Feeling Green
So I am 16 days post op, and all in all I think I am doing fairly well. I am however having a problem the last 2 or 3 days and I am not sure what to think or what to do about it. I am nauseous most of the time, and feel like everything I have eaten fills me up into my throat. I just advanced to soft foods. I have had egg custard, and baked potatoe mashed with cheese and sour cream, cream of wheat, along with putting in protein shakes, etc. I am not sure what to think. Maybe I need to back off to full liquids. If anyone has any ideas or advice please let me know. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day, even though it is kind of gloomy. Belinda
a lot of people become lactose intolerant when they have the surgery - could that be it? I didn't have that issue but a lot of people did. Whatever it is I would not let it go too long before contacting your surgeon or nutritionist because you're getting such a small amount of protein right now as it is that you want to make sure nothing is wrong and you can get in enough to keep you healthy.
Its frustrating when things don't sit well and trust me that doesn't change with time, sadly, but it does get better.
Kathy
Its frustrating when things don't sit well and trust me that doesn't change with time, sadly, but it does get better.
Kathy
'One shoe can change your life'...Cinderella
Are you sure you're not eating too much and too quickly. At the stage you are at, I would take 1/4 cup of ricotta, add some equal and cinnamon. Then it would take me 20 to 25 minutes to eat it (yes, that long to eat just a 1/4 cup). Between very small spoons (I used an infant spoon), I would put the spoon down and pause. I found reading at mealtime was a great way to get it down. For every small spoon of food, I would read about a page and a half to two pages. Even when I got to things like pureed chile and meals like that - I really made sure it went down before I added another small bit. As soon as I felt something wasn't going all the way down, I would stop eating. Good luck!
(deactivated member)
on 4/6/09 7:31 am - PA
on 4/6/09 7:31 am - PA
I found that at two weeks post-op I was going *bonkers* with my food choices. After the 2-week liquid pre-op diet and two weeks of very little food, I was going crazy for food with texture. From looking at what you've listed your eating, its sounds like you are anxious for really food too. Heck, your human!
If anything, the fluids are the most important -- please don't cut back there. Perhaps, you need to separate you fluids from your meals a bit more? The other item I noticed that you are trying out the carbohydrates -- like potatoes. Even three months out from surgery, I find any carbohydrate-rich item like potatoes and pasta and bread to be very problematic. I get overly full very fast. Perhaps, you could cut back on the carbohydrates and try out more protein options -- 1/3 cup of cottage cheese, a scrambled egg (but not overdone), low fat cheese slices, etc. I'd suggest focusing on the protein rich items first -- you don't get overly full because of their lack of *bulk*.
For me, one of the most challenging aspects of the new diet was learning that I needed to change my mindset about food. No longer was I worrying about whether or not my food would be low-calorie and really tummy-filling. Instead, I began to concentrate on finding protein-dense foods that lacked a lot of bulk. For me at the 2 week to 2 month post-op time period, this required me to ditch all my fresh and bulky vegetables, as well as complex carbohydrates like bread, cream of wheat, oatmeal, and pasta.
Honestly, I first tested eating finely chopped ham and salami. I found that even though these meats might be high in fat, they also were well tolerated by my new stomach. So, for breakfast. I might have a scrambled egg with a very light sprinkling of cheese. For lunch, a couple slices of chopped ham (the most expensive and tastiest -- you are not buying much, so enjoy!) and a slice or two of cheese. For dinner, I might add 1/4 of a cup of mashed potatoes, but only after concentrating on get my protein first.
Another item that I have relied on for nourishment is 1 and 2% milk -- lot's of it. I love Iced Lattes and Mochas. So, I purchased decaf espresso beans for my lattes and added pure unsweetened cocoa for my mochas. Sweetened with Equal -- these have remained my comfort food and a major source of nourishment every day as I couldn't drink another protein shake to save my life.
Well -- good luck with the food. It's tough. I experienced the foamies, throwing-up, and hiccups -- all signs that I was still learning the road. Those are rare now, except for the occasional hiccup. Just do your best -- you are human.
