Question:
When will I be able to eat normal food again?

I know, I know I am only 3 weeks post-op. I'm just a little frustrated! I am currently on the puree phase of the diet. All I want to be able to do is eat a salad or grilled chicken like a normal person (in smaller quanties though). Some times I will test the waters a little bit & try something. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. It hurts like heck going down like theres something stuck in my chest. What am I doing wrong? I try to eat little bites as possible but it still hurts. I am convinced I will never be able to eat normal foods again. I will be eating cottage cheese etc. for the rest of my life!! How long will this continue? When will ever I be able to eat normally?    — Allison T. (posted on May 3, 2002)

May 3, 2002
Hi! I went through that pureed hell recently :) but I was able to "test my waters" and eat bites of normal food. I tried to stick to pureed though b/c I didn't want to push my pouches tolerances. What sorts of foods are you testing with? I ate 2 bites of truly tender pork chop with no problem yet when i tried to eat a few bites of small baked pork chops it got stuck for a few hours. Try on something soft and tender like eggs, maybe some grilled fish. In the beginning of normal foods I find that I usually have that stuck feeling if I didn't chew too well. So make sure you chew chew chew till you feel as if you're chewing on a piece of (whatever you're eating) flavored gum :p Gross I know but it works wonders in the digestion. Good luck!
   — Renee V.

May 3, 2002
Things will get better. Your pouch is still swollen and not willing to accomodate much. At your stage, I was on soft foods - tuna salad, egg salad, canned salmon, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, cottage cheese, baked fish, grilled fish, etc. When you eat meat or fish, the bite should be no larger than a pencil eraser and you need to chew, chew and then chew some more. The first time I threw up was because of a piece of fish that wasn't chewed well enough and the pain was incredible. I hate throwing up, but I was so glad when I finally did - the relief was incredible. Just remember to take it slow, eat small amounts and chew very well. I promise you that it won't be long til you are eating a big variety of foods. I eat salads, grilled steak, grilled fish, pork chops, shrimp, gumbo, spinach, turnip greens, chili, dried beans, jerky, Lean Cuisine meals, peanut butter, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, broccoli, just to name a few things. I cannot tolerate spaghetti (the sauce is fine, the pasta kills me)and I have problems with chicken if it's not in a sauce or really mosit and I can't tolerage eggs at all now. I don't eat bread (my choice) but I do occasionally have a few Wheat Thins. Keep your chin up - you will do fine. Patty Butler Open RNY - 11/29/01 -84+ pounds
   — Patty_Butler