Question:
Has anyone had trouble digesting meat, raw vegetables, and bread?

I'm 16 months post op and I am still having trouble eating many foods. I continue to throw up when trying to eat meat, raw vegetables, and bread. I was amazed that Rita could even eat pizza 5 months after surgery. Maybe I am just one of the exceptions. By the way, I have lost 182 lbs. and now weigh about 130 lbs. It is great to wear small cloths, but it is a very serious surgery that can have lifelong consequences.    — Deborah M. (posted on August 7, 2003)


August 7, 2003
It is totally up to you, how you chew, how much you put in your mouth, how long it takes you to eat, etc. You have to force yourself to eat these things. What DO you eat?? Since meat, veggies and bread are all out, what DO you eat? Eggs? Look at my second profile, sharon m. brittain, to find a good diet to follow and you are the only one who can make yourself eat and not throw up. Get it out of your head that you are going to throw up, chew the food really well, eat only one or two bites at a sitting, but get these foods in. You can do it.
   — Sharon m. B.

August 7, 2003
Hi, I'm only 2 months post-op, but for me, veggies go down fine. I was told by my dietician to limit bread unless it's toasted since bread can "ball up" and get stuck. I can each chicken, ham, hamburger, but I do have a problem with pork and steak. I actually had to excuse myself and go to the bathroom in a restaurant to get rid of some pork rib that refused to stay down. If you are eating the skins/rinds on vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes, try removing those before you eat, toast the bread but limit it since it's a carb we really don't need and as for the meat, cut it up into tiny tiny pieces (some say the size of a pencil eraser), add some gravy or sauce and chew chew chew. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

August 7, 2003
18 mos post op. Almost died after eating some soft pretzel the other night! totally stuck. Raw carrots and chicken both are bad for me. Beef is fine as long as I chew chew chew.
   — sara J.

August 7, 2003
ok - upon reflection - I don't mean literally died in my post below!!! just figuratively, I will chose my words a little more carefully next time. I don't want to scare anyone!
   — sara J.

August 7, 2003
I do best on beef and have since I was on regular foods. I just cut it very small and still chew chew chew. But it doesn't enter my mouth unless it's small enough to pass thru if I were to "forget" to chew. I had lots of trouble with chicken and still on occasion do - another one I make sure is cut small before I eat it. Tiny bites really help! I don't have problems with raw veggies, but some do and there's no reason you can't just enjoy them cooked.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 7, 2003
Everyone is different after this surgery! I can eat beef, but it sits pretty heavy so I don't have it very often, and my husband can't tolerate it at all. I can't tolerate melon of any sort and sure wish I could. (Makes me sick, and I just can't help it. It is not mind over matter, either!) It may just be one of those things you have to live with.
   — koogy

August 7, 2003
I have to lovingly and respectively disagree with Sharon. It is not totally up to you and you cannot just "make yourself eat. I am nearly six months out and I have a terrible time with most meats. Even chicken and tuna. When I eat it, I feel like i am gonna die. Just cannot eat it, no matter how hard I try. Raw veggies? forget it!!! I can eat some raw fruit and steamed or cooked veggies. I can do ground beef with a little salsa or some other dressing on it. I eat lots of eggs, cheese and cottage cheese and occasionally can eat a bite or two of meat. Just a bite or two though. I do protein shakes. Good luck.
   — Delores S.

August 7, 2003
I'm a year out and still can't do bread. Most I've ever done was maybe a bite or two, but it makes me feel awful and I'm scared of it balling up and getting stuck. I can do beef as long as I chew it like crazy. I adore beef jerky and it's a great way to get protein. I can do veggies pretty well. I just make sure they're very small.
   — Cathy S.

August 7, 2003
I thought maybe i was too early post op to contribute (3 months) but I have an aweful time with any meat. I've resorted to protien shakes and a tiny amount of nuts, and maybe eggs for protien. shrimp go down ok, but I have a horrible time with most meats. I throw up and am in agony when I try. I'm seeing that this is a problem with a lot of post-ops even a year or so out. Would I trade digesting meat for 67 lbs? NO WAY! I'd still choose the WLS. Eating is no longer fun, and sometimes I avoid it until I am really hungry because I can't stand the way it makes me feel. Don't get me wrong, I do eat but it's just not fun or easy anymore. I know I'm not much help, but just wanted to voice my own experience.
   — Happy I.

August 7, 2003
At just about 6 months out I can eat almost anything easily except for white menat chicken, grilled burgers and some steak. Pork chops are eaten well. I think it has to do with the way the items are cooked. If the steak is london broil, I have to practically shred it with my fork to eat it. It can be stringy. The chicken has to be barely safely cooked. Try deli roast beef sliced very thin. It is moist and not tough at all. I've done very well with it. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

August 8, 2003
I am not as far out as many of the previous posters are (I'm 2.5 months post), but thought I'd add my two cents in. I have been very lucky to be able to eat most anything. I do not crave sugar (and hope I never do) so I have not eaten that. I also do not crave carbs but have eaten whole wheat breads and such that went down fine. I can eat chicken, beef, tuna, fish, shrimp...I've even eaten pizza with thin crust....you name it. Nothing bothers me. If it wasn't for the fact that after a few bites of food I just don't want any more, I'd never know I had the surgery. I do at least two, most of the time 3 protein shakes per day and get all my supps in. I have never thrown up, so I can't offer any advice there. I was a very "hearty" person pre-op and I don't know when the last time was that I was sick. This seems to have carried over post-op. This is the only reason *I* can think of why some do well (not getting sick and tolerating foods) and some don't. Beyond this, not sure why it happens. You have done so well on your weight loss! CONGRATS! I hope I do as well. Maybe farther down the road things will get easier for you......Lap RNY-05.19.03 Down 46#
   — Jeralyn Merideth




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