Question:
Did any one have trouble keeping food down in the early stages?
I am 4 weeks out tommorow and i am having a heck of a time keeping food down. I can tolerate liquids and some soft foods ok. No problems there. But meat even pureed doesnt sit well and i cant do any type of egg. I cant do mayo or cream soups even in tiny amounts. Im not sure if im just extra sensitive to fats or maybe im eating to much. my doc told me to watch for the pressure feeling in my chest. when i do that, and feel it its usually to late. thats when ill get sick. I get a whole lot of the phlemy stuff and then my stomach just rebels. I have the docs tommorow and im going to talk with him about it. But has anyone else had this problem? — baileysmom (posted on January 25, 2006)
January 24, 2006
I am not sure what your doctor's plan is for you, but my doctor has his
patients on clear liquids only for 2 weeks, and then we graduate to a 'no
chunks' diet...ex: cream of chicken soup(with the chicken strained out),
malt-o-meal (very thin and strained), pudding, jello....it can be a thicker
liquid, but nothing that wouldn't go through a strainer. he says that
anything thicker will stick to your staples.
I hope this helps...I would just maybe take it a little slower.
Sandra
— Sandra.M
January 24, 2006
Yes I agree, I was on liquids for a long time before moving on to soft
foods. I managed that at about 4 weeks. Tried earleir but got sick all the
time. When I moved to soft foods I did cottage cheese, sugar free apple
sauce, jello, flacky white fish, plain grits with splend. I also now avoid
black pepper. Make sure you stay away from that.
Did you see a nutritionist after first 2 weeks? I followed up with one
after 2 weeks and then onec every 6 weeks to stay on track. A nutritionsit
familiar with WLS can give you a better list of foods and help you add more
variety as you heal.
PS. Be sure to keep focusing on a good protein supplement this early in
recovery. Nectar or Matrix seems to be very well handled. Try purchaing
from a Bariatric Center or www.bariatriceating.com , prices are very
competitive.
— ppaige
January 25, 2006
You're right- waiting till you get the pressure in your chest is TOO LATE!
That means you've already overeaten. It's not unusual for meats, eggs and
fatty foods to not sit well. Patience and only trying an extremely limited
amount of new things helps. eat very very slowly. I mean VERY slowly. iT
SHOULD TAKE YOU 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO EAT A FEW OUNCES OF REAL FOOD. And,
listen to your body and how it feels. Soon, you'll pick up on the signals
of- that's enough! when your body sends it. For me- it was a hiccup. If I
hiccuped- I was done! LOL. Strange, no? A good tip- try drining a warm
beverage before you eat anything. many find it relaxing and soothing to
the pouch. hang in there- it gets easier!! Best regards,
— LMCLILLY
January 25, 2006
To be honest when I was 4 weeks out I was only eating cottage cheese a
single serve lasted me 3-4 meals. I waited to introduce food later I am 10
months out now and I still have not introduced bread and alot of other
things. Hope this helps and if you would like to talk more write me . Good
Luck Cindy
— NYCindy
January 25, 2006
I dont know what your doctor told you but meat is not in my plan for almost
3-4 months out. I had surgery Jan 3 and i am on only soft foods like
creamed soups, cream of wheat and etc.....
— fitn06
January 25, 2006
I am at 7 weeks out and still can't tolerate too much in the way of meats
and understand I may never be able to, but may. I was making the mistake
of eating too much, hence it all came up!
It sounds like you may be eating too much too fast. Eat very slowly
and only about half of what you think you can. For instance, 1 tablespoon
of tuna salad, not two. If I stop eating before I feel the slightest bit
full, I do alright. If I eat until I feel full, it is usually too late.
This is a learning process and everyone is different. Eat slowly and very
little at a time! I use a baby spoon to keep my bites small!
— LauraA
January 25, 2006
Everybody is different. A timer is an essential tool. An infant spoon is
also an essential tool. With the timer, 15-20 minutes are enough to eat.
If the majority of your food is gone in less than 15 minutes you are eating
too fast. More than 20 minutes of eating and you are eating too much. The
phlemy stuff is a definite sign you are eating too fast and have eaten too
much. I personally start sneezing, then comes the phlemy stuff, followed
by the rebellious stomach. Even when that happens you will need to relax,
breathe deeply and be miserable for the at least 30 minutes it will take
for your system to settle itself. Get a timer, a little spoon, and leave
the food that makes you sick alone for now. You'll have an entire lifetime
to experiment with food. Make sure you get your protein, water, vitamins
and supplements regardless of how you are tolerating food.
— Voonfrundle
January 25, 2006
Somebody mentioned not eating meat at such an early stage -- and I agree.
Don't be in a rush -- listen to your body. My partner was about 6 months
out before eating any form of meat. And with the eggs thing -- one month
her body will tolerate them and the next not. Your body will tell you or
is telling you what it likes -- listen to it. Fats is probably what is
hurting you -- try to stay away from those. Carnation Breakfast drink,
jello, yogurt (if you like it) and things like that. Mayo is nothing but
fat and your little pouch will reject fat and sweets (for right now at
least). Purchase those chicken broth cubes. You stomach may take longer
to adjust to it's new amount of foods. Even now, 2 years out, my partner
will eat 3-4 bites and she's done. Also, try Quaker Oats for breakfast.
Good luck at the doctors.
— the7thdean
January 25, 2006
I can't even begin to wonder why your doc told you to wait until you feel
pressure in your chest....that is when you are bound to puke. I suggest
measuring your food and eating very slowly as mentioned above. The
"phlegmy" feeling (sometimes called "foamies" means
that you have eaten too much. It definitely gets easier in time...good luck
to you!
— SteffieBear15
January 25, 2006
What you are experienceing is quite common. I was that way myself, and
still have trouble with some things, and I am a year out. You will
porbably find that some things bother you more than others. Everyone is
different. Keep track of what you eat, and see if there are specific
things that bother you. You should only be eating one or two ounces at a
time. i also found that I had to wait about an hour after eating before
drinking anything, and an hour after drinking to eat anything. i still do!
So keep track and see what does not work for you. You may be able to add
those things in eventually, but stay away from them for a while.
— Novashannon
January 26, 2006
Hello Erin,
I am 8 weeks post op and I am still having problems with solid foods. My
doctor told me not to worry about eating solids just continue to take the
protein. so that is what I do I just drink lots of protein. and nibble on
cheese or peanut butter. I hate eggs so I try to get the protein from
cheese and other drinks.. good luck
— evienicole
January 27, 2006
When I had my surgery, nearly 6 years ago, my doc had us on liquids for the
first 4 weeks. He cut it to 3 weeks for me, and then, it was pureed or
really really soft foods chewed very well for another 4 weeks which I did
in three. Seems to me, I didn't even test meat for several months. I
couldn't eat eggs or meat for a long time. I did, and still do my protein
shakes to make sure I'm getting adequate protein, at least to the best of
MY ability. I can't even imagine eating meat at such an early point, but
then, I'm an old timer....maybe things have changed, but from the sound of
your letter, you are having the exact problems I had when I did start
introducing those thing into my diet....very slowly, and chewed to mush. I
still could only eat maybe one bite of meat at 4 months out...and I'd be
stuffed to the gills, another bite, and I know it would have come up. I
never did throw up because of being so careful, so there must be something
to the regimen I was put on. Regards~
— Statuesque
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