Question:
What Could you eat at 2 Months Post-Op?

OK - I am getting frustrated beyond belief. I'm still having the mucous problem develop in my pouch after eating some foods I could previously tolerate immediately post-op. Surgeon prescribed Entex - it made me so sick! Not only did it sit in my pouch for two hours, I later became nauseated, had to leave work, and wound up with the dry heaves all afternoon. I desperately want some answers. Could it have been just a fluke that I was able to eat things like macaroni and cheese (or other pastas and sauces), shrimp, potatoes, ground beef, moist chicken? All these things now cause a gurgling in my pouch, saliva comes up my throat, and the gurgling continues until the pressure is so uncomfortable that I vomit. A mucous/phlegm substance comes up first, then the food. My diet is severely limited now. I can only tolerate mozzarella cheese, soups, yogurts, and crispy foods like crackers. I would like to know what most of you were able to eat at this stage. Any help you can give me is most appreciated.    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on June 30, 2000)

June 30, 2000
I am also 2 months post op, after and open RNY. I am able to eat pasta, cheese, crackers, very small amounts of chicken, beef, or pork (maybe 1 or 2 ozs). I can tolorate 1 pc of bread. I tried rice and that didn't sit well. I do eat fruits without skins, such as plums & watermelon. Beans and chili, potatos, toast 1 pc, and soups. I have never vomitted, however I have felt just horrible after eating something that didn't agree with me, such as the rice a roni I tried. I am very hesitant when I try foods, and only in very small amounts. Lately, I have been trying some of the frozen healthy choice or lean cuisine meals, of course only eating 4 ozs of the meal, but some of them are terrible tasting. I am usually lucky to get about 10-14 ozs of food per day. I just don't have much of an appetite.
   — rosemary I.

June 30, 2000
I was checking my records and it was at 2 months out that I started having some problems eating. I also noticed the "mucus" thing - and would vomit almost everything. It turns out I had a stricture of the opening out of my stomach. I don't know if this would be the case for you, but you might want to ask your surgeon about the possibility of it. The problem was very easy to fix, the Dr. used an endoscope and did a dilitation (all outpatient, no pain). I was better right away after the procedure.
   — Lynn K.

June 30, 2000
Yup, this happened to me too. I was not too worried as I was seeing my surgeon at end of week for a 2 month scope. I told him of this trouble I had having lately eating. (Things just felt, 'stuck' and uncomfortable. When he did the scope observed my stoma (opening from stomach to intestine) was at 9cms. (optimum is anywhere from 8-10cms depending on the person.) So, he dilated me to 11cms and I felt better imediatly. So maybe you need to have a scope done and have your stoma checked out. I do however have a question of those who have had this dilation done. I am wondering the % of these people who needed to have this dilation done a second (or third) time? I am starting to have some of these same 'uncomfortable' sensations when I eat again. Oh and I was an Open RNY on April 10th.
   — Lori W.

June 30, 2000
I had surgery on 4-14 and had the exact same problem you are describing. I had an endoscopy done to dilate the stoma and it did not help much, so they did it again and found a partial stricture way down in my intestine. This helped immediately and now I can eat almost anything. Good Luck!
   — Shelly S.

July 7, 2000
Please read my initial post and the following results of my upper gi: My surgeon just called and said the results of my upper gi were normal; however, the stupid radiologist failed to measure the outlet opening my surgeon wanted, so I'm no better off with any answers. My surgeon thinks I'm crazy. He thinks this problem is just me. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG! Why could I eat up until 4 weeks post-op and now all I can eat is soup, crackers, and cheese?!?!! I'm so sick of it I haven't eaten in two days. So, I insisted on an endoscopy, and I got laughed at. I'm so upset about this and he humiliates me by laughing at me?! What kind of aftercare is THAT?! I told him AND the radiologist the specifics about my problem. I can't help the radiologist didn't do what he was supposed to do. I told them both that I didn't have a problem with liquids, so what else WOULD the upper GI show but normal?! If the endoscopy comes back normal, then I don't know what else to do....this is not living and, at this precise moment, I wish I would have never done this. I am so very, very upset. If someone out there can offer any suggestions, please help me!
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 7, 2000
I had open RNY on 2/8/00 and my first endoscopy on 3/12/00. Everything I tried to eat came up and doctor sent me for endo. On Easter Sunday I was back in the ER having another endo, it hadn't narrowed but since I was throwing up nearly everything again, they went ahead and dilated it to 15 cm instead of the 12 that doctor recommended before. Now I have no problem. The doctor that did the endo said I evidently just needed a little more room than some other people. Good luck - and MAKE your doctor listen to you and take you seriously. If he doesn't, go to the ER and tell them you are vomiting everything--at least they'll listen to that.
   — Connie G.