Question:
Can we still eat different spices after WLS?

I was wondering if spices on foods would be ok? For example what about powdered yellow curry? Can we still eat chillis like in salsa? Does it give you severe heartburn? Thank You..Cheri    — mastrnservnt (posted on December 12, 2001)

December 12, 2001
Hi, Cheri - I'm 4+ months post op and love chili. I have used all my usual spices w/out any problems!
   — Jean K.

December 12, 2001
Hi Cheri, wow, that is weird typing my own name! I wondered the same thing. I am 5 weeks post-op and I tried banana peppers in a salad, and did just fine. I was a little concerned, and took really small bites. Happy that it went well b/c I love banana peppers. Hope all other spices or spicy foods do well also. Oh, and I also have had mexican food that was spicy with no problems. No reflux either. God Bless.
   — Cheri M.

December 12, 2001
I'm enjoying spicy foods still! :) I never did like extra spicy, but medium (to slightly above medium) I enjoyed and still do. Thankfully I can eat them with no apparent problems. However I did buy a bowl of chili that was VERY hot and since I never did like that anyway I wasted my money. I was'nt going to chance hurting my surgery with it. But other than this, I have'nt missed out on any of spicy foods. In fact they seem to taste better than ever and I don't know why. ;)
   — Danmark

December 12, 2001
Rny cures acid reflux because the new little pouch is closed off from the vargas(sp?) nerves that produce acid. I was told to wait 2 months to let my tummy heal before eating spicy food. Since that was my liquid then puree stage it wasn't a big deal. Now I'm back to full spice. I eat curries, Schezwan (which is the chinese's hottest cuisine) thai, vietnamese, mexican, all without any problems. I do find when i eat something with a lot of hot sauce or hot little red peppers I sometimes get a bit of a loose bm, but to me it's a very small price to pay for flavor. I have found I crave spicier food, I think it's because even with the limits in quantity, spicy food fills the entire mouth and makes me feel like I've eat more or something because I have all this flavor. Good luck:)
   — Becky K.

December 12, 2001
I eat MORE spicey food now, pre op it caused bad acid reflux problems. They are all gone.:) Eating slower gives me time to enjoy the flavor rather than wolfing it down...
   — bob-haller

December 12, 2001
I wasn't told to avoid any particular spices after surgery.
   — [Anonymous]

December 13, 2001
I want to address an answer that suggested the vagus nerve is somehow a) cut off from the stomach after bypass surgery and b) produces stomach acid. Neither statements are true. Without the vagus nerve, the stomach would not function. Period. While it is true that over stimulation of the vagus nerve can make the stomach produce extra acid, nerves transmit electrical impulses, not stomach acid. Most people find bariatric surgery is a nice cure for reflux. Eat as many spices and peppers as you like. Dr. Vance
   — Dr. Vance R.

December 13, 2001
I can only post from my own experience but I have no problems with spicy foods. I eat both Indian and Thai curries and I like 'em hot and spicy! I eat salsa and serrano chilies with no problem. Give it a try in small quantities and see how you do. Best wishes!
   — kylakae