Rough week with food and eating would appreciate some input
Good Morning Everyone,
I was going to PM Pam on this but will post for all so others may benefit from the advice that will be posted. Let me start by saying I am 3.5 months post-op. Last week I had a tought time with food and meeting my protein and water goals. The food thing....I am really having a hard time eating anything outside my staples which are (bean soup, egg and chicken salad, mashed potatoes, watermelon, protein pudding). I've had the foamies 4 times last week each bout lasting 6 to 8 hours. I'm discouraged to the point that I don't want to eat and I'm a bit afraid to eat outside what I listed above. I'm making a conscious effort to drink some shakes this week because I know I did so poorly last week meeting my protein goals. I had a hard time with water goals too because I was sick for much of four days. Up until last week I only had the foamies 3 times total and was doing fairly well tolerating most foods except meat. I have identified the following foods that caused me to be ill last week: cold water, scrambled eggs, crab meat, can't think of the 4th thing). I'm torn, do I focus on the protein goal via shakes or should I continue to try to get it through food and risk being sick? Let me end by mentioning that I feel that I chew the food well but sometimes I may eat too fast which I'm really trying to be mindful of.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Teresa
I was going to PM Pam on this but will post for all so others may benefit from the advice that will be posted. Let me start by saying I am 3.5 months post-op. Last week I had a tought time with food and meeting my protein and water goals. The food thing....I am really having a hard time eating anything outside my staples which are (bean soup, egg and chicken salad, mashed potatoes, watermelon, protein pudding). I've had the foamies 4 times last week each bout lasting 6 to 8 hours. I'm discouraged to the point that I don't want to eat and I'm a bit afraid to eat outside what I listed above. I'm making a conscious effort to drink some shakes this week because I know I did so poorly last week meeting my protein goals. I had a hard time with water goals too because I was sick for much of four days. Up until last week I only had the foamies 3 times total and was doing fairly well tolerating most foods except meat. I have identified the following foods that caused me to be ill last week: cold water, scrambled eggs, crab meat, can't think of the 4th thing). I'm torn, do I focus on the protein goal via shakes or should I continue to try to get it through food and risk being sick? Let me end by mentioning that I feel that I chew the food well but sometimes I may eat too fast which I'm really trying to be mindful of.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Teresa
Teresa O
RNY 4/1/2008
PA
Teresa,
Well then I guess I should respond?
Personally - I would do a combination of both. Get shakes in for your protein goals and slowly increase your food.
Many have trouble with scrambled eggs or even eggs in general. Try using just the egg white and see how you do (scrambled, or hard boiled and only eat the white) You could also try egg beaters.
Don't drink cold water - many can't tolerate it. Try it room temp.
If it is an eating to fast problem - I have heard of others using something like an egg timer. Take one *****ew chew chew and then turn the egg timer over (I think it's normally about 2-3 minutes for those timers) Don't take another bite until it runs out. You can also use a baby spoon to make sure you aren't eating to much in one mouthful.
I stick with my staples to - mostly dairy - like cheese sticks, ricotta cheese, yogurts. I don't have problems per say with meat - but especially at work - it takes to long for me to eat it. So I have solid protein for one or two meals and the rest comes from other sources such as dairy, protein bars, and sometimes shakes.
Others might have better and more advice for you as I am by far not a vet and barely hitting my 9 mos mark next week.
With how hot it has been, please make sure to concentrate on fluids. We will dehydrate easy to begin with and the heat will make it worse.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Pam
Well then I guess I should respond?
Personally - I would do a combination of both. Get shakes in for your protein goals and slowly increase your food.
Many have trouble with scrambled eggs or even eggs in general. Try using just the egg white and see how you do (scrambled, or hard boiled and only eat the white) You could also try egg beaters.
Don't drink cold water - many can't tolerate it. Try it room temp.
If it is an eating to fast problem - I have heard of others using something like an egg timer. Take one *****ew chew chew and then turn the egg timer over (I think it's normally about 2-3 minutes for those timers) Don't take another bite until it runs out. You can also use a baby spoon to make sure you aren't eating to much in one mouthful.
I stick with my staples to - mostly dairy - like cheese sticks, ricotta cheese, yogurts. I don't have problems per say with meat - but especially at work - it takes to long for me to eat it. So I have solid protein for one or two meals and the rest comes from other sources such as dairy, protein bars, and sometimes shakes.
Others might have better and more advice for you as I am by far not a vet and barely hitting my 9 mos mark next week.
With how hot it has been, please make sure to concentrate on fluids. We will dehydrate easy to begin with and the heat will make it worse.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Pam
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
Thanks Pam I knew I could count on you for some good advice. You may not think you are a vet but I appreciate and I'm sure others do as well, the time you take to answer these posts as well as the good insight you provide.
I'm going to try the smaller spoon and will focus on the basics this week so I can get back in sync.
T
I'm going to try the smaller spoon and will focus on the basics this week so I can get back in sync.
