Question:
Grilled salmon caused my first dumping episode this week...

I'm 4 1/2 weeks post-op. I ate only 2 oz. of grilled salmon and was miserable the rest of the day, with gas pains, nausea, dry heaves, vomiting, the whole works. What did I do wrong? I ate slowly enough, chewed it to a pureed consistency and only finished 2 oz. Why would salmon cause dumping? Any ideas?    — barbdeane (posted on February 28, 2003)

February 28, 2003
I've heard of quite a few people dumping on salmon, especially if they're early out like you. Salmon has a lot of fat naturally, and even though it's "good" fat, it can make you feel icky. That's the only thing I can think of.
   — Shannon D.

February 28, 2003
Avoid the salmon................? Just kidding- lots of first foods are hit and miss. Because you dumped on it today, doesn't mean you will dump on it in 3 mos. It's trial by error and every one's tolerance is difference. Unfortinately you must just keep expirimenting. Salmon is probably the one of the most fattiest fishes you could pick- and while it is chock full of good stuffs too- I would stick to tuna until later down the road.
   — Karen R.

February 28, 2003
I eat a lot of salmon and I love it, and I have never had a problem. One way that you make salmon "happy" as Emril would say, is to sprinkle it generously with salt and sugar and let it sort of marinade that way. Did you cook it or did you have it somewhere. They could have cured it with the salt and sugar mix. The only time I have had symptoms like you describe is early out with asperagus. Later, I thought, no way asperagus did that to me, so I tried it again with the same result. Even though I am a year and a half out and could eat virtually anything, I can't bring myself to try asperagus again!
   — cindy Q.

February 28, 2003
Salmon is one of the fatty fishes-though its good fat. It may have been the fat, or perhaps the salmon was not moist enough. I had a similar episode the first time I had salmon-mine was because it was too dry I think or because I ate too much of it. You are still an early post-op. Wait a few more weeks and try again. You may also want to try it steamed, rather than grilled-its softer that way.
   — Cindy R.

February 28, 2003
I had this problem, too. I'd eaten canned salmon, mixed with mayo, and had no problem. But when I ate grilled salmon at about 4 weeks out, I was as close to vomitting as I've been yet (I'm now 6 weeks out). I noticed while I was eating it how fatty the piece was, and I also think that was the reason for my distress. The canned salmon just doesn't have that much fat-- even with mayo!
   — Beth S.