Testing my pouch - ALARMING results! - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Vim&Vigour · 03-09-2008, 12:58 PM

Testing my pouch – ALARMING results!

Yes, it is EXCEEDINGLY difficult to undo 45 years of bad eating habits. It is more a question of the “mind” rather than what the body craves I think. A strong-willed person “wouldn’t even go there”, i.e. even consider eating the “wrong” foods post-surgery. I am VERY aware of that. HOWEVER, with the support of my husband and our 3 children (19, 21 and 23) I have been experimenting with textures, foods and quantities, in the safety of my home to better understand my surgery. In one instance, I was “frightened” by what I discovered, (you’ll find out below!) because, in a way, it feels as though my surgery doesn’t even “protect” me from myself! Yes, the RNY is a tool, not the solution!

I had my RNY surgery performed in Belgium where Dr. Dillemans uses a slightly different technique to the US.

My limb is 130 cm, the surgery type is “Capella” and the pouch is slightly larger than in the US, resulting with virtually no vomiting or diarrhoea.

I am feeling really great and often forget that I had my surgery nearly 14 weeks ago. I have lost 38 pounds and experience no “side-effects” which is on the track recommended by my surgeon.

As a result, I have decided to test my pouch by experimenting in the safety of my home, especially as I have a clear diary for a couple of weeks!

I am testing foods, textures, quantities, portions, mixing and matching and noting my weight, how my head feels, my mood and obviously my pouch’s response!

Pre-surgery I have always been prone to bloating due to wheat, resulting in water retention (e.g. very swollen ankles and fingers). I could nearly drink the recommended daily intake, would spend the following 24/36 peeing 7-9 times in the morning (and nothing in the afternoon) once I kick-started the “drinking”. Within 12 hours of the “drinking” regimen in action, I would stop being bloated (but still retaining water, though less).

Pre-surgery, for my optimum well-being, I would cut right down on milk, yoghurt and cheese, avoid wheat (bread, biscuits) and chose a corn or rice pasta instead.

For years I have been a pasta fanatic, in every shape, size, flavour and sauce!

NOW, post-surgery:

Toast: I can just about manage half a slice (with or without a scraping of butter). Doesn’t slide down very well.
Biscotte: it sort of “melts in the mouth”, same goes for dry crackers (Ritz crackers too).
Eggs: very well tolerated, in order of preference: scrambled, omelette, soft boiled
Risotto “al dente”: absolutely no more than 2 mouthfuls! Too heavy in consistency – great sadness ensues!
Pasta (wheat or otherwise): too “gluey”, just lumps together, stodgy and heavy. Avoided like the plague!
Chicken: needs to be finely ground (like couscous) and drenched in gravy. However, a tiny tapas style chicken kebab, small morsels well chewed, go down a treat!
Fish: poached with considerable sauce or smoked salmon to allow it to “slip down”. Being careful not to “stack” the fish: important to select different foods with each mouthful e.g. fish / tomato / potato puree / fish etc.
Milk: because of lifelong allergies (milk is quite mucous forming, hence the “blocked nose” first thing in the morning) I have avoided milk. However, now I mix a scoop full of protein fibre (equivalent to my necessary total daily requirement) in with a glass of milk which I blend to a milkshake consistency. It is far more palatable and lets itself be drunk quite easily.
Tea: I used to die for my cup of tea (strong, half a drop of milk and one teaspoon of sugar). Now it holds no appeal nor flavour for me. I drink perhaps half a cup on waking and the half a teaspoon of sugar (tried all types) is neither here nor there! Can barely drink it! Wet and bland!
Coffee: I am only interested in the first 2-3 mouthfuls, more a question of wishing to enjoy the flavour of coffee. I am indifferent in drinking or needing it.
Fizzy drinks, incl. Champagne: I have given them all up, knowing from pre-surgery that sparkling water just swells my stomach! (half a glass of Champagne brut is ok).
Red/white wine: I have been allergic to wine for the last 20 years, so I rarely touch the stuff alas. White wine is preferable, but I easily take it or leave it, so not really a post-op issue for me.
Cottage Cheese: grand food! Very versatile and useful with savoury or fruit.
Baked potatoes: fluffy flesh with lots of unsalted real butter or cottage cheese or tomato sauce. Not the skin though.
Smoothies: for a happier pouch, a more liquid diet has benefited from smoothies, and I also got my “5 portions of fruit a day” rolled into one. However, even though they are organic and have no added sugars or artificial anything, I believe the natural sucrose is rather high, so I have cut right back (advice given by Sheree!– thanks again!).