T
Teresa O
RNY 4/1/2008
PA
Hi Teresa - at 3.5 months out I was still struggling a lot with food, too. Foamies/ Oh gawd they were horrible. My problem was eating too fast - I literally had to wait two full minutes between bites of anything or stuff would get stuck. Now I don't have to wait nearly as long (not sure that's a good thing?) but it does get better - I still don't eat bread or beef - stuff that is hard to chew or digest. I stuck to EggBeaters for the first few months for scrambled eggs or omelets, but used regular eggs for hardboiled. Cold water was very difficult for me to tolerate right after surgery - took me several months to get back to drinking ice water or really cold drinks. Cold foods still bother my pouch at times. And you might have irritated your pouch pretty good and it became (as Pam calls it) Miss Prissy Pouch for a few days where nothing could be tolerated. It will get better, but take it slow and like Pam said, concentrate on shakes or things you can add the protein powder too - this is the time the old hair starts falling out (I'm hoping mine is finally stopping!) and the protein is very important for that as well. Kathy
'One shoe can change your life'...Cinderella
Hello! Pam about nailed it there. You can try beef or chicken broth too, great source of protein and I don't know if I have heard of anyone not being able to tolerate it.
Eggs were and well still are a sore spot for me and I am 18 months out. Just in the last few weeks can I eat a scrambled egg comfortably.
AT this point you can still use shakes to get to your goal. Make sure you are getting your fluids in! In the beginning I would always drink too fast so I used a tablespoon to take small amounts of water, or use the lid to a water bottle.
YOu can also try other types of soups (try and get or make ones without pasta or rice). I ALWAYS try something new at home, still.
If you are having trouble with meat make sure that it isn't too dry. Chicken will still make me sick if it is dry. You can use a low fat gravy or broth to moisten it. take small bites and chew chew chew. Ground meats might be a good option to start with, you can get almost anything ground these days.
Keep your chin up and keep plugging along - things will get better I promise! Hang in there and lean on us whenever you need to!!
OH I found that early on it helped me to eat while I was doing something else. For example I would leave my plate on the kitchen counter and wash dishes etc. That kept me going between bites so it didn't feel like an eternity AND I was standing up so it felt like things could "move through" my pouchie better.
Liz
Eggs were and well still are a sore spot for me and I am 18 months out. Just in the last few weeks can I eat a scrambled egg comfortably.
AT this point you can still use shakes to get to your goal. Make sure you are getting your fluids in! In the beginning I would always drink too fast so I used a tablespoon to take small amounts of water, or use the lid to a water bottle.
YOu can also try other types of soups (try and get or make ones without pasta or rice). I ALWAYS try something new at home, still.
If you are having trouble with meat make sure that it isn't too dry. Chicken will still make me sick if it is dry. You can use a low fat gravy or broth to moisten it. take small bites and chew chew chew. Ground meats might be a good option to start with, you can get almost anything ground these days.
Keep your chin up and keep plugging along - things will get better I promise! Hang in there and lean on us whenever you need to!!
OH I found that early on it helped me to eat while I was doing something else. For example I would leave my plate on the kitchen counter and wash dishes etc. That kept me going between bites so it didn't feel like an eternity AND I was standing up so it felt like things could "move through" my pouchie better.
Liz
I am sure you've been told this already, but, I will say it in case you've overlooked it. The pouch gets very finicky and needs things changed up. I was enjoying salads and suddenly I took a bite of a luscious salad that I'd enjoyed many times and it was now decorative flooring accessories. Your pouch could reject things at anytime and then not the next time. That is why we say don't stock up on anything. This doesn't mean that you won't be able to eat it at a later date, its just a matter of trial and error. Or stays down or not. Make little changes one at a time incorporating something new and then keep on doing the same. There will be many things that you will have to put in your freezer and wait and see if you can tolerate it later. I enjoy a good popsicle but sometimes I get severe foamies from them. I enjoy cheese sticks but sometimes they don't enjoy being eaten. I have found that Sugar Free Peppermint Chicklets really help to calm down the foamies and can avoid a lot of distress. Give that a try.
Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Teresa,
When cooking meat like chicken and pork chops pour a teaspoon of conola oil on the botoom of your baking dish, take a paper towel and wipe the bottom of the pan with the oil. Then pour a tsp. of the oil on top of each piece of chicken or chop you are baking. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 35 minutes this will help to keep them moist. Remember you need to make sure you are getting your daily fats in also. Fats in you diet will help to prevent the hair loss, help your food go down easier and help with regular bowel movements. Then for extra moisture use fat-free gravy. Meat helps to keep you iron levels were they need to be. Hope this helps!
Lisa
When cooking meat like chicken and pork chops pour a teaspoon of conola oil on the botoom of your baking dish, take a paper towel and wipe the bottom of the pan with the oil. Then pour a tsp. of the oil on top of each piece of chicken or chop you are baking. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 35 minutes this will help to keep them moist. Remember you need to make sure you are getting your daily fats in also. Fats in you diet will help to prevent the hair loss, help your food go down easier and help with regular bowel movements. Then for extra moisture use fat-free gravy. Meat helps to keep you iron levels were they need to be. Hope this helps!
Lisa
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