eating issues

So, when does it get easier.....I will be 4 weeks out on Wednesday.  I have been on soft foods for almost two weeks and I am so scared to add new things.  I am fearful of something getting stuck.  I have thrown up twice, but that really wasn't a big deal for me.  Didn't hurt and I instantly felt better.  What is bothering me is that I don't seem to tolerate much.  The pouch is in control and it doesn't like anything.  I can eat yogurt, protein shakes, refried beans and tuna.  I tried string cheese last night and that went well.  Any other meat doesn't stay down.  I've tried hamburger and chicken and that didn't stay down.  Lately I seem to be full on a tablespoon of food and my nutritionist says that I can go up to a cup now???  Liquids go down just fine, but anything with substance takes me forever to eat.  AGH!  My pouch just feels sick when I eat.  It feels like the food is stuck in my throat and won't go anywhere.  Sometimes  I will take a sip of water to help it down.  I have only thrown up twice because I am so cautious of everything.  I actually said to myself today, "what have I done...", I just wanted to have a piece of chicken with my family at dinner.  I couldn't even handle the mashed potatoes.   Anyway, just needed to vent.  And for those of you farther out, does it get easier to introduce variety?

Your nut said you can have a CUP at four weeks out???  Good lord, what kind of RNY does your surgeon do?  You sound quite normal to me...  the meats & all DO take a great deal of chewing!  And for chicken, I've switched from breast meat to thighs or legs.  They're a lot moister and go down easier.  But at 4 weeks out, I'd be surprised if you could eat 1/4 cup yet!  PNC's rule of thumb is 1/4 cup at 3 months, 1/2 cup at 6 months, 3/4 cup at 9 months, and 1 cup at a year.  Up to 1.5 cups max.  Is your nut familiar with bariatrics?  'cuz that just didn't sound right to me. And yes, the further out you are, the more things you should be able to try successfully.  It just takes time, and you, my dear, are but a baby at this whole game.  Be patient with yourself, celebrate every success, and it WILL get better!

Thanks Darla.  Yeah, I thought that a cup was a bit much as well.  I haven't even tried that amount.  I can eat a 6oz cup of yogurt for breakfast though.  Is that too much.  I have been losing pretty steadily.  I am down 20 lbs since surgery and 35 lbs since starting the process in Dec.  I am happy with that.

6 oz of yogurt even sounds  like a bit much, but it's a much more fluid food, and will pass through without much trouble.  6 oz. of anything more dense/solid, and you'd be hurting!  Listen for your body's sign that it's satisfied.  Many people will let out a sigh, or maybe hiccup or burp, and that is often our body telling us it's had enough.  Learn to put your spoon or fork down at that moment - chances are, you ARE done!  Even if you think you're still hungry, make yourself wait for 5 minutes and then judge again - do I need any more?  You don't need to eat until you FEEL full.  That's the way we used to do things.  This is a different deal.  You're gonna do fine -

Wow that doesn't sound normal to me either.  It was many months before I could eat that much. Try some oatmeal, or a hard boiled egg.  I couldn't eat many foods at 4 weeks either.  Your pouch will rule for a while.  Don't worry about it.  Eat what you can tolerate.  It will get easier. Jayne

Thanks Jayne!  I have tried oatmeal.  I used the weight control oatmeal and ate about 1/4 of a packet.  It wasn't the most comfortable thing, but I probably didn't have it thin enough.  I made the mock danish receipe that was on here a while back and it tasted good, but the pouch didn't like it.  I can't tolerate eggs right now.  I am sure that everything will get better in time.

I had a VERY PICKY pouch and it took a long time to switch up to the next level EVERY TIME.  I had to just very slightly adjust to the next consistency for days before my pouch would accept it.  And every time I switched, I also had to rebuild how much I could eat because the new stuff was denser and filled me faster.  So my 2 tablepoons of oatmeal was just like soup until I could handle it firmer and build back up to a decent measurement.  I did hard boiled eggs with light mayo to an egg salad consistency -- still can't do scrambled, even with melted cheese.   I'm 7 1/2 months out and I still don't do a cup of food.  The cup is an average so some eat more, some eat less.  All my blood tests are great and I feel wonderful so I'm at the eat less end of the measurement scale.  You may be there too. So try cutting back to get the pouch use to the new consistency and see if that helps.  I can eat just about anything now -- but in a lot smaller quantities and even that varies every day.  Some days I can eat more and some I eat less.  Depends on the consistency. Good luck....it will get easier.  

I agree with everyone on here.  I could only eat 2 Tablespoons of food till 3 months, then all of a sudden I could eat 1/4 cup then a 1/2 cup. Now sometimes 3/4 cup. I wish I could go back to that 2 tablespoons...........The weight comes off much faster when your not eating much........ It gets better, just hang in there......... Kelly

Chris, we have the same WLS Clinic and yes we are allowed up to a cup of food! It does seem like a lot. But, you need to eat only as much as your pouch can tolerate. I would suggest stick with things that work and slowly introduce new fews with a bite here and there.

Wishing you all the best!!

 

Sprry your not feeling well. I agree with everyone here, I think a cup is alot for being only 4 weeks out. I'm three years and there are still times I can only have a 1/2 cup but then other times I'm sure it's 1 1/2 cups. I would eat what you can and then take one or two bits of something new then stop wait and see what happens. As for eggs I coudn't eat them for almost two years and now I have no problem. Being three years out I still find sometimes that I can eat something one day but not the next it's all trial and error. Good luck!
Congrations on the weight loss so far!