Soups: any variety, consistency – brilliant

Yoghurt: I get bored with the same smooth, blandness of the various organic brands… Useful to have at all times.

Preferred foods: Shepherd’s Pie, Cottage Pie, Cumberland Pie, Fish pie, scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, poached salmon, prawns, avocados, soups, smoothies, yoghurt and ice-cream/sorbet. All these I can eat as a “full meal”, feel content and satiated and are my secure choices at all times, hence ideal when I go out or entertain at home (ideal for when I eat with those whom I have not told about my surgery).

Foods that are ok to eat in very small quantities: chopped spinach, finely chopped leeks, oven baked tomatoes (avoid skin), soft boiled onions, one teaspoonful of honey.
I have tested foods that I considered could cause concern, for say after a couple of mouthfuls and have abandoned them for a while:
Toast, broccoli, cauliflower, mange-tout, baked beans, lettuce/salads, gherkins/pickles

Uncomfortable to eat: rice, toast, spicy food (Indian, Lebanese food), sausages (chorizo etc), thin ham slices, oysters

Now to the VERY ALARMING bit!!!: I am staggered that I have no side-effects AT ALL from eating 5 (yes, FIVE) biscuits/cookies (with fruit and nut, chocolate chip, ginger etc).
Half a tub of say Ben & Jerry’s ice cream(Phish food) or even HALF A POUND OF CHOCOLATE IN ONE DAY!

Here I am, 12 weeks out of surgery capable of eating half a pound of chocolate with no diarrhoea, no vomiting, no bloating, no nausea. I used to easily eat one pound of chocolate per day pre-surgery. This chocolate test is definitely a one-off. I had to try to understand my pouch. The surgery is supposed to have removed the “craving” pangs. Thankfully, yes, thankfully, I have little interest in the flavour of the chocolate I have eaten in this experiment. I would probably have enjoyed much more the Shepherd’s Pie.

My bottom line with the Chocolate Test is that it really is a question of mind over matter. My cravings for sweet things seems indeed to have disappeared and it is my brain that needs reeducating. Which proves that the tool is only as good as in the way in which you are prepared to use it. I am very alarmed, shocked and dismayed at how easy it was for me to eat this chocolate and feel no side-effects.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. End result? Just stay totally clear of the wrong foods, WE DON’T NEED THEM as they do us no good! It is essential to learn to say NO!!!

I now really look forward to my “detox” over the next 48 hours, drinking water, drinking water and drinking water to eliminate this source of horror!

Learning to make intelligent choices is a question of education: reading of labels, learning about food values and food associations. Becoming more food technical as a means of finding the preferred fuel!

Adieu chocolate!!!

Cheers,
Vim

Claire-in-Texas · 03-09-2008, 01:06 PM

At exactly 11 months post op, I can eat anything, and in large quantities. I therefore have to do exactly as you stated, make intelligent choices.

No, I don't WANT to, but I have to. I got this far because of RNY. Now, I realize, I will stay thin and healthy (not necessarily in that order) if I make the right choices.

It's all a test, isn't it????

Vim&Vigour · 03-09-2008, 01:10 PM

Thanks Claire! You always have the right philosophy and answer!
I'm glad you are still around and by judging your photographs, you are doing so well!
I do hope to meet you, if I can make it to THE cruise!
Perhaps we can even have our in-house "seminars"!
Vim

Claire-in-Texas · 03-09-2008, 01:57 PM

LOL, Vim, what a hoot it will be to get to know the people we know so well! LOL

Working on the cruise - will be putting up a new thread about it before long.

