Did they feed me too much?

[MamaTo3inNH 100]

I feel like they fed me too much in the hospital... 24 hours post op I was ice Water on sponge only. Then I got: 3tsp high Protein broth, 2tsp low sugar juice & 3tbsp sugar free Jello. Today I had one "GBII" meal before discharge: 2oz high Protein broth and 2oz protein supplement with a dash of sugar free pudding. I was also offered a snack later (because my hubby got stuck at work and was late getting me) and they gave me 4oz vanilla carnation Breakfast made with skim milk, and then a school sized carton of skim milk. I drank the CIB but didn't touch the carton I was stuffed.

At no point was I stuffed. I wasn't hungry, per se, I just ate because they gave it to me. But now I'm worried I just stretched my pouch!

[bellabloom 2,469]

No of course you didn't. Stretching your pouch is much harder than that and is a gradual process that happens over time when you abuse carbonation, over eating to the point of pain on a regular basis, etc. it's not easy to do at all.

It's good that you could handle so much but take caution. You may feel terribly full from it to the point of discomfort. Your already going to be swollen from the air in your tummy, the trama of surgery, etc. if you don't take it easy you could feel even more bloated and miserable.

In the first three days home to a week, take a Dixie cup and measure out 2 ounces of you food. This is your meal and it should take you several minutes to consume it. You can do this 6 times a day and focus on your fluids the other times. This will keep you from feeling horribly bloated and also gradually ease you into eating your liquids. Take it really slow and introduce food one type at a time. That way you can tell if anything upsets you.

The mental food cravings can be really tough the first week or two. It will pass I promise. Your body needs a lot of time to digest even just a couple of ounces.

Anyhow hang in there and take it slow. I went home and tried to eat everything on my suggested meal plan for week one and ended up really uncomfortable !!! I called my nut after a couple days and she explained this to me. Your stomach is now the size of a small egg. liquids slip though so it's not exact but pretty much that's the size.

Even just your Vitamins and the room they take up will be like a meal to you right now!

[aelovelady 243]

Your pouch is actually pretty hard to stretch and impossible to stretch with liquids and soft food, it oozes out from the bottom into your intestines. This is probably why you aren't feeling over full either.

[amylynns 802]

I wasn't allowed any food in the hospital. Clear Liquids only for 2 weeks after surgery.

It amazes me how different the pre-op/post-op diets are! :-)

But like the others said, eating/drinking what you did isn't enough to stretch your pouch.

Good luck!

[MamaTo3inNH 100]

Oh thank god lol!!

My supplements are held off til my 10 day follow up. The only thing I need to take is the acid prevention. Actually he said for the first 10 days my main focus is to be on Water, not food!

Crazy how different diets are huh?

Thanks friends!

[bellabloom 2,469]

I wasn't allowed any food in the hospital. Clear Liquids only for 2 weeks after surgery.

It amazes me how different the pre-op/post-op diets are! :-)

But like the others said, eating/drinking what you did isn't enough to stretch your pouch.

Good luck!

Wow you are amazing. I can't believe you did clears for long!! I would have lost it totally. I had such bad head hunger after surgery I actually chewed up food and spit it out a couple times without swallowing any and that really helped. On clears? I would have cried and cried!!!

I am so impressed you are a rock star.

[bellabloom 2,469]

Oh thank god lol!!

My supplements are held off til my 10 day follow up. The only thing I need to take is the acid prevention. Actually he said for the first 10 days my main focus is to be on Water, not food!

Crazy how different diets are huh?

Thanks friends!

Also be careful with plain Water. For some people it can be hard on their stomach. If it hurts to drink it (hopefully it won't!) then you can mix in crystal light, cucumber slices, etc to eeze the discomfort

[SuzeMuze 338]

One thing I needed to keep reminding myself is that the folks who were in charge of "preparing" my food in the hospital probably weren't bariatric specialists, nor were they aware of what the restrictions really were. Hospitals aren't places where gourmet custom food gets served (at least none that I've ever been to)- if the diet says "Broth and juice", whoever's in charge of preparing the meals are going to put a standard serving size of broth and a juice carton on the tray. It was up to me to use the 1 oz. shotglasses the nurse gave me to regulate how much I tried to eat for myself.

[amylynns 802]

Wow you are amazing. I can't believe you did clears for long!! I would have lost it totally. I had such bad head hunger after surgery I actually chewed up food and spit it out a couple times without swallowing any and that really helped. On clears? I would have cried and cried!!!

I am so impressed you are a rock star.

Aww, thanks. I had 2 weeks of clear liquids BEFORE surgery as well. It was Harder before surgery. After surgery I had no appetite. In fact I am 3 months out and I still am NEVER hungry. In fact I have to force myself to eat. So weird compared to before. Guess I Still have a struggle with food, just a different kind of struggle now. :-)

[MamaTo3inNH 100]

One thing I needed to keep reminding myself is that the folks who were in charge of "preparing" my food in the hospital probably weren't bariatric specialists, nor were they aware of what the restrictions really were. Hospitals aren't places where gourmet custom food gets served (at least none that I've ever been to)- if the diet says "Broth and juice", whoever's in charge of preparing the meals are going to put a standard serving size of broth and a juice carton on the tray. It was up to me to use the 1 oz. shotglasses the nurse gave me to regulate how much I tried to eat for myself.

My stuff was very strictly served! I was surprised. It came marked on the kids of each bowl how much was inside, and also on my food delivery form it said "gbi" or "gbii" and had listed exactly what was on my tray including #of carbs, and total volume