need some help

Hi all, Well, it seems like atleast 75% of the time, when I eat it hurts in my chest, and I usually end up vomitting saliva and mucus until the food goes down. The other night I ate 2 pieces of steak, and i thought I wanted to die...I was sick for 3 hours. I spoke to the Dr. and he said to take some sips of water to pu**** down. I also mixed it with a bit of meat tenderizer and it worked. It usually happens atleast once a day, but not that bad.....yesterday, and today when I ate....today I had 1/2 of a vegetable burger, the pain started again (I eat slow, and chew) so I took some sips of water and it went down. We arent supposed to drink after we eat, but now it seems to be the only thing that keeps me from being in pain. What should I do? Janean

Hi Janean: Sorry about what you're going through. I know all surgeons are different, but I'm not allowed to eat beef until after 8 months because it's so difficult to digest and it takes forever to digest. I get the pain and the mucus/saliva when I eat too fast and don't chew enough. It's like I keep having to spit and it's that nasty slimy stuff. Be careful with sipping after you eat too. But if this feeling continues you should probably go to your doctor and get that checked out...sooner than later. Take care, Janean and let us know how you make out. Karen

Karen, Thanks for the reply. Yep, it's nasty, slimy, stuff...I'm going to take it easy for a couple of days, and then be very careful with chewing and eating slower... Janean

You are having what I fondly called the foamies. My doctor said it sounded like I was eating too fast and not chewing enough. HE also said that it happens to alot of people. I Just upped my protein shakes and looked at the foods I was eating when it happened. I went back to a full liquid diet for 3 days and it went away. I can tell you after that I chew chew chew chew. It is almost like it is a blockage that goes away on it's own. just make everything really really moist and soft for now. If you want beef try wendy's chili. Lots of meat and beans and it is healthy for you too. Good Luck Eileen 254/198/134

Eileen, Well, I dont think I can fondly call it the foamies.....but it is the foamies......I dont know, I will chew, chew, eat slower, and I think I will stick to the protein shakes for a couple of days, and then start slow again......and I'll take it from there....It is a yucky feeling. Thanks for the reply. Janean

I am sorry you are having so much pain. I think its early for you to have steak...I tried it after 4.5 months and I was sooooo sick....guess I will try again in a few months!! Try and eat well cooked chicken, ground turkey and lots of beans. It could be that your pouch is very gentle and needs to be babied!! Good luck and I hope you are feeling better!! Lisa 371/341/241/140

ITS amazing how different we all are....i had surgury june 1 and steak is find i really cut tiny petitie little pieces but they go down fine. SORRY to hear you guys experience that! GOOD LUCK LISA

CHEW, CHEW, CHEW. It's possible that you are not chewing your food enough. Also, you are too early to have RED MEAT!!!! It's consistency is tough and would require you to really grind it up. Also, when I had pain in my chest it was correlated to not grinding food enough and also swallowing too fast. REMEMBER digestion begins in the mouth so perhaps you might want to eat SMALLER portions. Might I suggest that you remove red meat from your diet for a while perhaps until you are at least six-eight months out. If you must eat it cook it longer than normal. Your correct we are not suppose to eat and drink (wash the food out of pouch faster casuing you to become hungrier sooner). Last thing if it continues perhaps your doctor should send you for Endoscopy. I had the same problems and after endoscopy it was determined that I had a ulcer and minor blockage. Most importantly congratulations on your WLS journey. Take it easy. Peace and Blessings, Marcy

Oh Jenean I'm so sorry you are going through the Dumping syndrom...... It can be you are not chewing enough so please chew chew chew and chew some more.... It can be you are eating to fast so slow down and chew chew chew and chew some more.... try not to have the water while you are eating...I know it is hard to slow down eating since you have a house full with 5 kids and back in the working world but you do need to slow down the eating and chew chew chew and chew some more usual this is the problem I get than once in a while when I am not thinking about it I just forget so take your time eating you should be the last one to leave the table now not the baby.... I how you feel better about eating sweetie.... Christine 346/231/?

I tolerated red meat before I did chicken but i have to tell you that I have to cut my pieces very tiny and chew them to mush. If I don't they still get stuck and I do the foamies yet..and i'm 15 months out but its much less often then early on. I think what it does is stop up the bottom opening so nothing can pass thru so it tries to come back up. However, just the gagging seems to move it around and allow it to eventually go down. I still have that same issue with ham.