Much support, r
If anything, the fluids are the most important -- please don't cut back there. Perhaps, you need to separate you fluids from your meals a bit more? The other item I noticed that you are trying out the carbohydrates -- like potatoes. Even three months out from surgery, I find any carbohydrate-rich item like potatoes and pasta and bread to be very problematic. I get overly full very fast. Perhaps, you could cut back on the carbohydrates and try out more protein options -- 1/3 cup of cottage cheese, a scrambled egg (but not overdone), low fat cheese slices, etc. I'd suggest focusing on the protein rich items first -- you don't get overly full because of their lack of *bulk*.
For me, one of the most challenging aspects of the new diet was learning that I needed to change my mindset about food. No longer was I worrying about whether or not my food would be low-calorie and really tummy-filling. Instead, I began to concentrate on finding protein-dense foods that lacked a lot of bulk. For me at the 2 week to 2 month post-op time period, this required me to ditch all my fresh and bulky vegetables, as well as complex carbohydrates like bread, cream of wheat, oatmeal, and pasta.
Honestly, I first tested eating finely chopped ham and salami. I found that even though these meats might be high in fat, they also were well tolerated by my new stomach. So, for breakfast. I might have a scrambled egg with a very light sprinkling of cheese. For lunch, a couple slices of chopped ham (the most expensive and tastiest -- you are not buying much, so enjoy!) and a slice or two of cheese. For dinner, I might add 1/4 of a cup of mashed potatoes, but only after concentrating on get my protein first.
Another item that I have relied on for nourishment is 1 and 2% milk -- lot's of it. I love Iced Lattes and Mochas. So, I purchased decaf espresso beans for my lattes and added pure unsweetened cocoa for my mochas. Sweetened with Equal -- these have remained my comfort food and a major source of nourishment every day as I couldn't drink another protein shake to save my life.
Well -- good luck with the food. It's tough. I experienced the foamies, throwing-up, and hiccups -- all signs that I was still learning the road. Those are rare now, except for the occasional hiccup. Just do your best -- you are human.
Much support, r
measure your food. eat the amount they say to eat not what you think you can. I am not saying you are not doing this but this could be a part of it. Eating slowly and measuring is key because your brain is not connected to your pouch due to nerves being cut. It will get back to normal but for now you need to measure
SOrry to hear youre feeling a bit green Belinda. I've been going thru days of that also these past 2 weeks but it IS getting better. FOr me, it definitely has helped to slow down and measure, sit at the table and eat vs. at the tv or computer, taking small bites and sips. This is the hardest for me to get used to and stick to, but i can definitely tell if i have taken in food or liquid too fast or too big of bites/sips.
not much other advice to give, as im still a newbie on the bench like you. We can do this!!! THere will be good days and bad, but we can get thru this!
Hope you are feeling better soon
huggs
not much other advice to give, as im still a newbie on the bench like you. We can do this!!! THere will be good days and bad, but we can get thru this!
Hope you are feeling better soon
huggs
~ Denise 
I was wondering the same thing about eating to much to quickly. Some people have said that they used baby spoons the first couple of weeks to try to get used to eating so little so slow.
You can rely on mostly full liquids if you would like for a little further longer...but I would suggest trying to get in some different textures as well just little bites/spoonfuls at a time to start getting your pouch used to things.
I remember each time I "switched" to a different food stage I would get nauscious pretty regularly. It does get better!
Pam
You can rely on mostly full liquids if you would like for a little further longer...but I would suggest trying to get in some different textures as well just little bites/spoonfuls at a time to start getting your pouch used to things.
I remember each time I "switched" to a different food stage I would get nauscious pretty regularly. It does get better!
Pam
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
i also had problems with dairy..not so much skim milk, but with cheese and sour cream..i still do after 4 months...i find eating in front of the tv actually helps me eat slower..i time my eating by the show time....1 meal/ half hour show..if i find myself going too fast...and there is only 10 minutes gone, i set the plate down and play closer attention to the show...then continue eating...i also only ate 1/2 a spoonful at a time...i also found when i went to a more solid type food..ie pasta..i did better with things like ziti or rigatoni...something big that a could chew versus spaghetti or fettucini that i had to wind around the fork and ended up getting too much food at one time...hope you are feeling better and in the "soft foods mood" Dan
Most Active
Recent Topics
