Having trouble transitioning to soft foods

I am 5 1/2 weeks post-op and am supposed to be transitioning to "soft foods" and away from the pureed phase but I am struggling. I wonder if anyone else is having the same issues. My problem is this: I have NO warning before I have overdone it and eaten too much. Everything will be going down fine, then all of the sudden I take a bite and it feels like it get's half way down my throat and stops. It won't go any further and I start to get the hotflash and nausea. So far I haven't thrown up, but I have been as close as a person can get. I tried soup last weekend that I did not put in the blender first, and it happened. Then the next day I tried tuna salad and had the same thing happen. How do you know when you are supposed to stop eating when you have no "getting full" feeling? One bite I'm fine, then the next one and I start to turn inside out! I have actually considered putting my food in a blender for the rest of my life (I REALLY hate to throw up!). Any advice? Chris S.

Hi Chris. Good luck on the soft foods! My husband says he read that when you start getting a hiccup, that's the sign you need to stop. Are you eating the solid food too fast and maybe that's why you're feeling like the food's stuck? Just take it slow. It also may be certain foods stick worse than others. I have two more days on full liquids and then I can start pureed foods. The nutritionist gave me the all clear yesterday to go to pureed any time I wanted, but I think I will wait the full two weeks, which will be on Thursday.

You must have become full on pureeds. Right? Think about how you knew then that you were full. One thing is for sure you can eat more pureed and liquids than you can solids. You should measure out about 2 oz. of tuna and eat slow very slow. Put down your fork between bites and chew chew chew each bite. You know the expression our eyes are bigger than our stomachs well they are even bigger than our pouches which is why it is important to measure your food. Now as your eating you should feel a pressure in the middle of your belly up high, that is the full sign. Stop eating. Be careful with soups that are liquidy because that liquid will fill you very fast. I can eat more yogurt than I can tuna and more cottage cheese than tuna. The fish and meats are heavier so eat less than you would the other stuff. Good luck and keep moving forward. If you are really confused call your doctor or nutritionist for advice. Kelly

Hey Chris, I see that we are around the same time as far as surgery goes. I can fully understand where you are coming from. I spoke with my doc on my first post-op visit. I too have had the hotflash and a lil nausea...and have had to bring it back up to feel better. I have had that feeling though in my throat about it feeling caught and not wanting to move. He told me that the feeling that it is caught in the throat is a sign that you are eating too fast. To me it is hard to eat slow cause i already do that...I just have to learn to eat slower. Basically it is a trial and error process. Some of the foods that you can not tolerate now you might be able along the way...its just not time yet. We are all still healing inside. Its just gonna take time to get use to certain foods. I pray that you can have patients in your time of need. It will all come to you yet! Good Luck! Becky

Sounds like foaming/frothing. I had similar experience when going to soft foods. Try drinking some ho****er or tea about 20 mins before you eat and ONLY eat 1 oz at a time. Wait a few minutes then eat another 1 oz. That's how I had to do it and no problems. Remember to not DRINK anything 30 mins before, DURING and 30 mins after you eat.

Chris, I agree with the other posters- just put a tablespoon or so on your plate and eat very slow- I also agree with the last post to eat and ounce and then wait 30 minutes and eat another ounce. I know the feeling you are talking about and it certainly is not plesant. Good luck to you! Terri