Question:
Question about chicken

I am 4 weeks post-op and have had a great experience. I started eating soft foods about a week and a half ago. I've had no problems until yesterday. Yesterday I ate some very tender chicken for dinner. Afterwards, I felt very bloated and I had a feeling of pressure in my pouch. It's fairly uncomfortable. I didn't associate the discomfort with the chicken until today after I ate my afternoon lunch - leftover chicken. I was fine this morning with my scrambled egg but after my leftover chicken, I feel the same discomfort. Does this mean that I do not tolerate chicken or is this an issue I should contact my doctor about? Thanks :)    — spitfire0379 (posted on April 16, 2010)

April 16, 2010
It probably means that you should wait a week or so and then try it again. I am 8 weeks post and still cannot tolerate regular meats. However, I have seen it posted here that you can wait and retry foods if they give you a problem. I just barely tolerate eggs and only fries not scrambled. Not fried with grease, spray. Everyone is different but don't try to progress to fast. That seems to be one of the main issues and too much sugar in food.
   — tandalyncarter

April 16, 2010
I didn't do well with chicken until I was about 3 months out. What I would do was take the cooked chicken and puree it with a little chicken broth, so that it was like a thick baby food. That went down a little better, but as for eating it just regularly, it didn't happen for a while. Now I do chicken just fine as long as it's not too dry. And if it is, I will chop it up really fine and add some broth, or some "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray, or a teaspoon or so of gravy. And always remember to chew, chew, chew (after taking really small bites!).
   — Erica Alikchihoo

April 16, 2010
Well, I can't tolerate most meats, it is something else!!! I can tolerate ground beef, but it is a tad after I am done and I am 8 months out!!!!! I sure do hope I can tolerate meats being that we gastric bypass folks must eat protein. I eat Greek yogurt, cheese and some beans.
   — FSUMom

April 16, 2010
As I recall, I struggled with both chicken in the beginning. I found that I could tolerate dark meat easier than white meat. Even now, at 10 years out, white meat sometimes still gets to me. In addition to dark meat, I did better with canned chicken that is already mixed in with broth in the can. Any white meat I eat I have to either try it a very small amount at a time OR make sure I have something to moisten it. Being as how you are still very new I would say leave the chicken alone for a little while and give your pouch time to do some more healing. Each time you try it make sure it isn't dry, make sure you take tiny bites and chew extremely well and do not overdo it. Try dark meat first. Good luck and hope that helps some!
   — Kellye C.

April 16, 2010
Yep, sounds like you experienced the classic symptoms of food intolerance. I get that too plus my nose will start to run. Weird. I was six months out before chicken became my friend again. Even chewed to the liquid state it is very fibrous and a lot of RNY folk have trouble with it. Just wait a few weeks and then try it again. As everyone has advised, cut it up into bite sized pieces and chew each one very well. Even now at 11 months out I have to be careful when eating chicken; it made me sick just this week when that last bite was one too many and got stuck. Probably because I get complacent and forget to chew it as well as I should before swallowing.
   — Arkin10

April 17, 2010
I'm 8 months out and still have issues with animal protein. It is most likely just your body adjusting. Give it another week and then try the chicken again. Everyone's body adjusts differently and at their own pace. You may find a food goes down fine one day and then causes trouble the next time. It truly is a learn as you go process. Good luck!
   — Peggie

April 17, 2010
hubby did fine with chicken but it had to be cut really small and with lots of gravy on it or he gets that same feeling.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 17, 2010
I'm a year and 9 months out. I can eat almost any meat that doesn't involve sage, can't eat peanut butter without pain, eggs and chicken leave me in a sneezing fit, but go down fairly well. I hated dry white meat before the surgery, and no change there. Lol Fatty and fried meats are harder. Any meat eaten too fast, too large bites, underchewed,or too much of it is it's own punishment. Wieners are a humbling experience, sausage hates me,bacon is a delight. I guess what I'm trying to say is that everyone is different and tolerates things differently. Many of us had slight or severe food allergies before the surgery and may not have known it. The surgery is a magnifier. If you weren't lactose intolerant before, you might be afterward, and it might go away with time. Many, many of us get the "sniffle"effect, and it's usually telling us we should stop because we have eaten all we can and are full. Proceed from that point and you might find yourself with the bellyache from hell.I eat a lot of hot spicy foods and this sometimes gives me something similar, but not the same. Strong coffee is the love of my life, but flavored coffees are almost like syrup of ipecac. Avoid coffee creamers like the plague, they are almost all sugars, especially corn syrup solids. Use canned evaporated milk and fat free if you want to watch the fat. Cheese seems to help me tolerate eggs better, but I'm still going to sneeze. Lol. If you are having a love/hate thing going with the chicken, wait till you rediscover pork. All I can tell you is avoid cheap cuts of beef that are tough and difficult to chew properly, trim all the fat you can from things like ham, steaks (pork or beef),kidney and liver are very fatty, as are many cold cuts (Bologna, Salami, Pastrami,Braunsweiger,Wieners, Potted meat, vienna sausages, Etc)many prepared foods have hidden sugars too and many of the preservatives, nitrates, etc, mega-sodium, these all tend to hit like a swig of acid.Sugar free candies have very effective laxatives in the for of manitol, sorbitol and other alcohol sugars.You should educate yourself on what is actually in the foods you buy.Fresh, minimally processed vegetables, meats and fruits are best and TRUE organic is even better, if your food budget doesn't hemorrhage Mine bleeds green, so I do the best I can and pray for immunity. Lol If fresh isn't possible or available, go frozen, and if that isn't possible try no or low sodium, low or no fat,...you get the idea. It's a lifetime program and YOU are responsible to see that you are educated on your bodies special needs. Unfortunately, guidance and suggestions aren't always available to some of us. Good luck, GBY and if I can be of help, let me know.
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn