Question:
SURGERY DEC 28, FEELING LIKE SOMETHINGS LODGED

I HAD THE RNY ON DEC 28, I TRIED TO EAT A SCRABBLED EGG WITH MY GRITS. AND I COULDNT FINISH KINDA FEELS LIKE SOMETHINGS STUCK, OR LIKE YOU NEED TO BURP BUT CANT. SO I WENT AND VOMITTED AS TO DISLODGE SOMETHING. IVE FELT ROUGH ALL DAY AND CONTINUED LIQUIDS TIL TONIGHT I TRIED TO EAT A LITTLE MASHED POTATOES AND COTTAGE CHEESE. I HAVENT BLENDED THESE, JUST CHEWING 20-25 TIMES, AND THE SAME FEELING BUT NOT VOMITTED. WHATS GOING ON? ANYONE EXPERIENCED THIS?    — mishies33 (posted on January 10, 2010)

January 10, 2010
I had my RNY on Dec 30 and have the same feelings when tryng to eat foods the doctor has told me to eat. However, I have had no problems with getting baby food down so I have started to puree all the foods I eat and only have about 1 oz at each meal due to I asked the doctor what I should do and it seemed to help me get the food down. My doctor also told me to take about 5 minutes to eat 1 oz of food and that should also help. Have you called your doctor yet if not call them and ask that is what they are there for. I hope this helps and good luck and I hope things get better for you soon.
   — lscheller

January 11, 2010
I am pretty sure I was told that if you don't stick to the liquids you are going to stretch out your esofical opening and can potentually ruin some of your success. I had surgery the 22nd and am still on liquids. STICK TO THE LIQUIDS. It is such a short amount of time when you consider the rest of your life. Why have the surgery and then start breaking rules already? You will be miserable. If you aren't careful you may also pop a staple and have leaks. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can chew it into a liquid. Get a blender and puree everything before you hurt yourself. Also if you have a G-tube I think sometimes I can feel the part that is in my stomach and it does feel like something stuck in my throat. You are very swollen right now and aggravating it by trying to pass hard food won't promote healing. Please for your sake listen to your Dr's instruction and play it safe!
   — lynnredboy

January 11, 2010
I had rny on Dec 23rd and my dr & nut have bumped me up to soft foods now. When I eat non-shake foods, I also have the problem with things feeling like they are sticking. Kind of feels like it's stuck right behind my breasts. They tell me it's just because things are so new in there. Maybe try to chew even more, or back up and go back to pureed foods for another week and try again. That's what I'm trying to do now.
   — taylork25

January 11, 2010
It kinda sounds like a stricture to me. At this point in time, I was on soft foods, including Egg Beaters, Refried Beans, Cottage Cheese, smooth yogurt, and pudding (no more than ONE ounce at a time - and that's VOLUME, not weight). I had not been given the okay for stuff like grits or other hot cereals, yet. But...the only way I can describe the feeling is "stuck". I would eat something, and then later try to get my fluids in, only to find out that the food had never gone down, and UP everything would come again. And I had to have a dilation at about 6 weeks out (I waited waaaaaay too long to tell my surgeon about it, and my body actually went into starvation mode and refused to lose any more weight). The dilation procedure was a piece of cake. They usually only give you "conscious" sedation to do it, but I told them that I suffered from anxiety disorder (because I DO), and that if it felt at all like my breathing was being impeded by the tube they put down your throat, I WOULD fight them, so it would be better if they just put me out for the 5 minutes or so that it would take to do the dilation. They didn't even bat an eye, and the whole thing took maybe 15 minutes from being wheeled into the procedure room (still wearing my street clothes and shoes), to waking up back in my little cubicle being offered a glass of juice and a graham cracker. Please let your surgeon know that you are having this sensation, and that you've vomited with it. He/she may have you just observe for a couple more days, or might want you see you. But, if it is a stricture, don't worry. Not a big deal.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

January 11, 2010
You should still be on liquids for at least another 1-2 weeks. Then you could move to thick liquids (split pea soup) foods like that. You don't want to try reg food, no matter how well you chew it. YOur pouch is still very swollen and tender and you need to baby it. Give it time to heal. You aren't hungry, but you do need to get in your liquids, meaning water intake and protein. Those are part of the "liquid phase" too. Your opening to the new pouch is only about the size of your little finger. So if you are still swollen and putting food in before it is time, it is getting stuck and you can damage your pouch, by throwing up. If you get this feeling with liquids, you should see your doctor. Just be patient. I just past my 4 yr anniv. with the RNY and have had no problems, except for I wasn't chewing my food well enough when it was time for solid food. So, please take my advice, it isn' worth trying food right now, it will only make you frustrated. What helped me was, I would sip some liquid out of the pan of what I was cooking, and that would be enough to satisfy the head hunger too. Just an FYI
   — Kristy

January 11, 2010
I'm 7 wks out and still have that problem if I eat too fast or eat something that doesn't agree with my new stomach at this point. At less than 2 wks out, I'm surprised you're doing as well as you are on soft foods, rather than liquids. If that's what your doc has instructed, just take a couple of well-chewed, small bites, then wait at least 5 minutes before taking another bite. It seems these first months are all about re-learning how to eat for our new stomachs. Well worth it!
   — Janell C.

January 12, 2010
thanks everyone for your answers.....i think it was just that one time deal, i did add the egg alil early. ive gone back to liquid diet and doing great. i learned my lesson. thanks for your support!
   — mishies33

January 12, 2010
You should start eating solid foods about two months after your RNY. Try soups and mashed potatoes, also wait to 30-40 min before and 30-40 after you eat to drink any liquids. I don't think you should be vomiting! you might want to contact your Dr.
   — teri4