Very slow progress adding foods

Hi, I'm new to this forum and welcome the chance to talk with surgery "peers." I'm 8 weeks out from surgery and was supposed to be able to start adding some simple solid foods during week 7. My surgeon's handout suggested light fish or eggs. There is no way I could do that yet. I've tried soups and a light no-crust quiche from WLS cookbooks with no luck. I took some tiny bites from my significant other's plate at a potluck (5 bites, mostly protein) and was sick all the way home on Saturday. My main foods are Atkins shakes or the low-carb, high-protein Slimfast shakes, cream of wheat, low-carb chocolate milk (the white won't stay down), and yogurt. I can also eat small crackers from Whole Foods. Homemade carrot soup worked well, too. Cheese-based soups are not in my immediate future. I had one success this week. There is a packaged bread that is sliced so thin that 3 slices is a serving. I have had two slices toasted a couple of times, and that worked. I marvel at what others seem able to eat by 8 weeks. I know we're all different, but are there any others here who are very slow when it comes to successfully adding anything new? The only thing I've dared to try in a restaurant is plain broth. I asked my surgeon about this at a support group, and he seemed unconcerned, telling me to take my time. TMI warning. After a couple of bites or sips, I know from the texture of the moisture in my mouth whether food is going to go down/stay down or not. If it's thick or foamy, I stop eating. The odd thing is that it seems unrelated to the speed of eating or the size of bites or sips. It seems random. Do any of you know any more about this? Someone in the main forum thought that hot tea reduced the foamy feeling. I welcome any advice or wisdom. Thank you, Holly

Welcome, I am almost 11 weeks out and still have problems with food. Yes mine are random also, and have the same type of feeling in my mouth you are talking about. A couple things I could tolerate well is refried beans and cheese, and ricotta cheese with marinara and some parmasean cheese on top, microwaved until warm. I still do alot of soups. Some days I can eat 1/2 to 3/4 cup at a meal, and other days have problems getting 1/4 cup. I also have issues with sweets, can't do sugar free jello, pudding or popsicles. I have been able to tolerate some sugar free ice cream. Just keep plugging along. Hot tea works well for me, especially peppermint. Pam

Hi Holly: welcome to the June board! Sorry I don't have any insight for you. I have seen others post that proteins came a lot slower to them than others. If you see Susan (with red hair) posting on the main board, she is very informative and has had major issues with animal protein. glad you are staying hydrated, hope you can get some help! judi

Hi Holly!!!! Welcome to the June board. I'm a little further out than you, but not by much... and it**** or miss every day for me. I'm actually in the middle of a stall right now and finding myself at the end of the day remembering that I hadn't eaten anything. I've done pretty well with most seafood, steaks, chicken and protein bars. I grew tired of protein shakes a long time ago and gave them up. I can't tolerate pork ever!!! I've tried, many times. A really thin cut NY Strip steak is usually pretty tolerable, as well as boiled shrimp. I think the key is to make sure the meat is MOIST. If its dry... forget it, I will get sick. I also get the dreaded foamies if I eat too fast. I've posted about my problem with this and even though I've slowed down tremendously for me... its not slow enough for my grouch the pouch. I can also usually tolerate some low fat cheese, as long as I dont eat too much. Bread works for me as long as its thin and toasted. Tortillas are a BIG NO NO, one bite and I'm a goner (all the way to the bathroom). One of the first things I started out on, was hamburger meat. I cooked it a variety of different ways.. or just picked it out of whatever I made for the rest of the family. For example.... tacos for the family, I'd eat the taco meat with some cheese and salsa. Spaghetti for them..... sauce (I use a lot of meat in my sauce) with cheese for me. And home made chili.... yup, with cheese. They love homemade chili on their hot dogs. And chili seemed to be the easiest to tolerate...... and stick with you for awhile. It's all trial and error I guess... and just because it works for me one day, doesn't mean it'll work for me the next..... but I try anyway. =) Good luck........ keep posting, we're actually a pretty good group. Melinda

Sorry, Holly, I'm one of those who have had few problems eating. However, this in itself is worrisome, too. I fear getting too brave, trying things I shouldn't have during this time of easy weight loss or eating too much throughout the day. I guess that's why WLS is not "the easy way out" the "others" think it is. Trial and error is all there is for most of us-- and even that changes as we change throughout the journey! Take your doctor's cue. He's not worried at this point and as long as you keep trying (cautiously!) you shouldn't be either. Find the most tolerable protein and keep spooning it in along with your vitamins. See if you can add any of the unflavored protein powders (Unjury or AnyWhey) to the soft proteins you can tolerate to avoid getting too little protein. Don't even try a full scoop of the unflavored protein powder - maybe a quarter or third of a scoop to start. Keep trying, girl! You will succeed!

It's tough because protein is so hard to eat in 'regular' food. So I skip the meats all together. But if you like, try fish or seafood...good protein for sure, and easier on the pouch. One thing that worked well for me in the beginning of the more solid food was 1/2 a grilled cheese sandwich. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! And now, I am having success with a small lunchable. The crackers, cheese and meat is working just fine! Good luck, and welcome to the board!

Hi Holly, I had my surgery on the 28th! Just like everyone else has pretty much said on here, it is DEFINATELY A hit or miss.My dr. released me to eat pretty much anything of course not the NO NO's at 4 weeks. I usually try new things only at home.However I do throw up alot.Normally it is I believe from not chewing enough although i think to myself (IT'S LIQUID)or I eat to fast. I have dumped on a steak umm slight bites of it and for about a hour i threw up, diarehha, and heart racing and sweating not pretty. The things that work great for me are hamburger,mashed potatoes(dont eat them much)almonds,soups,shrimp i usually eat this cold,cream of wheat,squash,chili, most meats don't agree with me but i try them every so often. Hope you get better, Crystal oh and i love the sugar free fat free cozy shack tapicoa pudding