Did I Dump???

Hi again, folks. I had my very first negative food experience tonight. My surgeon moved me to Stage 5, allowing me to eat solid foods again. My first "regular" meal was this evening, when I cooked my homemade meatloaf, with potatoes and spinach, for my family. It smelled so wonderful! And since the kids were both at sleepovers, it was just my husband and me for a candlelit dinner! Well, I measured my 2 oz. of meatloaf, and my 1/4 C. of chopped spinach. I took two teeny, tiny bites of meatloaf, chewed thoroughly and timed each bit so that I was eating very slowly. On the 3rd bite, I felt something happening. I put my fork down and waited it out. The sensation grew so that I had to leave the table anticipating I was going to be sick. I walked around the house a bit to try to alleviate the feeling, which was as if something was stuck and causing me a terrific pain and pressure in the middle of my chest. I ended up not throwing up, but it took a full 2 hours for the feeling to go away. Is this dumping? Damn, that meatloaf was good!!! G'night, all. Maureen

Nope - not dumping. But you may have a fat or carbohydrate sensitivity like I do. (Which depends on how you make your meatloaf) I've dumped twice. Once after having a couple of vanilla wafers and second after taking an TUMS. Both involved explosive diarrhea and vomiting simultaneously. Convulsive -- is the best explanation I'd have for the sensation. Believe me once you truly dump you will never EVER forget it!! And will never ever want to repeat either!! Va

Almost sounds like it got stuck Maureen. I haven't had it happen, but I've heard other people describe it and it sounds just like that. I know I've also heard other people mention using meat tenderizer in water and drinking it down as it helps soften the meat up so it will go down quicker. I have heard beef is really a hard one to digest though. I haven't been doing hamburger at all, but I have done pre-packaged meatloaf. I know sometimes there is a little bit of gristle that can pass through if you aren't careful. I always spit those pieces out....even if tiny. Also, I found those Boca burgers absolutely fabulous and very real tasting. They are softer than hamburger and are easy to chew. Dina

That happens to me when I dont chew as throughly as I think I do. When you think you are done chewing, chew some more! Seriously I had that sensation with tuna and I actually did throw it back up!! `Nicole

If you dump, you will SO know it - no questions. Your heart races and feels like it is going to pop out of your chest, and you cramp so bad you feel like an alien is about to pop out of your tummy. and its like you took a fast acting enima - within 15 minutes your system is cleaned out, but when I dumped, I was sick for 2 days afterwards. When something gets stuck its definately not pleasant, but its definately not dumping, either! -Sherrie

My dietician said that hamburger is harder to eat than other beef for many people. This is because it tends to be higher in fat, and because we don't tend to chew it as well (feeling like it is pre-chewed!). It is not ground fine enough for us to get away with that. Don't give up on it--just wait a bit and try again, making sure it is as lean a meat as possible. Also, alternate bites of meat with something wet, like the potatoes or applesauce. Your pouch is dryer than your stomach was. My doc also gave the tenderizer tip in case a fatty clump gets stuck. I hope this problem goes away--don't get discouraged. Joy J

Hi Reenie: As the others said it was not dumping but I had the same experience when I tried a couple of bites of a hamburger. Like you I walked around for a while and I also twisted my upper body around trying to get it to go down. I can't imagine that I really had food stuck in my esophagus as I chewed it very well, but that's what it felt like. It happened to me too with chicken - so for now I don't eat either. I did try some very soft brisket and that went down well, but it was only 2 little tiny bites. Louise

Reenie~ I just had an episode of food getting stuck. Blah. I know the pressure in your chest/esophogus is terrible. Mine occured tonite after eating a bite of chicken breast. I had some previously tonite adn wanted another snack. It did not go down the second time.. so out it came. Don't give up, though. Try is again in a few days. Chew chew chew some more. Best of luck, Jamie