3 weeks post op - food getting stuck!

Hi everyone. hope you all had a good weekend.

I have a question. Has anyone experienced food getting stuck? That is the only way I know how to describe it.

I am 3 weeks out post op and am on the pureed soft foods part of the diet. I am having a hard time getting food down without it getting stuck and me then throwing up or feeling sick for a few hours.

The only food I am supposed to have is 3 to 4 oz of protein, no carbs at all. It seem like the only food I can get down is fage yogurt. Everything else seems to get stuck or makes me sick. I have tried fish, scrambled eggs and tuna fish. I am ending up just having protein shakes as that is all I seem to be able to get in so I can get enough protein.

What did you all eat on the soft pureed part of the diet? I see a lot of people say mashed potatos but I cant have that.

The good news is I am down 40+ lbs since the pre op diet and have lost over 4 inches on my waist.

Also, I am very very tired, I have been sleeping more than I ever have in my life. I go back to work
on Wed and am a little worried about getting thru the day. I wonder if I am depressed?

I have read enough postings on here to know that what is going on with me is perfectly normal. I felt so good for the first week after surgery but I have not felt so great the last few days so would appreciate any feedback.
Have a good evening.
Kevin

Hey Kevin,

Just looked back at my diary, I did not start feeling ok (not tired) for 6 weeks.  I wondered if I was mentally, not just physically depressed but my tiredness did get better slowly.  I may not be the best comparison  though because I lost significant blood post-op, requiring transfusions.  I was pretty anemic so my recovery might have been a bit slower than others. 

Are you getting in at least 600 calories per day?  If not, that might be contributing to your tiredness.  Dehydration also makes me feel weak, tired and headachey so be sure you are getting in enough water.

As for the stuck feeling, are you eating too fast?  I find that I still get that feeling if I eat too fast.  In the beginning, I timed my bites - every 2 minutes.  I still do if eating dense protein.   I also get the uncomfortably full feeling if I am not careful about spacing out drinking and eating?  If the stuck feeling continues every time you eat more than yogurt or a protein drink, you should probably give your surgeon a call. 

I hope going back to work is ok.  Meg

Thanks Meg, that helps.

I can be patient for 6 weeks.

And I probably need to learn to eat slower and chew longer so I will practice.

Have a good day.

I'm 2 months out and I still get food stuck if I don't chew to a pulp or if I eat to fast... infact I got stuck today trying to eat some ground buffalo....  it was the first time in a few weeks but uggh it hurts.  I end up forcing myself to purge because the pain is so bad (enough to remind you to eat slow and chew chew chew)

Try some beans, yogurt, tofu... really soft foods.

Thanks Tony, beans is a good idea. I have already had to purge several times.

I had something similar.  My doc told me that everyone progresses to the different stages at different times.  He told me that if puree was giving me problems, to stick with the liquid for a few more days. 

Also, make sure you CHEW everything to the consistency of paste.  I literally still find myself counting the chews when I eat meat especially.  I try to make sure I chew everything 30 times before swallowing.  it helps me slow down, AND make sure everything is obliterated enough to get through.

I had real problems with eggs for a long time.  I know others have had off/on relationships with eggs as well.  I was able to eat egg-beaters just whites more easily in the beginning.

I will try counting my chews. Good idea :)
Thanks Michael.

 Have you seen this?
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html

Also did you scramble the eggs soft and then puree them? I did that today and it went well.

Good Luck!

That is a great link.

Thank you.

you know i'm a year out and at my surgiversary dinner *I* got stuck on grilled chicken.  I didn't chew it enough.  when food gets stuck, you feel almost a stabbing pain in your pouch that keeps churning and churning until either you throw it up or wait the 10 - 15 agonizing minutes for it to go through.  That LAST thing you wanna do is put anything more down there like fluids (think of it as a clogged drain.....put more liquid down it and it will back up).  However at 3 weeks i was on soft/purred foods and I still had my cream of chicken soup and I think I started on very wet chicken salad (canned chicken with  light mayo and a good squirt or two of dijon mustard) and cottage cheese.  Not all people can handle chicken so be careful with that.

that is great on your weightloss!  keep up the good work!