pain in chest when I eat

Jan. 3rd 2008 I had lap. roux-en -y. I started solid foods this week. Almost everytime I eat I get a pain in my chest between my breasts, What does this mean? It doesn't seem to matter what I eat.

Adriannamae, ( What a beautiful name!) I had my surgery the 8th and I understand where you are coming from. I have found that if I take much smaller bites and chew them real well, swallow and wait a minute before I have another one I am ok.  At dinner tonight I was excitedly talking to my hubby and I swallowed too soon and I wanted to cry out.  I just had to wait it out and let it pass. I also message my chest between my breasts when this happens. Not sure if it helps or if it is a mental thing. ( not the best to do in public however.)  I remember that my favorite nurse  at the hospital said to eat with a baby spoon until it becomes habit to only eat that small of bites. Also that nothing larger than a pencil eraser should go into my mouth for a very long time. I try to remember this, but like tonight, I get distracted.  The second day after I was allowed to eat I couldn't even down my own spit. They had me go back on my own flavored ice chips for a day and it worked wonders! I made the ice from a flavored vitamin water so I was getting some value from it.  If this keeps up you need to let you doctor know. Mine was ready to dilate  me if I didn't get better that very day.  I hope this works.  Like you, I don't have the wisdom of these others on the board so I will have many questions as well. Rooting for you, Robin 2-1

Hi Adriannamae!  First of all ..... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Secondly, I believe we've all been there with this.  Robin is right, it sure sounds like you may be either taking too large of bites, eating too quickly, or not chewing enough.   Remember....baby spoon bites, place the spoon down in between bites and chew until it's applesauce consistency.  Also....you are now learning when you are truely full.  Don't push more in or you'll get pain then as well.  Another thing I did when I was new was to watch the clock....I made sure the food lasted 20 minutes and then I was done. Hope this gets you some relief....come back and welcome to the board. 

Ditto what Pam said.  I also have a very picky pouch -- when I switched from one type of food consistency to another (full liquid to pureed, pureed to mashed, mashed to soft), I always had to take lots of extra time to get there.  If I just started eating, I got ill with lots of pain.  So I would increase the constency up to the next level slowly.  For example, I added LOTS of extra water to oatmeal and slowly backed the extra water out over a two week period until I was making the microwave packets at normal consistency.  Worked very well for me -- since you just switched to solids and the pain started then, try this too. Also, if you were at 1/4 cup liquid, you CANNOT go to 1/4 cup solid.  You will have to back the amount of food down too and work back up.  Eating too much will cause pain too. Don't pu**** right now -- you are really still healing.  You have the rest of your life to figure out foods -- take your time and heal slowly!!! Good luck and keep us posted.   XXOO

Ditto ditto eat slow and chew alot.