I'm Almost Afraid to Ask!!

Hi everybody...I need some input again!  I am just over 4 weeks out and have been doing REALLY well with my food intake.  I am still on pureed food, but have been doing great on pureed tuna, chicken, refried beans and even non-pureed scrambled eggs.  All of a sudden on Monday, I was sipping Crystal Lite about a half hour after having 6 oz of Cream of Chicken soup for lunch, and I felt this "pressure" in my chest area and it just felt worse til I finally went and "vomited" up foamy,slimy stuff (sorry, gross, I know)...then I felt fine and just had 4 oz of cottage cheese for dinner that night and all of my liquids.  Then yesterday I had yougart for breakfast and was feeling fine until I tried a scrambled egg for lunch...I only got about 4-6 tiny bites in and had that horrible full feeling and ended up vomiting several times.  I am a slow learner, I guess, so I tried some refried beans and pureed chicken for dinner and only got about 4 bites down when the same thing happened again.  I can drink my protein shakes and water just fine, and yougart and cottage cheese seem to work...but not much else.  This is the first time I have had any food troubles at all since surgery, so I am kind of freaking out...any ideas about what I should do...I almost feel like just forgetting about food and just living on protein shakes so I don't have to have that awful feeling again...help!  Thanks in advance for the help I know is on it's way!!

Jeannie

I have had this several times, it's grouchy pouch syndrome.  Go to liquids for a one half to a whole day to calm things down, then progress to very liquid pureed food, until you're comfortable.  This happens when I eat too fast, or don't chew well enough, or my pouch just feels like being a ***** 

Here's my formula that's been working for me: 

I watch my digital clock and take a bite every two minutes. 
I count my chews, and get to at least 30 before swallowing evaluating, is it applesauce consistency?
I try to make the size of my bites the size of a mini-marshmellow or baby spoon size
I don't let myself get too hungry, then I want to eat too fast.

Good Luck! 


Cheryl

yep!  sounds like you've got a bit of the "grouchy pouchy" going on!  i agree with the previous post....go back and let your pouch rest for a day....then try again.  i'm 8 months post op and still have to do that occasionally.....that's why i named my pouch "oscar".....as in "oscar the grouch"!

hope you get better soon!

You had the textbook case of the "foamies". 

Foamies can occur for several reasons.  One is eating too fast.  One is eating too much.  One is drinking with your meals (early out).  One is just because (which sounds like your case). 

I also suggest you just do liquids and shakes for a day or so and let things settle down.  I don't think you're really doing anything wrong... If it continues you may want to see your Dr.  There's a possibility that your stoma may be developing a stricture - lets fluids through but solids - no. 

I had that happen to me yesterday.  It was very uncomfortable and a little scary.  I had to make myself throw up to feel better.   It was my first day adding in meats and some cheese.   I know that I didn't chew enough and was eating too fast.   I will take the other posters advise for any future.  I had a good day today and no problems with smaller bites and chewing longer.   Good luck.   If it seems like it is happening more often and not getting better, I would give your surgeon a call and make sure you aren't getting a stricture.  That can happen at the narrow connection.