Please don't answer that I already know the answer = ] I have a question for you all that I would think I should know the answer. Before I ask, NO I don't think I have one. My question is, is it actually possible to eat so much you burst your new tummy and cause a leak. By POSSIBLE, I mean wouldnt other things happen first to warn you? Like projectile vomiting and extreme pain? Sorry, I know that is gross but sometimes I wonder.

Thanks,

Tiff

Edited April 29, 201016 yr by TiffanyIsMajor

Yea... I wonder that too. What if I eat myself to death, (I'm not kidding I really think this stuff too)

Like really how is NO ONE but you and I gonna ask this? Or better yet how is NO ONE going to answer it = [ Come on guys I know someone knows...

As for eating too much to "bust" the staple line, I agree that there would be major discomfort in eating that much to cause that type of complication. I'm pretty sure I would puke if I ate that much food at one meal.

Now, eating a little too much early out, or eating the wrong stuff, etc, causing a pin hole leak and the symptoms being missed or confused for something else, the leakage would cause infection or the leak could get worse over time. I could see that happening before eating so much to bust a gut (pun intended).

lol I sent you a pm to ask you the same thing, thanks for responding...Now I am worried...I crammed deli meat in today, while it did take me a while to get it down, I still cant tell at what level of discomfort am I actually done, so i just kept eating = / I hope one day I figure it out...

Its hard to figure out when i'm full. I know my stomach is tight.... but its always tight. Its so easy to over do it. I know there is a danger point around 21 days out. I guess thats when the stitches or glue disolve. If I make it to 30 days I'm callin it good!!!!!

It's kind of good that you have an appetite and can eat so early out! It was so different for me. Nearly everything I looked at repulsed me. I'd take it really slow for a while until you are sufficiently healed. At least you know you can look forward to enjoying food, just in smaller portions.

Tiffany! Seriously???? ugh. I am so gonna buy a ticket and fly to Chattanooga! lol

Measure out 2 ounces. 1 bite, wait 5 mins. repeat. if you feel full along the way, stop eating and don't finish! : ) Later you can speed that up but it is soooo early now.

So many times I really wanted to finish all 2 ounces, and that last bite or two put me over the edge. And then I suffered with the tummy ache for an hour.

Tiffany the first 2-3 weeks I really was so swollen internally that I could not feel what full felt like. The triggers are weird and full doesn't feel quite the same as it did preop. Measure and then you'll be sure and if you do start to get a runny nose, sneeze, or feel tightness cut it off even if you can't finish. And you aren't kookie for wondering about a leak, or if you are so am I. I asked about a week out because when I would drink it was uncomfortable and I had visions of gatorade seeping through my body cavity!

I'm with PNW218, measure out 4 oz. eat slowly. I chew and swallow each bite before i pick up the fork again, and then wait a few seconds. I can tell when I am full, I feel like I have enough in me.......and it may only by 3 oz, so I leave the rest. I never eat after I have had enough. I still new enough to worry about the seam opening. LOL

Are leaks actually caused by overeating or are they just something that happens???

I have a similar question to Tiffany's

Is it possible to over-eat on liquids during the early stage? The first few days I could hardly take in liquids without discomfort. I assumed I probably had swelling. Now I am able to drink more liquids and just yesterday I didn't notice that I had a whole cup of broth in a sitting in about 20 minutes and then a Jello cup. That goes above the 2 oz per 15 minute rule. I am a bit worried now. Would this cause problems or cause my new stomach to stretch? I didn't have any discomfort and did not have liquids come back up.

No personal experience with a leak, but from what I have heard, the thing that is most likely to result in a leak along the staple line is vomiting because of the force/pressure involved. I met a lady in the hospital who developed a leak--and hearing her story made me want to be extra careful about not overeating/drinking or doing anything that could upset my incision line. My MD does 2 leak tests in the hospital, sends you home with a drain and then uses that drain to do another leak test at 1.5 weeks post op. I asked him how long the risk of leakage would last, and he said he knew of one patient that developed a leak 4 months after surgery. I avoid anyone that is sick like they have the plague (the last thing I want is a stomach virus or cough) and work hard to protect that tender little pouch!

4 months out!!!! Yikes. I really want to have an "end point" where I don't have to stress about it anymore. I'm a little neurotic about this right now.

I have a similar question to Tiffany's

Is it possible to over-eat on liquids during the early stage? The first few days I could hardly take in liquids without discomfort. I assumed I probably had swelling. Now I am able to drink more liquids and just yesterday I didn't notice that I had a whole cup of broth in a sitting in about 20 minutes and then a Jello cup. That goes above the 2 oz per 15 minute rule. I am a bit worried now. Would this cause problems or cause my new stomach to stretch? I didn't have any discomfort and did not have liquids come back up.

It sounds like you're doing great! From my understanding, the 2oz/15 minutes "rule" meant you need to drink at least 2 oz. every fifteen minutes or you would not be able to get the full 64oz. in at the beginning. I wouldn't worry about drinking too much so long as it's not uncomfortable. :svengo:

Are leaks actually caused by overeating or are they just something that happens???

My guess would be yes and yes. From what I have read, the risk of a leak goes down tremendously after the first 7 days. So you are pretty darn safe! :svengo:

After that point, it would seem to be a very unfortunate instance of a weakness in the stomach seam or extensive over eating. I really don't get the overeating tho, just on personal experience that even a bite or two too much causes great discomfort.

Relax and enjoy the ride. There are plenty of other things to worry about.