Stuck in Puree Stage...

Hi...I'm 6 1/2 weeks post op and ending my 4th week on puree. I tried to advance to soft foods on Friday and got very sick. I had egg beaters but had extreme pain and then finally after 2 hours brought everything up. Is there anyone else out there who had to stay on puree this long? Everyone I know who had GB has moved onto the next stage. I'm worried that I'll be stuck in puree forever! Help Toni 323/284

Hi Toni, Eggbeaters were the worse for me. I ate them once right after surgery and they were fine. After that, I couldn't eat them. They came right back up. Try real eggs. I had a soft poached egg a few times and did great with it. But now I can't eat eggs at all. Cottage cheese is also good. Or refried beans. Or soup that is creamy like mushroom or the like. I was on pureed for one month and then cleared for soft foods. Soft veggies are good too like canned green beans. They mush up pretty good. Cheese sticks did well on my pouch too. I hope you get some relief soon! I feel for you! Lori

Toni, Hang in there! It seemed like the first few times I tried even puree, I was sick, sick, sick! The key for me in "real" foods is the chewing. I agree with trying the refried beans and cottage cheese. Those were two of the best foods for me. For some bizarre reason, I cannot do chicken in any form, and I've simply learned to stop trying for now. There are lots of other things that are tasting good to me and working out well. Soft fish (even tuna) was easy for me. When I have extreme pain, it's because I'm clogged up from one of two things...too big of a piece of food or bites in too quick succession. It will get easier! Chelle 321/258.5 8-15-05

Toni, Eggs can be difficult! I agree with the cottage cheese, refried beans, cheese sticks. I have also used my mini chopper and mixed tuna and mayo togther. Have also tried seafood but for some reason that did not sit well. I have also tried veggie or soy burgers with cheese on top. Another thing would be ricotta cheese with a spaghetti type sauce. Hope things go better. Lynne

Lynne, I love soy burgers! I even found soy meatballs with Italian seasoning last week. Everything stays down IF I puree, but occassionally I keep trying to introduce soft foods and am still having lots of pain and some vomitting. Maybe I'm eating too fast? I'm chewing until the food is pretty much applesauce, but still have a problem. Last night I was actually able to eat a salmon cake without pureeing, so maybe I'm on my way... I've already had an endoscopy to rule out stricture and my doc says I'm having esophagial spasms. So it looks like at least another week of puree for me...aaaaggghhh!! I take Levsin 30 mins. before I eat and it does help occassionally, but not every time. I see my surgeon tomorrow, so hopefully he'll have some words of wisdom for me.