pain in your chest, it means the food is sliding through because there's no restriction.

Once you get restriction, if you eat to excess, you're more likely to slime it back up (or vomit it back up) and have serious pain until the food works it's way through...which could be hours. He said it's not likely someone will go through this on a regular basis to the point where they actually stretch that little pouch...although he didn't discount the probability that 'there's always one'.

.

[ElfiePoo 109]

In the future, if you order a 6" sandwich, cut off what you really need to eat and get a go box for the rest. Put the box out of sight on another chair. If you leave it on your plate you will just keep eating as you have already done. You have to find ways to eat less. Just b/c it's in front of you doesn't mean you should eat it.

Excellent advice. I only put in front of me what I 'intend' eating. When we sit down to dinner, we usually put the food in serving dishes. Since the surgery, the food is left in the kitchen and we dish it out onto our plates and take the plates into the dining room. There's never a second trip to the kitchen. Really important since I still don't have restriction and could still eat what I did prior to the surgery.

This has the added advantage of my son and husband also not overeating.

[Grandma26 1]

When the waitress takes my order I also ask them to bring a "to go" box. I split my portion and pack up when I am not going to eeat. This way while others are still eating I don't pick at my plate while waiting. Seems to work for me!

[ElfiePoo 109]

When the waitress takes my order I also ask them to bring a "to go" box. I split my portion and pack up when I am not going to eeat. This way while others are still eating I don't pick at my plate while waiting. Seems to work for me!

I'd have to leave the 'to go' box behind when I left. Having it in the fridge would be too much for me. As it is, I either make just enough for dinner or I make double and then immediately freeze the left overs in a vacuum seal bag so they're 'out of sight, out of mind' in my chest freezer (for days when I just don't feel like cooking).

Generally when I go out to eat, I split a meal with someone. The bonus is that eating out has gotten less expensive. :wink2:

.

[juliansmom2003 3]

Believe me, I can soooo relate. I had a 6 inch subway sandwich a couple of weeks ago and have NO restriction (haven't had my first fill yet). My worry is that I'd stretch my pouch eating that much, but a lot of people say that their docs have mentioned it takes a lot more than that to stretch the pouch. We shall see soon- I have my 6 week post op appt on Tuesday and from there we'll get my fill scheduled-THANK GOD!

My thing is everyone says that hungry is different after the band and stomach rumbling is actually head hunger. Sorry then I don't know what 'real' hunger feels like! I am thinking full is that hiccup, quick inability to breathe and chest pain, but I am not sure. That said, I only had that feeling about twice.

I'm with you- my scale isn't moving either. Hang in there!!

[tlc1997 0]

I am so confused! I had my surgery on Nov 23 and my doctor still has me on a liquid/puree diet and I am suppose to continue eating this until the end of December!

[mkmelissag 0]

It's funny - my surgeon's criteria for needing a fill is exactly that. He said "if you can eat a whole Subway, then you need a fill".

[saranoh 0]

Jessica, I am stalking you! I emailed you because I'm getting banded with Dr. Enochs next Friday, so I'm very interested in your experience so far :w00t:

Anyways, I was just wondering if you told them about the sandwich? Seems to me that like the pp said, being able to eat a whole sandwich with no trouble would be the perfect criteria for needing a fill. I don't see what the weight has to do with it.

[Soexcited 64]

TLC I am still on liquids too! I cant move onto Mushies till this Tuesday wich will be 14 days post op. THEN I am on mushies till just before Xmas!

I am so confused! I had my surgery on Nov 23 and my doctor still has me on a liquid/puree diet and I am suppose to continue eating this until the end of December!

[Erin Marie 0]

See, this is why I love my surgeon. When I say that I'm hungry and struggling, he has the nurse bring in the fill kit. "We don't want you to struggle. It's great that you're still able to lose weight but we want to make this as easy for you as we can."

Talk to your surgeon and say that you want a fill, especially if you're able to eat way more than your usual alloted ounces. How much or little weight you've lost has nothing to do with fills, really.

[kannruss 0]

lolly that's a great idea -- I'll do that next time!

kan - my surgeon does not want me eating too much bread, he pretty much told me to find my limit. If I can't handle it, don't eat it.

Thanks!

Okay - just wanted to check. I recognize surgeon's have varying instructions. Hang in there though - its the bandster's hell we all hear about. Once you start getting your fills I doubt that sandwich is gonna fit :w00t: