Hi everyone, I am new to the post-op board. I spent a lot of time on the pre-op even after my surgery. I was sleeved Jan. 21st, and am excited that I am on my 3 month sleeve-versary! I am getting about 90-100 grams of Protein per day. A Protein shake in the morning sometimes with Peanut Butter, and Isopure protein Water (40grams) in the afternoon. I barely get food in, because I'm focused on my protein, I might have a small salad, or 1/4 of a half of sandwich at lunch time, but by 3:30pm I start sipping on the Isopure and it normally takes me until about 8:00pm or 9:00pm to get it all day. I have yet mastered the art of sipping slowly because I'm always thirsty, but I take large sips...not gulps. And chewing...am I the only one that hasn't mastered the art of chewing slow and taking 45 minutes to eat? Am I the only one that doesn't take 30-45 minutes eating?

I often have nightmares that my stomach is stretching. I am steadily loosing, and have lost about 32lbs since surgery.

I've been told by post op patients, and others that your stomach will stretch eventually, but my fear is will is stretch this soon.

Does anyone else have the same concern? How would you know if it is stretching? Would it stretch this soon? Would I feel it? These are the questions that haunt me!

You can surely see the difference in the two though, right ? I'm not sure at all what swelling has to do with the X-rays though ? I would bet money if I had an xray today it would be even bigger as I know I can eat more now than I could in October when it was taken. I'm revising next week and I'll definitely ask my doc more about what he finds when he gets in there and keep you guys posted

I honestly couldn't tell the ass end of my sonogram so yes, the pictures look different, but that could be an appendix and a spleen for all I know. I would assume a swollen stomach looks different or tighter than a relaxed stomach, but again, I am not a doctor.

I can eat more now than I could at one day out. I can't eat more now than I could at 9 months out. And I drink Coke Zero. THROUGH A STRAW!!

And can I say how nice it is to be able to disagree with someone without being called names!?!?!

Oh, the adultness of it all. HA!

I had the same fear. It was all I could think about for the last week or so because I did start eating "real" food. Reading these responses really did easy my worries. There are so many questions that come up all the time and I am glad I found this website because it does answer A LOT of the questions I have.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I really feel better now and will put my mind at ease. I think the fear of failing is the root of the nightmare of a stretched sleeve. I am happy that I am not alone in this...especially when reading about the feeding days vs non feeding days. I am starting to think that I feel the urge to feed a little more during my cycle...but again it is barely a cup of vegetables, or chicken, or salad. The Protein keeps me full throughout the morning and the protein Water keeps me full through the evening.

I am also happy that I am not alone with not drinking very slow or chewing too slow. I realize perfection is a desire that we all strive for, so as long as I pay attention to when I'm full I will take your advice and relax.

Thanks so much. I feel much better!

(From LipstickLady's post)

I can eat more now than I could at one day out. I can't eat more now than I could at 9 months out. And I drink Coke Zero. THROUGH A STRAW!!

OMG, COKE ZERO WITH A STRAW!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAFFEINE!!!!

CARBONATION!!!!

A STRAW WHERE YOU CAN SUCK IN AIR!!!!!!!!

Oooh, I'm feeling weak just thinking about that.

To quote Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx character):

(Saying this as I clench my chest) "Elizabeth, I'm coming to meet ya', this is the big one."

Naaaah, just kidding. I'll enjoy one too.

Edited April 17, 201511 yr by 4MRB4PHOTO

(From LipstickLady's post)

I can eat more now than I could at one day out. I can't eat more now than I could at 9 months out. And I drink Coke Zero. THROUGH A STRAW!!

OMG, COKE ZERO WITH A STRAW!!!!!!!!!!!!

CAFFEINE!!!!

CARBONATION!!!!

A STRAW WHERE YOU CAN SUCK IN AIR!!!!!!!!

Oooh, I'm feeling weak just thinking about that.

