Question:
Anyone heard of this?

I know someone who is just over a week post-op, she is having a really hard time. She is eating steak dinners...chewing the steak and spitting it out...licking potato chips and popcorn etc. Isnt this dangerous?? Couldnt she blow her pouch out if she accidentally swallowed this type of food so early out?    — rhonni37 (posted on November 25, 2003)

November 25, 2003
I first want to say that I feel so sorry for your friend. She needs to get help and fast. My eating disorder psychologist explained to me that this type of behavior is a form of bulemia. It can get out of control very easily. It could be dangerous if she happens to swallow some of these foods, yes, but it is also mentally dangerous for her to be chewing foods and then spitting them out. I wish her all the best. ~Kristy (lap rny 9/18/03 - 320/274.5/168)
   — kristynush

November 25, 2003
I find Kristy's post interesting. Many surgeons actually encourage new postops to chew and spit foods they crave but shouldn't eat. I'm not saying that that's what she's doing and she may well have an eating disorder, but she should talk to her doc about it. Not enough facts to really help much. Good luck to you and to her!
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 25, 2003
I never ate and spit out food. However from day 8 on I ate beef jerky and just about that same time I ate alot of steak too. Now I chewed the heck out of it until it was liquid. But the point I'm trying to make it that steak is'nt all bad. The main thing is to chew everything to liquid as a new post op.
   — Danmark

November 25, 2003
I have to admit I did the same thing. I didn't lick things but I did chew them up and spit them out. This mostly happened right after surgery when everything was so bland and I just wanted to crunch or chew. I only did it when there was something that I loved around; then I read an article about how this is the 'new thing' but that we shouldn't do it because it causes chipmunk cheeks. Apparently it causes us to over salivate and then our cheeks swell. Oh well. I'm over it now anyway.
   — Pambylah

November 25, 2003
My surgeon's information recommends doing this if you just HAVE to have something. I did it only a few times early post op and I don't have an eating disorder. I agree that it is really too early to jump to that conclusion. I also have a friend who licked the salt off of Dorito's to have something with flavor and salt. She's not bulemic either. Good luck! Shelley
   — Shelley.

November 26, 2003
I did that a few times at the very beginning. I thought it was weird but I'm glad to see others have done it too! LOL I think I did this because I just wanted to have something in my mouth, after not "eating" anything for 2+ weeks. You get real tired of just drinking, I think. Once I started eating, the desire to do this really decreased. I never accidentally swallowed anything. I'm 2+ months out, and the only thing that I still crave tasting at this point is italian bread with butter. I "tasted" that a couple of weeks ago. I don't really think it will be a problem for your friend once she starts eating again.
   — Carlita

November 28, 2003
I cant understand how your friend felt! Just having liquids almost killed me. I wasnt hungry but I just wanted some flavor! I licked the seasonings off of Sour Cream and Onion Pringles and fed the actual chip to my dogs. Oh did that do the trick!! I dont think that doing this blew my pouch or showed that I didnt have control. I think that my behavior was natural and I would encourage others that crave something besides apple juice and beef broth to do the same! I am now almost 7 months post op and food does not rule my life! Whooo hooooo!!!
   — S A.