Released from Clear Liquid prison

knitchique · October 20, 2003

Yup...I made it through the Clear liquid weeks. I am now to be on full liquids for a week...Thank God I can have a latte again!!

I do have a question...I am pretty sure that I have NO restriction, and I am afraid that I still eat too much, and/or too quickly. Are we supposed to take 30 minutes to eat 2 Tbsp of Malt-o-meal??

I can go through it pretty quickly, the same goes for cream Soups, yogurt, pudding...

What type of potential damage am I doing by eating too fast?

Also, I am still unfamiliar with what it feels like to be full.

Still, I am down 13 pounds in two weeks, even during the healing stage!!

Sheryl

Dr. Wetherille

244/231/140

Alexandra · October 20, 2003

Hi Sheryl,

Congratulations on your release!! Honestly, I can't imagine being on Clear Liquids for two weeks. Full liquids, maybe. Clear? Nuh-uh.

Anyway, I think all recent bandsters have the same experience. I know I did. When you start with the Soups and so forth and you're surprised at how much you can take in. That's because it just slips right past the band down into your lower stomach, and there's virtually no difference in the amount you can drink now vs. the amount you could drink before.

You won't do any damage if you're sticking to liquids. Since it's not solid food, your esophagus and stomach don't have to do any work to get it where it's going. So there won't be lots of movement that can interfere with the healing; that's the point of liquids.

No matter when you start mushy foods, go slowly. You'll be several weeks out by then so you may not have any problems at all, but it pays to be cautious. You may not have any swelling or restriction at all but don't assume that until you've taken a small bite of something and swallowed. You don't want to find out the hard way! :cool:

donali · October 20, 2003

Yeah, what Alexandra said. :cool:

You do NOT have to do your full liquids slowly, or make a small amount last over a long time. I found that up til my 4th fill a few weeks ago, I did not really have any slowing in my ability to consume liquids.

At my current restriction I am able to drink quite a bit faster than my stoma empties, so that has slowed up my drinking somewhat, but not ridiculously so.

Once I got on solid foods, I was able to eat waaaay more than I had expected. Less than pre-band, but still a hefty amount, so don't be concerned if you're the same way. Remember, the FILLS are the key for most peoples' restriction.

leo · October 21, 2003

Originally posted by knitchique
I do have a question...I am pretty sure that I have NO restriction, and I am afraid that I still eat too much, and/or too quickly. Are we supposed to take 30 minutes to eat 2 Tbsp of Malt-o-meal??

I can go through it pretty quickly, the same goes for cream Soups, yogurt, pudding...

What type of potential damage am I doing by eating too fast?

Also, I am still unfamiliar with what it feels like to be full.

Still, I am down 13 pounds in two weeks, even during the healing stage!!

Sheryl

Dr. Wetherille

244/231/140

Liquids actually go straight thru the stoma, So don't feel bad if you eat more then the half cup. I questioned myself all the time in the beginning , if I was doing it correctly or not, but as time goes by you will get the hang of it. Just remember liquids go straight thru the stoma , so drink as much of those as you want. But stay away from the junk food ofcourse!

Its the solid food that will give you the full feeling, you will learn how to deal with that when it time for you to switch back to solid food. Remember one thing "CHEW" and eat "SLOWLY"

knitchique · October 22, 2003

Thanks guys...

I have been liquifying some solid foods into the consistancy of cream Soups, adding liquid to it to help. I am feeling more "full"

somedays and not so on other, or...some meals and not others.

I think my biggest hang-up is the mind set...I want to eat for fun. I know I can't and I think that makes me sort-of sad...It is a lot to get used to and a lot to learn. I know that eventually I will think of food as fuel, and not my entertainment, but right now, it's hard.

Sheryl

Dr. Wetherille

244/228.5/140

Alexandra · October 22, 2003

Originally posted by knitchique
I think my biggest hang-up is the mind set...I want to eat for fun. I know I can't and I think that makes me sort-of sad...It is a lot to get used to and a lot to learn. I know that eventually I will think of food as fuel, and not my entertainment, but right now, it's hard.

You are NOT alone in this! Weeks after banding I have the nightly experience of not believing I've had enough to eat. This is, I guess, something all WLS patients go through--having a pouch to fill is a very different thing than a stomach. We all have to learn that done is done, even if it really is only a fraction of a pre-surgery meal.

Now how do I get my head to accept what my stomach knows?