To quote Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx character):

(Saying this as I clench my chest) "Elizabeth, I'm coming to meet ya', this is the big one."

Naaaah, just kidding. I'll enjoy one too.

what part is the pouch the shading?

ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1429272669.315256.jpg

The pic on they left is one day post op the pic on the right is one year post op.

The lighter parts or white. On the right from the top is my dilated esophagus then the "sleeve" then the lower larger part is the pylorus.

So this is YOUR sleeved stomach, one that is atypical because you already had a band and are now revising to a bypass?

I have heard that people who are first banded and then sleeved have more "issues" than those who are first sleeved. I'm not sure your xray is a fair example of a stretched sleeve.

(Disclaimer: I’m not a sleeve patient). I understand your fear, but like the others have said, you just have to stick to your diet. If you eat right, you’ll lose weight. Maybe the sleeve will feel like it stretches as it calms down after surgery, and maybe it’ll stretch a little over time, but you can lose weight if you stick to the diet.

There may be some times when you’re hungry and it’s not time to eat yet. You just have to wait a little (or eat a little bit of your next meal now and save the rest for later). That’s normal, even if your sleeve hasn’t stretched.

You can definitely “outeat” your sleeve if you try. Maybe it’s because you stretch it, or maybe it’s because you eat around it. If you eat too often, choose high-calorie foods, drink drinks with calories, drink when you eat…break the rules of your diet, you’ll out-eat your sleeve. Maybe it’s because you’ve eaten around it, or maybe it’s because you’ve stretched it. Whatever it is, it’s because of going off the diet.

As for eating slowly…it takes practice. Think of it as a challenge, and as an opportunity. Taste your food. Feel free to play games with it. Good luck!

Feeder days....what a great name! That's what that is called??? Lol! I thought it was just me but now I see it isn't so unusual! I go through that also....some days I can feed more, some days a qtr cup of anything is too much.

I do know if I ate all simple carbs day in and day out, one spoonful at a time Id gain my weight back in no time.

This is why the sleeve is a tool to use. We must not relinquish control back to that monster in our brain that got us so heavy in the first place.

@Band07: Good luck to you! Hope all works out! Best Health!

????

Edited April 18, 201511 yr by tomi71

Think of it as a challenge, and as an opportunity. Taste your food. Feel free to play games with it.

That sounds so naughty!

Think of it as a challenge, and as an opportunity. Taste your food. Feel free to play games with it.

That sounds so naughty!

Maybe if it involves whipped cream?

If so, choose the fat free kind.

So this is YOUR sleeved stomach, one that is atypical because you already had a band and are now revising to a bypass?

I have heard that people who are first banded and then sleeved have more "issues" than those who are first sleeved. I'm not sure your xray is a fair example of a stretched sleeve.

I'm not sure why you refuse to believe this can happen but here are a few more for you that were not prior lap band patients and are not me. These are actually revision surgeries of those who had to be resleeved.

@@Fatdiva14 I was wondering how you were doing!! I can't believe we're celebrating 3 months from our mutual surgery date on Tuesday!!!

I worry too about stretching, but I am learning to stop eating when I'm content and immediately push the plate away. My old habit would be to finish, heck, my old ways food never filled me! I was always hungry so the feeling of being full is still such a shock to me, but a good one!! I just keep thinking, I've never had this feeling. That was one of the major things I was worried about before the surgery - that I'd still be hungry.

I have had a Protein Cereal that my nutrionist recommended and I think I'm a bit lactose intolerant. I'm hoping it goes away eventually. I don't eat the cereal a lot, but just wanted an option to occassionally have in stead of Egg Beaters every day and being a bit (not too bad - just gurgling, bit crampy stomach) is a bit of a bummer.

I know that I sometimes have hunger pangs, but have realized that it could be due to not having all of my liquids. I am hitting my protein with the help of a shake that has 30 grams and so far, but need to be a bit better w/the liquids.

I still weigh, measure and write everything down.

Good Luck & Happy Sleeveversary!