Starting to regret it 32 months out

[Alliejc]

does anyone else suffer severely with eating? It takes me 2-3 hours to eat a cereal bowl sized portion of food. My stomach makes terribly embarrassing noises and if I'm not careful I end up in agony and can be sick for over an hour. Apart from the ridiculously tiny amount of food I can manage, the reflux/sickness is the worst. I dread going out to eat. Any advice would be grateful. My surgeon is now saying a bypass may help.

[greenmomma]

I eat for about twenty minutes. If I'm not done it gets put away or thrown away. I don't think eating should be suffering.

[wydols]

I am only 6 months out and have been thinking how does someone survive once they've lost the weight on such a small amount of food. I am lucky to eat a portion of food that will fit in the 3 oz container you get salad dressing in from restaurants. No matter what I do that is the most I can eat at any given time. I'm lucky if I'm getting 800 calories a day in. At this time it's not a problem since I'm still in the phase of losing weight but what about when I'm not supposed to lose anymore. I thought by now I am supposed to be able to eat at least 1 cup of food??? I'm lucky if I can eat half of a taco. I don't regret the surgery but will be discussing this with my doctor next week for sure.

[Lee6Lee]

does anyone else suffer severely with eating? It takes me 2-3 hours to eat a cereal bowl sized portion of food. My stomach makes terribly embarrassing noises and if I'm not careful I end up in agony and can be sick for over an hour. Apart from the ridiculously tiny amount of food I can manage, the reflux/sickness is the worst. I dread going out to eat. Any advice would be grateful. My surgeon is now saying a bypass may help.

It takes quite a few calories to maintain a healthy 156 pounds like you have, so it must be the pain that you're concerned about. I'm so sorry. Everyone's experience is so different!

[mslisa]

@ greenmomma, but that's the way I feel now, it’s a chore, suffering. I'm hoping at some point this feeling will subside. Last night was my first time sitting down in a restaurant since surgery and it was the worst. I was so concerned about getting sick and my food coming back up at the table. I ordered my meal (Low Cal 565 calories…….7 oz. filet mignon w broccoli). I ate 2 very small chopped up pieces of broccoli floret, along with a few small pieces of filet I slivered off the steak. I ended up bringing the majority of it home. Felt like I couldn’t enjoy my meal I was so worried. Do you ever get to the point where you feel comfortable and can eat without worrying about getting sick?

[bikrchk]

I don't "suffer" a year and 1/2 out, but I do eat tiny portions. Went out last night to a local Blues dive and searched the menu for something "small" finally settled on the 4 wing appetizer. Got 2 down (wing and drummie attached) and was comfortably full. I got 1000-1200 cal per day during my loss and more like 1500 now in maintenance so calories not really a problem. I eat very "small" but enjoy every bite! The "sick" feeling passed for me after about 6 months when I could tolerate pretty much anything again.

[lil_lisa]

It sounds like there is a major problem, go to your bariatric surgeon right away and have them do scanning to find out what it is. Could be a stricture, or I've heard that sometimes the stomach can twist and that could cause the things you are experiencing, no, that is not normal at any time in the journey. Good luck with it.

[31startingBMI]

How many ounces can you eat at one time?

[Alliejc]

I don't know how many ounces but two mouthfuls at one sitting is quite normal for me. I can't eat meat anymore, some vegetables, rice. I have put on over 30 pounds because I can eat biscuits and toast quite easily but that's it. My surgeon did an OGD and found a small kink in stomach which they sorted but it hasn't made any difference and they are now lost at what to do.

[31startingBMI]

Your dilemma is not the usual sort. This is a major complication that needs attention. Maybe a second opinion will help shed some light on a solution. Saying that I don't know how you could gain weight only being able to eat two bites of anything?! Are you able to eat more when you eat soft foods?

[31startingBMI]

Are you full after you have two bites of food?

[lil_lisa]

I would definately get a second opinion, don't suffer.

[rjkimbal]

mslisa -- your sleeve is still pretty new to be trying to eat much at all. I am almost 3 months out and still have the same problem you described. Eating out just isn't worth it -- at least not to me. Not right now anyhow. I know this will get better because all of those I have talked with are doing well but not until about 6 months out. So both of us have to be patient - such a mind game now - Take care and God Bless!

[mrf0418]

I am not able to eat even close to a cereal bowl of anything. I eat small amounts of whatever I want. I take each meal individually and eat until I start burping usually, which is usually just a small amount. I still enjoy eating out but am only able to eat a small amount and bring the rest home. I stay away from potatoes, eat very small amounts of bread, no cereal, some treats. If I eat even one forkful too much I suffer, I do not throw up but feel miserable for a while. It is not worth it. It does kind of sound like you are trying to eat too much at one time. If you are eating over 2-3 hours it is not having a meal, it is more grazing. You should eat whatever you can in 20 min, or less if you seem full and let it go. Perhaps your weight gain has been from eating too much. It is not easy. As far as the reflux/sickness, I am sorry you are experiencing that, it must be miserable, are you taking protonix, omaprasole or any other acid reducer. The sickness usually comes from eating too much. I have a piece of toast with almond butter and jelly for breakfast, a cheese stick with 4-5 grapes for a snack, 6 shrimp for lunch - but sometimes I just have 3-4 oz of a meat with a broccoli head or two. and for dinner I sometimes get boston market bowl with a small scoop of spinach, a small scoop(like the tip) of squash, 2-3 apples and dark meat chicken. I can never finish it all, but it sure tastes good! Sometimes I have a weight watcher chocolate pop or a very small bowl of icecream before bed. It is not a lot of food, I do miss and often think about missing laying on my bed eating a large meal, but 3 buffalo wings is not a big meal. It seems sometimes as soon as you open something up, you are done. It is a change in lifestyle. I wish you luck.

[mellowjoy]

I'm having a hard time understanding why eating out is not worth it. I've eaten out a few times since being sleeved and I've enjoyed the company I was with and ate a few bites of fish or chicken. Rather than focusing on the food focus on who you're with.

Allie - You stated it took several hours to eat a cereal bowl sized portion of food. Why would you continue to eat for 2 - 3 hours? Nothing can be that good. Fiesta and Corelle both make a 18 to 20 ounce cereal bowl. I'm not sure what size bowl you're using but portion size may be an issue.