Question:
I don't chew any more post-op than pre-op

I am 8 months post op -106lbs (154lbs total) Since early post-op I haven't been chewing my food anymore than I did pre-op. I eat steak, chicken, pork, everything and I chew it as much as I did post-op. I was a fast eater pre-op, still am. I think I've only thrown up like a total of 5 times. Could my stoma be too large? Is that why I don't have to chew my food up as good as everyone else? How can you tell if you have blocked your stoma anyway? Should I tell my doctor?    — Angie B. (posted on November 4, 2002)

November 4, 2002
Angie, I am just like you, in that I don't seem to chew any differently anymore than I did pre-op. I did chew thoroughly the first few months, but at 9 months post-op, I seem to take normal bites, chew as I did pre-op and eat just as fast as I did pre-op. Only difference is that I get full much faster on much less food, of course. Your stoma is definitely not blocked. If it was, no more food could go in. Your stoma is the opening out of your tummy. I think when your a new post-op, the opening is swollen and its easy for pieces to get stuck in there-also sometimes scar tissue forms over the stoma and that is why many have to be scoped at about the 5-6 week mark post-op. I'll be interested in seeing if others chew and eat like we do post-op.
   — Cindy R.

November 4, 2002
I am almost 4 wks post op and before surgery I pretty much inhaled food, its been a very hard habit to break but if I don't chew my food really good and eat slowly now I vomit every time.
   — kelly M.

November 4, 2002
I am like you too although I am only 3 months out I have lost 96 pounds, and eat almost at the same pace however I have tried to slow down. I find if I eat fast I get full faster yet hungry sooner than if I take my time eating a full size meal for me. I take the same size bites, sometimes even huge bites, if I notice I took too big of a bite I will try to chew and swallow a part of it while I hold the other part still in my mouth. I don't chew anymore or less than I did before either. I love steak, shrimp, chicken, turkey, ect. All those things we are supposed to chew chew chew. I even have indulged in a half of a personal pan pizza at pizza hut when my daughter won her book award at school. <br>I dont think that your stoma is blocked, or you would be sick all the time, not being able to keep anything down. If it was too big then you wouldnt have lost so much weight because stomas that are too big tend to back flow into the esophogus therefore leaving us continually digesting food, and always thinking we are not full thus allowing us to eat more. You are just fine, some of us just have a way easier time than others just be thankful for that. I am so glad that I am not a sickly person or that I don't dump, I am glad that my incision healed nicely and I dont have the massive problems that others do. I am also happy that I have lost so much, and would be happy if I didn't lose another pound, to me this surgery has been a series of success. I am not in pain like I used to be. So be happy God is looking down on you and you seem to be doing quite well. God bless and have a blessed day! ~Ang~
   — angel_wls

November 4, 2002
I chew the same as I did pre-op and take the same size bites also. I have all along. I still eat quickly as well, so when I'm out to dinner with non-wls people I'm usually sitting there forever because I've inhaled my food and only a little bit filled me. So now I sit bored waiting for them all to finish. I really need to slow down. lol. I just wanted to let you know I can relate. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -137
   — KimBo36

November 4, 2002
Same here. I eat the same way as pre-op except for smaller bites. Steaks, pork chops, etc. I have only thrown up twoce since the surgery. I am five months post op, it is still working I have lost 99 pounds and I am at goal.
   — Linda A.

November 4, 2002
I feel somewhat normal now!!! thanks for the comment on this. I too eat the same as before surgery. i eat a lot less, but i still feel like i can eat way too much food. i don't take small bites, nor do i chew until liquid consistency. i've lost 97 pounds in 6 months, must be doing something right... open rny 5-2-02 -97
   — candymom64