New member, please help

Hi, my name is Dianne. I am new to this website, and am not very computer savvy, but I'm feeling very alone with all my emotions and seem to be having a number of problems. I came home from work early today because I was so depressed. My surgery was Feb 22, I have lost 25 lbs, but am having so much trouble keeping food down. I am sick of vomiting! Has anyone else had this problem. I can only eat about 2-3 Tbsp of food and VERY slowly. This is like torture. I am still eating mostly soft foods. I'm afraid of a stricture or something. No MD appt now until May. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi Dianne! Welcome to the website! It is a very informative place to be. I am sorry that you are feeling alone and depressed. But, remember you are not alone. We are here for you. My surgery was Feb. 17. I have lost 30 lbs. My surgeon tells me and his other patients to drink hot decaf tea before eating. It really helps. It relaxes the pouch. Try that and see if it helps. I have only gotten sick once. That was a few days ago when I tried pork chops for the first time. I won't be having those anymore for a while. . I can eat about 4 tbsp. Just hang in there and try the tea and see if that helps you. If you need to talk just email me. We are all in this together. May God Bless you always! Tamara

Hi Dianne ! You will love this site- there are so many people here who are in so many different stages of the "process" so you will be able to learn so much ! Congrats on your weight loss ! I can understand about you feeling depressed, I am having a hard time also with eating. As of right now I am thinking that cheese is the culprit ! It seems like if I just eat a piece of cheese I am ok but when I eat it with something else I am not having a good time. (I am gonna test the theory out this weekend.) Be sure to take your time when you eat and if you are having a hard time with regular foods maybe take a step back and try soft foods again. You will find out that everyone is very different. Your pouch may just be abit more delicate than someone elses ! If you do go back to soft foods and still have a really hard time don't wait til May to go to the Dr., call and schedule an appt ! You may also want to check out some of the posts where we have been listing some of the foods other "Februarians" have been eating. It will give you new ideas and suggestions. If you ever need to talk or bounce stuff off of anyone feel free to yell. We are all here for support and help. You will find out that you wandered into a great group of people ! Glad you are here ! Keep me posted how things are going- Have a better day ! -Terri

Dianne, Welcome to the February forum. There are a lot of wonderful people here. I am sorry you are feeling down. It does help to talk to others in the same position as you! I am having problems with eating as well, but only sometimes. Some days I just can't eat much at all... so I don't. On those days I concentrate on protein and liquids. I have learned that if I try to force myself to eat something that I really don't want or at a time when I just don't want anything, it does not want to go down. I think we are still in a learning phase of our journey. We are learning what we can eat and how to eat it. Sometimes we forget and eat too fast, I believe. That is when I am really sorry! Is your doctor available by phone? That seems a long time to have to wait if you have questions. My doctor is real good about answering emails promptly which is wonderful. Does yours offer that? Hugs, Deanna

Welcome to the website. We are always happy to give what we can to a new member. We are right behind each other in surgery dates. Mines was Feb. 23, and I have lost 30lbs. I use to have problem keeping my food down as well and my doctor told me to make sure that I take my prevacid solutab every morning before I begin eatting alone with my vitamins. I also had to take smaller bits of food. Soon as I felt like with each bit it was harder to digest, I stoped eating. It's ok to just be able to take a few bits at a time. Try not to get frustrated it will get easier. Also make sure that what you are eating is not rich or greasesy. Eat the things that would stay down until you can get use to other foods. I would try something and have a hard time with it. I will not eat it for a while and go back to it at a later date and sometimes it works, I would be able to eat it. Hang in there it will get easier so I'm hearing. We will learn as we go alone what we can eat and what we can't. Linda Traynham