Question:
Do I really need to be scoped??
I just had my four month follow-up with my doctor, and am doing very well (I've lost 86 pounds!) except for one thing...I can't eat meat yet. Well, I can't eat most meat. I can do soft fish, and a little bit of ground beef, or tiny pieces of meat in soup. But I can't eat even a small piece of chicken, turkey, pork, or beef. (I also can't eat fresh veggies yet, but he didn't really say anything about that.) From about 6 weeks to 3 1/2 months, I pretty much threw up daily. Mostly because I continued to experiment to see what I could and could not eat and did not want to be afraid to try. Some things went down great, others did not. During that period, meat ALWAYS mad me sick, so I stopped trying. Well now my doctor wants me to get an endoscope and possible stretch to my opening since he says I should be able to eat meat by now. However, I have heard many people say they couldn't eat meat at four months either. I am also wondering if maybe have just not tried enough lately as it made me so sick before (the daily vomiting stopped about 2 weeks ago, and has only happened once since). Anyway, I really DON'T want to have this procedure if I don't have to! I am thinking I will schedule it for like 2 weeks from now, and then try REALLY HARD to get some meat in and keep it down. In the mean time, I would truly appreciate the feedback of all you experts! — Deni (posted on January 28, 2008)
January 28, 2008
My mother in law will still not eat chicken or pork 4 years later. I can
remember I threw up everyday for almost 6 months. IT SUCKED!!!! I am 4
1/2 years out. Just give yourself some time. Some things will agree with
you and some won't. It is all trial and error.
— Carlyn M.
January 28, 2008
I threw up all the time, Dr. Wanted me to fly back to Mexico and have some
sort of procedure, but instead I had a test done here, where I drank some
stuff, it went trough just fine, I can't remember all the names of stuff,
but I know , I thought I would never eat anything. I am 2 1/2 years out
and I still throw up certain things, but 100 % better than I was. Meat is
hard to take, it really takes time, I couldn't even eat chicken . Cottage
cheese and soups saved my life.. 4 months isn't really that long, I wasn't
even allowed meat at 4 months, so take your time, u will be ok..
— Reelbaby
January 28, 2008
I am 16 months post op. I still have trouble with meat, especially beef.
I can do ground beef in soup and the like. chicken if moist. Cannot do
any kind of pork except bacon. I make it all up with jerky!! excellent
source of protien and you get your meat in. Dont worry too much, everyone
is different and your doc should not place you in any one category. AS
long as your labs look good and you feel good, you are probably doing
everything you should. Stretching that thing may be something you just
dont need at this juncture, especially if it will allow you to eat more
than you should. I am glad to see you are giving it alot of thought
instead of just blindly doing what he suggests. Good luck and congrats on
your new life. Deb
— dessary316
January 28, 2008
are your other foods staying down ok? if so and you are just having
problems with meat- suggest to your doctor that you want to wait a little
longer and see if things improve. i see where your doctor is coming from
because it's not good to throw up all the time and you are obviously
loosing nutrients, but if you are able to keep down other things and get in
enough protein through other foods and your labs are good...my suggestion
would be to wait a little while and see how things go. it is very common
for people to have trouble with meat, i do ok, but it has to be moist like
with gravy and it can't be fried!! good luck and i hope this helps..Holly
— RNlvnCARSON
January 28, 2008
Denise, I am out of surgery 11 months. I have lost 245#'s and still the
only meat i can do is VERY LITTLE Filet mignon, Very lil Chicken breast. I
now can eat a very thin hamburger. I cant do meatloaf its too thick and
won't chew right. the trick for me is, Cook very med rare. but the burger
just cooked not dried out no pink but moist. I only can eat 2 maybe 3
bites. but remember chew very well and What helps me is take a bite and go
do something. eat slowly... Bob.
[email protected]
— obx100
January 28, 2008
I'm 16 months out and I was throwing up daily also. I gave up all meat
except for some fish and seafood. I feel better and I'm not throwing up
anymore.
