I feel like I post A LOT!!  So I am four weeks out and per my program can be eating things like ground turkey, and I have tried!  I just cannot seem to get more than an ounce down.  I feel so full that I will literally spit out the bite that is in my mouth (that I have been chewing FOREVER!).  I don't have an issue getting tuna salad, refried beans, eggs (scrambled or egg salad) or fish (cod, salmon) down, but are those considered "dense protein?" I keep seeing posts that talk about dense protein and am getting concerned. Why can't I get food down that isn't super soft texture.  Could this be a stricture? Am I over reacting?  And the nights that I do get that ounce down the next day I tend to be constipated an/or impacted.  Any thoughts or yelling at is much appreciated!

Have you tried anything but ground turkey? Everyone is different, I couldn't get tuna down until I was 6 months out. It just balled up in my throat. For me actually beef was easier, and they suggest Chicken thighs as they are moister. Everything has to be moist-broth, a little gravy- something. Try making something in the crockpot. The transition to solid food took awhile for me to feel really comfortable with it.   - small bites, chew well, eat slow and make sure it is moist- is my best advice. It will happen, don't panic!

thanks so much!

You are over-reacting.  A big part of this journey is keeping our emotions in check - tough to do I know but necessary

If you cant eat ground turkey - yet or ever - don't worry about it.  You sound like you are doing well with your other good choices so stick with them.

When you try a dense protein source and it doesn't agree with you then put it on the shelf for awhile - it its something you really like then try it again a few months down the road.

I kept it simple the first few months - I had a few food choices that were good ( chicken - fish - eggs - and stuck to them for a few months.  You can do anything for just awhile right?

Good luck and try to relax a bit - you are a work in progress.

Thank you so much!!  Deep breaths!! I will try to not get to caught up in what might not be agreeing with me!

Hey Girl!

First thing-it is ok to post a lot.  You got questions and we got OPINIONS!  But at least they are from people have been there. Keep posting and asking away!  You WANT to be successful in this journey and most people (99.5% of us) want you to be successful too!

With that said, in my OPINION, a dense protein is a non-mushy protein that will keep you fuller longer. Right now, if hunger ISNT an issue with you (because your nerves have been cut/damaged in the surgery and probably havent had time to repair) dont get too concerned that about ground turkey.  You are still so early in the process!  

Examples of no-dense proteins would be refried beans (mushy) and tofu (very mushy).  Eggs are also nondense in my mind. Greek yogurt is non-dense too.

Steak, chickn breast, canned chicken (shredded) pulled pork (can anyone say BBQ!?!?!?), canned tuna, chicken thighs, chicken breasts, turkey thighs, ground beef are all examples of dense protein

Many years ago, when I was in WW we learned that ground chickenand ground turkey may NOT be as good for us as we thought because manufacturers still have fat in there. Could you be having  a reaction to too much fat?

Also different foods come back online at different times which is individual to the patient. For example, I had no problems with baked chicken but pot roast (which is actually more tender and succulent so it should have come back first) and me gagging, foaming, and etc.  At around 8 months I got pot roast back.

Have fun with your diet.

Also, what the above poster said, you WILL be goig through an emotional firestorm. Some of it is hormones stored in tge  fat being released as you lose quickly.  Another aspect is finding new coping mechanisms, entertainment, stress relief beyond food.  Since you are short a coping mechanism/distraction/hobby, it is understandable why your fuse might be a bit short.  You will have to find a new strategy (mine is exercise) to stop you from going homicidal. I recommend meditation, you dont need to be Borg/cyborg or anytihing and act like you have inner peace when you dont but it DOES help in terms of recognizing "I am angry"  "Why am I angry?" "Is it something I can fix or is this something that is "ON someone else" and I am just reacting to it/owning it when it isnt even my problem?"  For example, my mom is a goal post mover and I used to try really hard to make her happy. But she is never happy is always moving the goal post. Finally, I realized her unhappiness is HER problem...why am I trying to fix it for her?  Her unhappiness is on her.

YOu might have situations with a similar fact pattern.

I wish you much success!

Wow!! Thank you so much for the thought-filled response!! Yeah exercise is my new go to...swimming in particular...something about doing laps that is so zen!! I am in the gym for at least 1 1/2 hours a day...sometimes 2 times a day!  

It took four months for me to be able to eat more than one ounce at a time.  Now I am usually comfortable with about three ounces, but somedays one ounce is all I can handle.  I used protein shakes to get my protein in and just ate tiny amounts of food.

Thank you!  I am still using protein drinks/unflavored powders to make sure I get enough in.  This site is so helpful...after all of these responses I don't feel like I have to push what does not seem to work!

For some reason with me I couldnt eat ground chicken, it just wouldnt "go down" right.  I would literally eat two bites and feel like I just ate a whole chicken.  I just chalked it up to my stomach not being ready for the chicken and just stuck with what went down easy.  I still haven't tried to eat it again yet.  Stick with what you can get down