Food & Nervousness!!

Okay, I need to talk about this. Some of you know that I have to go on travel next week with work and I posted about how nervous I am about eating on this trip. Here's the thing....I'm scared to death to try much of anything. Today, I got a baked potato...scooped out two tablespoons and topped it with Wendy's chili and chopped it up. I started to eat it, but backed out because it required so much more chewing. I am terrified of swallowing a lump that will block my outlet. Okay. I'm paranoid. I got suggestions to eat the lunchmeat & cheese, or just the pizza toppings..... well.....I've been to scared to try this stuff yet. I'm just wondering if anyone who is 3-4 weeks out has tried this stuff with success. No pain....no dumping. Anyone? I think I am going to pack lots of cream of wheat and soy crisps. I thought about taking vienna sausages, but I always swell up and retain 10 pounds of water when I travel. High sodium food will just make it worse. I'm going to figure this out. I really don't want to get caught adding something new while in a business meeting and finding out that it makes me dump. The bathroom is a mile away in that place. I'm just curious.....what "regular food" has everyone tried (no pureed's or liquids) that they have had success with???? Thanks for listening to me whine.... Pam

i hear ya and completely understand not wanting to try something and find out it makes you dump! so maybe you can "test" some things this weekend! i have had turkey breast and chicken breast from the deli. broke them in real little pieces and chewed real good. those were fine. i have had tuna and hard-boiled eggs, did fine with those too. i have had string cheese and did good. i have also had boneless chicken breast, cut up into the size of a pea and chew chew chew. i have never pureed anything! i am so bad! today was the first time i got sick. i sauteed some baby bella mushrooms and had 1/2 a small chicken breast that my dad grilled. i took a bite of the chicken, then ate 2 of the mushrooms and BAM - i felt like i couldn't eat anything. kind of hurt in my chest. i went and laid down on the couch, a couple minutes passed and my mouth started watering real bad! so into the bathroom i wen****er poured from my mouth and then i got sick. just very little bit, but i don't know what it was. i have had mushrooms and chicken before. don't know if baby bellas are different, maybe it was the marinade on the chicken. or my dad said he put italian dressing on the chicken towards the end, so maybe it was that. i don't know, but the only thing i have eaten since was a little watermelon and i just ate a string cheese. i feel fine now! anywayssssss, enough about me! if you are really nervous, maybe you should just pack some campbell's soups at hand. they can go right in the microwave and you don't have to worry about not eating anything. everything will work out just fine!!! hugssssssssssss~mary jo

Mash pot's, refried beans, grilled chicken smashed well. is some that I have had and no problems with. I have had no dumping or throwing up. Lucky I guess. Not much help but they are a few foods I have eaten. Good luck and have a safe trip.... Kathy

((HUG))) pam...u definitely need it. IF i were you go to walmart and pick up some papaya enzymes i hear from the board this is used if somethign does get logged in our opening and will help break thru the block! If your worried about chewing try to find the soft pureed type foods that wont cause you trouble. GOOD luck i know its not easy!!!!!!!! ITs new and for that we get worried. BUT this if for ever and we do have to learn for all ocasions to chew chew chew...no better time to start then this weekend. ENJOY!!!! LISA

Thanks for the ideas and support you guys. Maybe I'm just freaking over nothing. There has to be something on every menu that I can work with, right? Plus, someone reminded me that they always bring tuna sandwiches....I can eat the stuffing of that! I'm still gonna pack cream of wheat and soy crisps just in case I'm caught in a pinch. I just need to chill.