What are you able to eat?

I'm a bit concerned about what I'm able to eat. I'm almost 6 months out of surgery now, and am happy to be losing weight and happy happy happy to be healthier. But if it isn't mushy, (or something that quickly turns to mush in your stomach) I can't eat it. Cheese is about the only thing solid that I can eat. Meat of any kind, including fish, is absolutely impossible. The same for any vegetables and fruit. Scrambled eggs are okay, but I tried to eat the innards out of a breakfast burrito the other day, and a small piece of sausage and a small diced piece of red pepper were included and I've been sick for two days. Obviously, something is stuck in there.....Is anyone else like this? Any advice for the "sticking?" I'm exercising more and more (yay) and I'm needing more food/calories than I did before...but I'm so sick of protein shakes.....Thoughts? Sharon

I think you need to speak to your doctor, this isn't normal, maybe you have a stricture? I can eat everything.. so I cannot relate. Please call them.

Sharon, I agree with Melissa. Call your surgeon's office! Strictures can happen at any time and perhaps yours just formed so slowly that you weren't aware of it until now. You should have been eating more solid foods for months now. You can't exist the rest of your life eating mushy foods or pretty soon you will start turning to the highest calorie things that go down easily and then regain your weight. Molly

Hey there, I agree with the others, call your Doctor. I had a problem similar to that a few months out and I had ulcers and I had gotten an infection in my pouch. It hurt to eat anything but soup. It got fixed and is soooooo much better. Do not get hung up on what it could be and make your Doc figure it out, that is what they are there for. Good luck with it, keep us updated. Huggs Brina

In the begining I had the feeling of food getting "stuck". I started to drink a little while eating and it gets better. You kinda have to suffer through it and advance your diet or you will end up always having a problem with solids. Later you will also find it harder to keep the weight off due to carbs are easier to get down. Meats will make you feel more satisfied. Just keep trying, It will get better the more you try. Eat very slow and chew very well.

I had my surgery a month before you did if the dates on your profile are right....but when I eat meat I always wind up throwing up, sometimes soon, sometimes hours later. No matter what I am miserable if I try. I've wondered if its a chewing issue, but I've tried to be very consciencious about chewing every bite at least 30-40 times before swallowing. Doesn't seem to to help much. I'll discuss it with the surgeon next thursday. I hope you are right, though. I dread having another "procedure."

Sharon I agree with the other posters. i am able to eat most anything. I do not eat sweets but eat meat, carbs, fruit, etc. I can eat 1 tortilla, I can eat 1 piece of bread or bun. I cannot eat garlic bread from Olive Garden, it sits too heavy but other than that, everything else goes fine. I would definitely ask doctor, don't wait, you could be losing valuable nutrients in the process if you are not able to get the proper foods in. I hear if you have a stricture, it is easily dilated and not really a "procedure" that you should fear. It will make life much easier for you, you should not be bring up any foods at this stage in the game and sounds like you have practiced the chewing. In my opinion, I dont think your chewing is the problem. Have it checked out and keep us posted. Angela

Hi Sharon, My name is Tony and I got to say,I agree with Sabrina and Angela on the ulcers with the infection in the pouch or the stricture in the esophagus.I myself had to go back in and have them look down my throat and to find out I had an ulcer in the pouch,they said that was the reason why I was having problems putting any solids food down,so they gave me prevecid.At first I thought It was a stricture in the esophagus which does happen to a pretty good percentage of people who has had the RNY or LAP BAND surgery.It is a simple precedure like Angela said and can fix it.Well,I do hope you get it fixed cause you dont want to be eating mushy meals for the rest of your life.Goodluck and Godbless hun. TONY

Sharon: I had this same issue a month ago, gave it two weeks, and the problem resolved itself. If it continues,I would recommend checking in with the clinic. It may or may not be something that moves along on its own. I do know several people on the boards here recommend papaya enzymes with meals to help digest. I have not tried it myself, as the situation resolved itself for me on its own. BEST to you! Megan