Testing my pouch - ALARMING results!

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!!!

Vim