Painful Pouch

Well, I've decided to go back to Stage 4 eating (soft, pureed protein foods). I baked a ham for my family yesterday, complete with all the fixings, which I wasn't all that interested in. When we sat down to dinner, I measured my 2 oz. of baked ham; it was moist and juicy and smelled wonderful. I took very small bites and chewed until it was pulverized before I swallowed. About 5 minutes into my "meal" (I had eaten about 1 oz. of the ham), I felt like I wa**** in the gut with a sledgehammer. The pain was incredibly intense. I could have (and probably should have) thrown up but I hate doing that so much, I just walked until the pain subsided a bit. It took 4 hours to fully go away! I wonder if I damaged my pouch; can't imagine pain like that not doing some sort of damage. Anyone else going through this sort of thing? Thanks. Maureen

Dear Maureen; I did the same thing with a hard-boiled egg yesterday morning. I'd come home to set up our Easter egg hunt (left church during fellowship), and I boiled an egg while I was working. I left it too long and it got to be hard-boiled. Well, I was in a hurry to get back to church to visit before Sunday school and I ate it in 15 minutes. WRONG MOVE! I dry heaved and belched all through Sunday school and church. Good thing I 'm a back row Baptist! I wasn't able to eat again until dinner and consequently I had to fight to get my calories and protein in yesterday. I doubt you've damaged your pouch, but you have definately learned a lesson! If you're truly concerned, call the Dr. That's what they're there for. Take care, Cheryl

Well, I am going to make a wild guess and say I'm thinking it won't hurt your pouch. I just read in a website on a chat transcript with a bariatric surgeon yesterday that this might be the opposite. The question was if one was to stay on a liquid diet for 6 months if it would reduce the risk of a stricture and he said "no, actually likely the opposite." His reasoning was that the more firm food keeps the stoma - not stretched - but in full function. Kind of like the path stays open because it's getting use. I was going to post the stupid link the night I saw it and forgot to, and now I have to go searching for it. If I find it again, I'll post it here though. Dina

Maureen - That wasn't Latrisha who just posted - it was me! I was signed into her account to update something for her and forgot to sign out! Yikes! Anyway, just wanted to clear up my mess before it got too confusing! Dina