Question:
Mexican food and my new stomach

Does anyone know if it is still possible to eat Mexican food, and if so how hot can you eat? How long before you can eat it again? I'm only a week post op, but I'm missing my Mexican food already. Please help.    — mytellica (posted on October 26, 2005)

October 26, 2005
Hi, this is an individual thing. I can, but I am five years out. So it is just by trial and error to see what you can and cannot eat. Paula
   — shoutjoy

October 26, 2005
this was the first question i asked my doctor before my surgery--will i still be able to eat my spicy stuff--and he told me yes---and he was right--i will still sit and eat jalapenos (by themselves even) and it doesnt bother me a bit...but mexican food is a TON of carbs (not to mention calories) ...so when and IF you decide to eat mexican food again...eat just a few bites of what you love and save the rest for the next few days
   — fishnrockport

October 26, 2005
The spicier the better! I'm 5+ years out and I was doing spicy foods at about 4 months out. But please be advised that each person is different. Easy does it in the beginning. I agree with the other poster that Mexican food does have a lot of carbs. I have been able to find low carb taco shells, torillia shells and chips. I eat beanless chili. Even so, don't let the low carb stuff set you up for a binge or craving. Enjoy it all in moderation. ~Pookie
   — Michelle E.

October 26, 2005
You dont want to eat anything the first 2 stages after surgery 1 st is liguids 2ed is pureed foods... stick with soft soups... Then when you get to the 3rd stage then you can go try Refried beans with some taco sauce... but you do not want to over do it you will get deathly sick ... [email protected]
   — Flo

October 26, 2005
If it's the spicy stuff you are meaning, I'd take it easy the 1st month. I had to do the pureed foods for the 1st 4 weeks. I did have a lot of refried beans w/cheese & seasonings & they didn't bother me. They provide needed protein too. I didn't eat them real spicy though. I am now a little over 3 months out & I can eat the spicy stuff with out it bothering me. I have not tried rice though. Afraid of the swelling afterwards. I have a problem with sticky stuff sitting there for a couple of hours, so that's good. It keeps me away from stuff I shouldn't be eating anyways. Good luck to you.
   — Diana C.

October 26, 2005
I'm 3 weeks post op and am craving carnitas like you can't believe. I would eat Mexican food everyday if I could. I am missing it with a vengence!! I'm on puree foods now but I'm afraid to try Mexican even when I can in 3 weeks. Be patient and good luck. The time will fly and you'll be in taco heaven before you know it. Margie
   — butlers4

October 26, 2005
Believe me you will be able to eat mexican food again. I am now four months out and I love it but I am careful with how much and what kind I do eat. I try to eat fajita's and of course my hot salsa is always there. The hotter the better!!! Try something small and see how it does on your stomach. Good luck!! Starting weight: 313 Before surgery: 292 Present weight: 233.5 Goal weight: 135
   — Laural D.

October 26, 2005
If you can eat hot and spicy food now, you can eat it post-op. That shouldn't change. In fact, for most post-ops, heartburn is completely a thing of the past so that's not an issue. However, don't rush to eat solid foods before your doctor allows it, try to wait. I LIVED on chili in my early post-op days and so did lots of other people I knew even though it wasn't their favorite thing before. A friend made a big batch of turkey chili for me - more protein than beef - pureed it and froze it and I had that more than anything else during the soft/pureed stage because it's one of the rare foods that still tastes right and has about the same consistancy pureed. And later on Mexican food goes down pretty well because crispy or thin (tortillas) goes down much better than doughy bread which gets stuck. But don't rush it.
   — sandsonik

October 27, 2005
Oh yes. Inability to eat spicy food would not have been a deal-breaker, but it would have come close. Thinned and blended FF refried beans, rotel tomatoes, and FF sour cream with unflavored Unjury saw me and the DH through our liquids/mushies phases, and helped out nicely with the spicy/Mexican cravings. The beauty of Mexican food post-op is that, as another poster pointed out, it is no longer just one meal. I ask for a takeout box as soon as I sit down, divide the food up when it comes, and usually can get at least 3 meals out of it. :)
   — Jeanie

October 27, 2005
I am in my 4th week out. I have been eating the pintos and cheese from Taco Bell quite a bit! Yummy! I haven't had any problems, as long as they are thinned out. I got some last night that were kinda dry and thicker, I just added lots more mild sauce and ate slow!
   — momsluv2

October 27, 2005
You must be joking. You should be still on clear liquods right now. I have heard that some people when upped to pureed foods at 4 weeks post op have eaten tacobell after blenderizing it. I guess you would have to be pretty desperate though.
   — vickicarson

October 28, 2005
Crystal --- you gotta wait more than one week -- try it after about 6 months. How spicy -- try it after 6 motnsh -- eveyone is different.
   — the7thdean

October 29, 2005
I agree with theothers. You should still be on pureed right now, but you can try pureeing it in the blender. I also found that I do not like some of the things I used to pre-op. I used to love steak, just plain with only a little salt, and now it tastes terrible to me! You might eat some Mex and find it does nottaste the same. Or you might still loveit, but you need to wait to eat it.
   — Novashannon

October 31, 2005
Ha! A woman after my own heart! My doc's proteocol is for clear liquids for 1 week, then protein shakes and clears for 3 more. Within 3 days, I had wonton soup broth that had chili paste in it. I noticed at one week out that the juice on the fresh salsa was clear . . . so I ate it. The juice, that is. A few day slater, meatball soup, the Mexican kind, with lotsa added Cholula sauce. I cannot eat hout with a lot of acid these days (post-op), but that hasn't hurt my spicy food eating! Had green chile with chipotle flavor refried beans t onight. Good luck . . . and enjoy!
   — rayehawk

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