— Lori S.
January 28, 2008
Meats, especially beef or pork, are hard to digest for many patients.
Ground beef is easier than steak meat. Pork is a dense meat, and that may
be the problem for some people. Sauses, or other means of
"moistening" these meats can help. I also have heard many
patients say they have trouble with chicken or turkey also. My surgeon did
not want his patients to eat beef until they were 6 months post op, and
chicken or turkey were OK'd at 4 months out.
— Dave Chambers
January 28, 2008
the hardest thing for me to eat was meat. Steak was very hard. I had gone
to the casino here in ct a couple months after my surgery. Well we went to
a steak house for dinner and I had to have a bite of steak. Filet Mingon.
Well before dinner was even over I was in the bathroom at least 5 times
getting sick. We then went to the casino and we were playing roulette.
Thank god I had tissues with me. I went to lean over the table to put my
chips on and I got sick. I was so emabarrased. So I personally dont think
you need that test. I am not a dr though. I has trouble with steak, pasta,
fresh vegetables and cereal. I can eat it now. I have to be very careful
when eating steak though. I have to watch the size of the peice. If its too
big and i dont chew it enough it gets stuck and I am sick. Take your time.
Dont worry it will all come back. Some people can tollerate foods more than
other people. Every one is different. Good Luck
— Joanc
January 28, 2008
Hi Denise, thanks for writing. I think you have a pretty good handle on
the situation and here is my advice. At your 4 month follow up, did they
do blood work? If those levels are fine, I think that if you give yourself
another 30 days to work out the meat and throwing up issue, that it won't
hurt. Talk to your surgeon and be sure that you are doing well with your
blood levels. Maybe you are right that you just need to be patient and
work things out. I have found that shrimp is my best protein. They are
small, soft and chewy, and a great source of protein, you might want to try
a few shrimp. If you find that your blood levels are in question because
you are throwing up all your vitamins and minerals, you should get a
stretch. Throwing up all the time is not good for your teeth or your
health. I am happy for your weight loss, but you have to be able to keep
things down. Talk to your surgeon and see the whole picture and then make
your best judgement. Don't jepordize your health for the scope, but if
things look good, another few weeks should be ok too. Take care. Patricia
P.
— Patricia P
January 29, 2008
Hi denise, I still can't eat meat except for soft fish also and I have been
out 9 1/2 mos nor can I eat veggies except green beans. I still throw-up
if I eat something that doesn't agree with me (like meat) so I think your
probably in the same boat as some of us. I just eat what I know wont make
me sick. If your other more solid foods are going down maybe you just
need to give you stomach some time. Of course I would follow-up with my
doc. I thinking that maybe I'll never be able to eat some meats and sure
would love to have a little bit of good steak!!!!
Hugs Joni
— jonicorona
January 29, 2008
Sounds like you have developed a stricture. At about a year post-op I could
not drink water or eat any type meat or veggies unless they were very very
over cooked, mushy texture for about 6 mos. I just stopped eating meats and
even viennas was hard for me to eat. I could only drink or eat something
warm, not hot. My surgeon sent me to have an endoscopy done and to open my
stoma up. I had acid reflux so bad before wls and had a bad build up of
scar tissue in my esophagus. But I do believe my stoma was opened up too
much and I stopped losing weight and stayed between 208 and 210. Until I
started prednisone and methotrexate shots for my Rheumatoid arthritis and
started gaining weight back (22 lbs) and as well as eating unhealthy as
well. But consult your dr first and it seems like you have a stricture to
me. Your symptoms sounds like what i went through.
— mspisces
January 29, 2008
Hi. I just had endoscopy because I could not eat much meat, and I am almost
1 year post-op. Everything was just fine with my pouch. I would not suggest
stretching your pouch. Chicken is almost impossible for me to eat unless I
cook a roasting chicken and chop it in the blender and have a little gravy
on it
— lambie20507
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