Question:
I'm 3 1/2 months out, and still find so many inconsistencies in diet day to day.

Somebody please help! I'm getting really tired of feeling great and getting my food down one day, and as soon as i take one bite of my food the next day, i spit up and feel like my day is ruined from the get go! i still have trouble with my "head" as far as eating slowly, chewing a million times, etc. can someone please just let me know when things will become somewhat consistent? i'm 81 pounds down 325 to 244.    — ann6088 (posted on November 26, 2002)

November 26, 2002
ANN, I had surgery 8/15 (Open RNY) and I am sorry to hear of your troubles! I have no trouble eating anything, I don't think I chew any slower than I used to. My hardest things to this day are not eating & drinking at the same time and trying things new. I wish you luck, its all just trial and error...But, I am the same length out of you and I have no problems, if there is one thing I have learned, it is "EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT"...Ohh, this maybe an answer, do you still have your gallbladder? I als b/c if you don't that is why you maybe developing slower and having more difficulty with certain foods.
   — heathercross

November 26, 2002
I think this is a very good question. I am almost 6 months post op and I still go through the same things. I can eat about 1/2 of a plain chicken sand. from Burger King. One night we stopped at Burger King and I got a chicken sand. and after 2 bits I had to go throw it up. Something just didn't click with me. Maybe I ate it faster without noticing....maybe my stomach was just not up for that. I don't have a medical answer to your question, but I do know that I go through the same thing. You have to learn how to read your body and realize when something is not going to settle right. After a couple of bits you should be able to see if it is going to stay down right. Chew very good and eat slow. That is the main key everyday. Good luck.
   — Cindy M.

November 26, 2002
Well, Ann, I may not have the answer you're looking for, but it's possible you may never become totally consistent. I am more than 21/2 years post op & there is still a lot of inconsistency in what & when I can eat. In general, I can eat pretty much whatever I want, but it does vary. Some days I can eat a full sandwich; other days I can't eat more than several bites. Sometimes I can eat most of a pork chop; other days several bites is all I can handle. I go out to eat frequently & it's often just a guessing game. I order what sounds good & I eat as much as I can. Sometimes I eat most of the meal, other times I end up taking most of it home. PART of my problem is still occasionally eating too fast and/or not chewing enough, but that's not all of it. I don't know WHY there's so much variation from day to day, just that there IS. I have, over time, learned to deal with it pretty well. I just sort of take it as it comes. I eat what I can & save the rest for later. That's the "not-so-great part". The really great part is that I really don't care about that. I am below my goal weight, I can do ANYTHING I want to, physically. I am back in my own life now, 100%. I have a social life, a love interest, sports I enjoy, a wonderful, healthy future to look forward to. So what if I can't eat very much sometimes or if I vomit occasionally?? I have lost 190 pounds!! Life is wonderful! I know it's not easy all the time, but if you can keep focused on the larger goal & not so much on the little day-by-day stuff, maybe that will help. As I became farther & farther post op, food became less important to me all the way around. You have to focus on it & on getting enough nutrition throughout the first year or so, but after that it is nice to let food take a much less important role in your life. I think that will come for you, in time. Be patient, don't let a "bad" food day ruin your whole day, take it as easy as you can. Hey, there's good times ahead! :)
   — Kathy W.