getting worried!

I had my surgery on Jan 5, 2004 so I am almost 3 months out and have lost 72 lbs. Last Friday I had to have an endoscopy with my stoma dilated because I just couldnt eat anything solid at all. I'm supposed to begin eating solids now but I just can't get them down-especially meat. My husband is totally worried and my surgeon and GI Specialist are pressuring me to eat those solids. Any suggestions on what I can start with that wont make me sick. Right now, I can handle cheddar cheese, peanut butter, yogurt that has been frozen, but no other solids. I don't want to get sick or hurt myself. Part of it maybe fear of getting sick and vomiting since that was a problem before. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Marissa Z. Open RNY 01/05/04 272/200/150

Hi I had a few problems getting the solids down too. I had great sucess with low fat cottage cheese & egg beaters a little skim milk cooked in the micro, not on the stove. It takes time. Keep up with the protein drinks so you get that in. Also I can roll up a very thin turkey slice with cheese. I just need the S.F. applesauce to help it go down. Hope this helps! GOOD LUCK Cynthia

A lot of people don't tolerate meats at this early stage yet. I know on my local board (MN) they have been talking about this. I luckily have been able to tolerate most meats including hamburger. If I were you, I would stick to the cottage cheese and thin deli meats for a bit til you feel more comfortable. You will still get your protein in. Maybe some tender chicken that you can kind of mush up. I buy the bags of chicken tenders at Sams club and use those in different meals. Good Luck to you. Your weight loss so far is AWESOME!!

I think if you will try to digest moist meats you will do better. If you are a well done meat eater add bar-b-que sauce, A1, etc. to your meat. The first time you eat meat you might even want to cook beef stew either in gravy or tomatoes. The liquid will help the meat to slide down better. The gravy doesn't do as well for me as the tomatoes, but I love tomatoes so that would be my choice. I make my stew with LOTS of beef and a FEW potatoes, carrots and onions. I sometimes cook onions and bell peppers then add very thinly sliced leftover steak just long enough to warm it. Once more the moisture in the veggies seem to make the steak go down easier. I can understand your fear of food after your experience but you know you have to learn to eat meat again for health purposes. I suppose you could become a vegatarian but I'm not familar with how they manage to get protein into their diet. Being vegatarian has never entered the scope of possibility for me. Hope you turn around quickly and can enjoy this journey. Good Luck!

Congrats on your weightloss Marissa, Maybe start out with some toddler baby food and then work your way up, with some soft foods. Mind you the flavor isn't what normal food is, but you could season it yourself. At least you could be getting some protein and still be eating a measured amount also. Good Luck!

Marissa, Have you tried tuna salad with low fat miracle whip... also when I was starting on meats I would put chicken in my mini food chopper with chicken gravy... it is tasty...and moist enough to go down well. maybe you want to start there.... you still have to chew but overall it didn't cause me any problems. good luck... and congrats on the weight lose! V.

Thanks so much to all of you who have replied. I will try all of your suggestions. The beef stew in gravy with some veggies sounds so good-I think I'll do that tonight. I'm so glad that I found this forum. You all are great! Marissa

Marissa - You could also try tuna salad and salmon salad with wheat thins crackers. That is what I practically lived off of during my "soft diet" phase! Also, another good non-meat source of protein is tofu. I've never had it, but I hear it absorbs the flavor of whatever you cook it with, so you might want to try some of that. Best of luck! Jules

okay this problem I have had and continue to have. what you need to do is because you need to have your protein you should make yourself some chicken salad I have noticed that it fools my body and maybe that is what you need to do.