Question:
Why am I having trouble with solid foods?

I am 6 weeks post op Lap Roux-en-Y and have been having trouble with most solid foods. I spoke with my dotor when this initially happened and it was thought that my esophagus was spasming since I had not had much food prior to advancing my diet. I went back to liquids and advanced slowly again and it still happens. I get this intense pain like something is stuck either just above my pouch or in the pouch, and then soon after I vomit. I have tried eating slowly, taking much time in between bites, but nothing seems to work. Soft foods and liquids do not bother me, I have been able to eat cottage cheese and yogurt with no problem. I have been told I don't have a stricture from the nurse in the office becuase I can eat soft foods, but why am I having trouble with solid foods? How do you know if you have a stircture, can you eat soft and liquids and still have a stricture? Thank you in advance for answering my question!    — Mary S. (posted on May 20, 2002)

May 20, 2002
When you first begin to have a stricture you can't eat solid foods. You can still eat soft and liquids. As your stoma tightens and progresses it moves onto soft food rejection and eventually to liquid too. Don't let it go that far! If you need a dialation you need one! My nurse and dietition and surgeon told me for three weeks that it wasnt a stricture. Finally after 4 trips to the ER for fluids I finally got them to get me an appointment with a GI Dr. You have to insist that they let you have an endoscopy, even if its just to look and see! It's painless and fast! Don't let them bully you! IF you think something is wrong make them cooperate! Believe me, I have had 4 dialations so far!
   — elifritz

May 20, 2002
I agree with the previous poster about how it progresses until you can't tolerate liquids or your own spit. At 6 weeks, maybe the swelling hasn't gone down yet. If you are able to tolerate soft foods and liquids, give it some more healing time. If it gets worse, don't hesitate on insisting that you be scoped. You don't want to get dehydrated. I hope this gets better for you. I had 2 strictures dilated and thought that I was getting a third because it started with not tolerating solids, but I did fine on soft foods and liquid. They had me wait it out a little and I eventually was able to tolerate solids more and more. In the end, you don't want your stoma to be too large, or foods will pass right thru you without the feeling of full. You want to keep it as small as you can tolerate.
   — Cheri M.

May 20, 2002
If the food your eating is dry it will make you sick. I know it does me. I can't eat like chicken breast by it's self I have to eat like canned veggies that have the water and take a bite of each. Kind of like layering it in the tummy.
   — Sharon L.