For veterans-Is this normal?

[tennessee1031 0]

I was sleeved 2/4. I can eat a little more than before. I never stuff myself, but is this normal? I guess I'm just paranoid about my tummy going back to its normal size.

[pnw218 14]

do you mean that you can eat more than before surgery or more than a few weeks after surgery??

it still takes me almost an hour to eat 2 ounces. it is highly annoying and such a waste of time. (LOL) truly, I would like to eat, get it over with and move on to the next task.

from what I have read, the part of the stomach the surgeon leaves isn't as stretchy as the part they remove. hopefully that is true!

do you have a follow up with your surgeon? maybe he can resolve your fears : )

[LAN2k 18]

I'm assuming you are referring to post surgery and your asking if it's normal to be able to eat a bit more further out. If I've got it right from my experience I'd say yes --but, not all that much more. For me it varies from day to day. But at 7 months out I eat between 2-4 oz. of dense Protein, and up to 6 oz of stuff like yogurt, cream of wheat, soup...etc. Hope that helps.

[ouroborous 519]

It's quite normal to be able to eat a bit more after the surgery heals; remember that right after surgery your stomach will likely be very swollen (and thus even more constricted than normal).

[ryansgirl 1]

i'm right there with lan2k it the same for me. although i was reading somewhere that after some years you could it up to about 60 percent of what you use to eat. i'm not stressing though because at the end of the day it will always e up t me what i eat and how much and my habits.

[Tiffykins 672]

Perfectly normal, and in a few more months, you'll be able to eat a little more than you can at this point. I can eat substantially more than I could at 3-4 months post-op. Over time our bodies adjust to eating again. I have also learned different tricks that allow me to eat more per meal. I can drink coffee/warm tea or drink some warm broth before a meal, and I can eat quite a bit more than if I drink cold tea or Water.

Also, eating for longer periods of time allow me to fit more in. Instead of limiting myself to 20-30 minutes per meal, I extend it to 45 minutes to get in more calories and volume of food.

Last night, I ate 4 ounces of ribeye steak cooked medium, 1/8 cup of mashed potatoes, and 4 chopped broccoli florets with cheese sauce. It took me about 40 minutes to eat all of that, but I was not uncomfortable, nor overly stuffed.

At the 6 month mark things really clicked for me, and eating. I realized I could eat more without causing discomfort, or overeating. It took a lot for me to accept that I could eat more. But, when I really looked at the amounts I was/am eating, I realize that it is probably still 10 times less than what I ate pre-op.