Question:
What is causing the chest pains after/while eating?
I am 4 weeks post-op. I have noticed that even when I take my first bite of food, I will have a lot of pressure in my chest. It will hurt until the food goes down. I am taking very small bites and chewing very well. I have not had any bad experiences. I have tolerated food really well, except for last night. I tried to eat some pot roast that I had cooked in the crock pot all day and I had my first hurling experience. What can be causing this pain in my chest? — cassieholt (posted on September 26, 2003)
September 26, 2003
Well at 4 weeks post op, I wasn't allowed to eat pot roast of any sort. Is
this on your Dr's plan? What does your doc say for 4 weeks out? On most
plans red meat is a no-no until either 3mos, 6 mos or more post op. At 4
weeks I was just introducing new foods, soft foods. If I tried something
our of the soft food category, I would not feel well. It could very well be
what you are eating, now how you are eating. Our new pouches can not
tolerate many new foods too soon.
— M B.
September 26, 2003
Sounds to me like something got stuck. I am out over a year now and still
can't eat ground beef. It sits there like lead and hurts up into my chest.
If you do get something stuck, you may feel pain and burning for up to 24
hours. Once something gets stuck you can sip seltzer water to help
dislodge it (very slowly) or a little warm water with meat tenderizer mixed
in. But remember to keep your foods liquid and let the swelling go down.
My surgeon said the two ways to strech your pouch and/or stoma are
vomitting excessively and eating large volumes on a cont. basis. It might
help if you stick to the white meat category for a bit longer, they tend to
be less stressful on your healing pouch. Good luck
— Dana B.
September 26, 2003
I don't know if this is it, but for the last week (I am 3.5 wks post-op) I
have been also getting a pain in my chest right underneath my rib cage
after I eat. I called my Dr's office and they said that it can be either a
sore muscle or gas. I am taking it that it is gas since I have been
getting it on my left and right side. My gas pain hurts also when I
breath, but it eventually goes away until I eat something again. The Dr's
office told me, unless I become in severe pain, there is no need to worry.
I don't see anything wrong with eating pot roast, considering it is really
soft meat, and if you can tolerate meat then eat it. I would still call
your Dr's office and let them know what you are feeling, just so they
themselves can give you some advice.. Take Care....
— baybekmbrly
September 26, 2003
I would say something most likely got stuck. I am about 5 1/2 weeks post
op and began eating some steak 4 weeks post-op. I have not had any
problems with red meat(ground hamburger and steak)at all. It has gone down
fine and digested fine. (Open RNY 08/11/2003...-43 pounds)
— Kamy
September 26, 2003
Your still a fairly new post-op and it may just be adjustment to solid food
pains. I would get that awful chest pain the first few months after eating
certain foods, such as salmon or ground beef. It could last for hours! As
time goes by it does get better. Its a learning experience, some things
you will not be able to tolerate at this stage, but may a month or two
later. If it gets to the point, though where everything is coming up, it
could be a stricture which usually appears about the 4-6 week mark, in
which case, contact your surgeon.
— Cindy R.
September 26, 2003
I was also on soft foods until 6 weeks out. I had a bad experience with
beef stew getting stuck that sounds like what you experienced. Ironically I
was plenty far out and could eat steak and other more "rubbery"
meats just fine. I don't know why I have more problems with soft meats, but
I do. If you hurt when you eat solid foods, just move back to soft stuff
for a week or so and try again. You have the rest of your life to eat
"real food." It's not worth the discomfort and wear-and-tear on
your system to rush it now. Best of luck and I hope it gets easier for you!
— ctyst
September 26, 2003
I call it a food induced heart attack. Or it's at least how I assume a
heart attack would feel - massive pain. At 4 weeks I would not have
tolerated beef roast too well. The food is likely too dense/heavy for you
right now. I was able to eat things with chopped beef from about 3-4 week
out but the more solid things came slower. Tried steak at 3 months but
could not keep it down even though I ate so slowly and tiny bites. Tried
again at about 6-1/2 months and now it's a regular part of my diet. I
probably chew less now and eat larger bites but don't have any problems.
Basically there is healing going on the sometimes it just takes time for
our bodies to adjust to things. Thick dense fish is my nemisis. Haven't
tried it again in 2 months, but every time before that it had to go
swimming again, so I just stopped. Maybe some day. I can still get that
feeling if I eat too much and/or too fast.
— zoedogcbr
September 26, 2003
I will be 11 months post op the 30th. I have never been a dumper. For the
past three days, I have been having sharp, spasmodic like pains right about
in the belly button area when I eat. I have tried going back to liquids
for breakfast and lunch. I'm so afraid I will get sick at work. At night
I try to eat a 'normal' dinner and that is when it happens. I am not
nauseated and I don't throw up. I just feel really SERIOUSLY gassy. Like
my intestines are in spasms. Pretty intense! It will last for about 30
minutes and is suddenly gone as quickly as it comes on. I will call my
surgeon on Monday. I feel a little soreness in my abdomen after an
'episode'. Like I said, I have never dumped or had much problems with the
foods I eat. I have not been eating anything different. I don't feel that
flush or cold sweats that seem to be associated with dumping. And right
now, nothing tastes good to me. Anyone have any ideas?
— Ginger M.
September 26, 2003
I just wanted to add that when you get a stricture you can keep some food
down unless the stoma is completely closed.I've had 4 patial strictures and
one total stricture.With the partials I was able to keep some food down.I
just had that stuck feeling in my chest.
— jennifer A.
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