Pureed Foods - Not so easy

Okay, I was on liquids for about 2.5 weeks and surgeon said at post=op appt I could do pureed/soft foods. Thing is, I have thrown up once daily since then. Some pureed/soft foods are fine and others aren't and there's no rhyme or reason to it. On top of that, I have a UTI (urinary tract infection) right now and my potassium levels are low, probably due to me throwing up daily. It's not major throwing up, just like gagging up what I just ate - involuntarily. Still that isn't good for my system. On liquids, I had no problems and was on top of the world. I couldn't wait to go to pureed/soft foods. But since I've been on pureed/soft foods, I've discovered that some foods don't go down right - like scrambled eggs. Egg salad is okay. Deli ham shaved slices in a ham salad is not okay, but chicken salad is. Plus I can eat cheese one day and be fine and eat it the next and not keep it down. Maybe I'm eating too fast. Trying to work on slowing it down. Anyone out there experiencing this on pureed/soft food stage? (Patients that had their surgery at beginning of this month.) Life seemed easier on liquids - though VERY boring after awhile!

Hi...I am a little over a week post op...I am still on clear li****il I see my surgeon on Fri...I was soooo looking forward to the pureed/soft stage, but now I am not so sure. I love cheese. I know it will be an experimental phase....but I haven't thrown up yet and don't want to start. Good luck to us both! I hope you feel better soon. Mikey RN

I wish I could say I've had a similar experience, but so far everything has gone down okay. I've been slow in what I bring in. I started out with scrambled eggs (mixed with some ricotta), cottage cheese, pureed salmon (with some lite bleu cheese dressing), chicken with low-sugar BBQ sauce, and lamb (with a yogurt sauce). Everything has gone down well. My nutritionist stresses two things: Bring only one new thing at a time. That way, if it doesn't work, you know what it was. The other is eat slowly. Also, remember to not drink anything 1/2 hour before or 1/2 hour after.

I can't eat much at all..soft like pudding and such is fine some time I really can't wait till my new pouch gets better..good luck to you... Shelly -33

Trisha, My surgery was 3/14 and I am having the exact problem as you. I started soft/pureed last thursday and have thrown up every day at least one time. I think I narrowed mine to things with skim milk. That or Im eating too fast. I am able to keep down my protein drinks as long as they are made with water...which actually tastes disgusting to me but i am drinking them any how. Another thing I have done is cut the portion from 2 oz down to 1 oz and that seems to make it better too. You are right it is frustrating and the other day I went back to liquids for the day...of course I had cream of mushroom soup made with milk and yaked it back up. I figure as it goes on all will get better. Im just glad I am off work til the 18th...hopefully I will have the whole eating thing under control by then!! Hang in there, Michelle

I had surgery 3/21/05 and came home on 3/26/05. My doc has his patients start on pureed food in the hospital. I have had no trouble so far. Make sure you puree things until they are as fine as strained baby food and just as moist. Eat very slowly. Use a baby spoon or ice-tea spoon no more then 1/2 teaspoon per mouthful(closer to a lick then a mouthful). Good Luck Jan

I haven't had any trouble so far with the pureed diet. I am eating cottage cheese (have to chew it up pretty good though or it gets stuck for a minute before going down), blended pineapple, no sugar added apple sauce, eggs both scrambled and hard boiled, mashed potatoes, and soups that I have blended (clam chowder, turkey pot pie, broccoli and cheese so far). Today, at lunch I had my first close call with scrambled eggs and breakfast potatoes. I thought for sure I chewed them up well enough and I took the smallest bites I could, but something got stuck and I started getting a hot flash and feeling like I was going to vomit, but it finally worked its way through and I didn't get sick. It ended my meal though and now I am scared to eat anything! Hope you find something that works for you so you don't get sick everyday. Chris S.

Hi Trish! I am 2 weeks postop today and am so sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. I actually took myself off full liquids and moved to stage 2 because I was exhausted and had no energy. My Dr was fine with it and although I expected to be yelled at he kinda acted like it was expected.... I do ok except for tuna and cottage cheese right now. Today I had about 1/2 of one egg scrambled with cheese for breakfast Lunch a protein drink but only about 5 oz. and 3/4 stick of cheddar cheese stick Dinner: 1/2 c refried beans with finely chopped chicken and cheese on top. (this is my 1st dinner that didnt make me feel like vomiting) So today was a good day. Last night was horrible I try chewing everything very well and try making sure its the size of a dime before it even goes into my mouth. I have not vomitted once since surgery. Good luck with everything! I hope everything starts to work a bit better for you. PS my surgeon doesnt want me to do mashed potatoes, rice, or really any starchy foods. Protein first! Also told me pureed carrots are all sugar!

Hi Trish... I'm already on pureed food... no problem... I am eating SLOW SLOW SLOW and i'm CHEWING CHEWING CHEWING... even if its pureed.. Putting fork down between bites... so far so good. Viv

I had surgery on the 14th and am on the pureed diet. My problem is similiar to yours except I have "poo problems" I've never been much of a hurler, but I also narrowed the problem down to things with skim milk. I never had a problem with milk before but now it makes me extremely nausous and less than 15 minutes later WHOOSH!