About the eating behaviors, I do really well if I am busy. On days like today when I am not, I want to eat the refrigerator and everything in it. THAT's the time I realize I am a recovering food addict.

katzz87 · 03-09-2008, 02:08 PM

Vim & Vigor ~

I'm basically a newbie compared to you and Claire. Having noted that I always have people say "oh, you can't have that, huh?" and I tell them that I CHOSE not to have that at this time...but farther out (and only if my pouchie agrees...it's ALL knowing!!) I can eventually have anything I chose just in small or infrequent quantities. Yes, I'll be able to have some b-day cake (maybe only 1-2 small bits) or pizza. If you eat great 95% of the time and have an occassional "off-limits" food choice...then you're living life to the fullest!

I have to admit that me being only out 2 months so realize this may change...but I do not CRAVE foods like I used to, sometimes just SMELLING the crap-ola out of a food (i.e. garlic bread) does the trick.

Cathy

PS~ I totally have to agree that Claire knows how to say the exact correct thing at the right time!

Claire-in-Texas · 03-09-2008, 02:27 PM

LOL, Cathy, sometims I think I should just keep my mouth shut!! LOL Having said that, though, I am always happy to hear those kind words!

You do, however, bring up a very good point. I can only speak for myself here, but some days I can handle a bite or two of birthday cake, and some days I feel that if I do that I will eat the entire cake. Each of us becomes very unique past the honeymoon period.

But you are totally right about living life - these are the choices I make, one way or another. Nothing/no one keeps me from my choices, but it will always be that -- choices. My tool continues to work (when I pay attention to that full feeling), and yes, I feel like crap when I overeat, which I occasinally do (which keeps me honest for a while again!).

I am rarely tempted when out eating or busy outside of my home. However, when I am home, and I feel very weak, I run to try on my tightest outfit!

Nyn · 03-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Vim, you are definitely sounding like you have a great approach to all of this. Your experiment records show that you are carefully listening to everything your pouch has to say and keeping notes on all of it. I totally respect you for that. The hardest part really is knowing and appreciating the pouch as a tool and our habits as the enemy that has to be subdued. My favorite part of your experiment results was where you noted that your cravings are not the same thing as your desires. Your need for a food that you used to love and rely on has changed, and you have total awareness of that fact. Impressive!

You have courage to do all this as well -- I'm still afraid to have even one bite of choclate. I don't want to know! Also, the longer I have gone with no "danger foods" (i.e. sugary foods, fast foods) the less I even want them. This has brought me full cycle around to recognizing my cravings and what I don't really want anymore. No more McDonalds -- huzzah!

Yes, Claire is awesome and I love her wisdom!

Vim&Vigour · 03-09-2008, 03:53 PM

Cathy, Claire and Nyn,
Thank you for your comments and words of support. It feels very much like having a school project and contacting my fellow classmates to ascertain whether or not I am on the right track! An exciting if not daunting journey!
Cheers!
Vim

marine · 03-09-2008, 04:30 PM

Dear Vim,

You are courageous to have tested your pouch. I personally do not dare, from fear to fall into the "sweets" traps. I also believe that our taste and tolerance willl change overtime. This was true anyway before WSL, it is even more true now.

I only once tried a truffle chocolate (a round ball) without sugar (with fructose): what a disaster, I felt awful, not dumping, but just not good for my stomac, too heavy. THanks God. But I discovered a black chocolate of 70% cocoa, without sugar. I might have 1 square every 1-2 months. So basikely nothing. It goes.

Otherwise I do share your conclusion about this whole WSL, this is just a tool, we have our share of work for the upper part of the body, the brain. This is truly very difficult, when I have no issues with vomiting or stomac pain. Plenty of drinking, not getting bored, and doing a lot of sports helps keeping us out of the "food" though

And who knows what the future will reserve us. All the best.

lward76 · 03-09-2008, 04:47 PM

Wow...you are very brave, but was being smart with it so thats good...

And yes Claire you always know what to say, your a strong woman and give great advice again i like reading all your posts! Laura