i've forgotten how to chew...

i don't know if i'm doing something wrong or what, but i'm driving myself nuts. i take tiny, tiny bites, but i'm finding that if it's not something that pretty much dissolves (like crackers) i can't swallow! i don't know if i'm scared or what... i see all of these recipes with steak and different things and they all sound great, but how the heck do you eat them?!? how well do we really need to chew???

Really, really, really well. If I don't chew my food, even the tiniest bites, down to pulp, I'm headed for the bathroom. That's my advice, Kym. Don't be afraid to eat, just chew, chew, chew. Maureen

I have been lucky so far in that I dont have to chew too much. I started chewing everything to mush and just learned what I can handle. I do chew more than before surgery(I actually taste my food) but I dont have to chew till it is mush. Trial and error I guess. Good luck. Ladonna -75

Well, my trick is to chew my meat and then make sure I have a bite of vegetables as I'm still finishing the chewing. It breaks everything up a little more and it's easier to get down. I do know what you are talking about though and it is indeed fear making you feel this way. I went through a period years ago where I couldn't swallow well. It got horrible as time went on because I let my fears keep growing. I'm better now, but I still hated to eat steak and such because I always feel the need to chew it to death. Again, though, something like broccoli will help with that... Dina

I don't have to chew all that well actually. I guess I chew about the same or a little bit more than I did pre-op. I started out chewing my food to nothing and found that it was going through my pouch too quickly. Now I chew normally. I eat steak, roast beef, chicken etc. Anything really. The only thing I can't eat is bread all though I did have almost 1 slice the other day.(at most of half a sandwich). I don't do sugar either but everything else goes down just fine. Of course if I eat too much, it revisits but chewing for me is not a big deal and if I dont chew my food to mu**** seems to stay in my pouch a little longer. Nicole

I know how you feel. I'm not trying everything I technically could yet. I'm not ready and I had one blockage experience I wouldn't want to repeat. I'm happy with ground turkey, broccoli (which I think someone else mentioned), bananas. I make a great turkey chili with ground meet, chicken stock, and kidney beans. My doctor stresses doing "crumbly" foods before more solid ones. I don't plan to attempt beef until I'm six months from surgery. Try some flakey fish, like salmon, as it kind of "melts" and may get you more comfortable. I'm told a lot of people experience this panic. Just feel free to build up slowly and not take on everything. It's nice that some people can do that, but, believe me, there are plenty of us who are more cautious either because we have to be or because it just works better for us. If you continue to feel panicky, some deep breathing exercise may help you. I'm doing that and I find it keeps me calmer in general. Gano