Question:
Food "Sticking' At 5 Weeks Out

HELP !! i'm almost 5 weeks and it feels like things get stucki'm 5 wks postop i was able to eat chicken and alot of solids and now i can't eat much of anything it feels like things get stuck!! Had a GI test done today and everything was fine, tried tuna and watermelon and was in pain for 10 min. then threw up. Help i don't feel normal i want real food, should i try sf pudding and soup for a while? i'm down 25 lbs!! Thank You, Jean    — Jean K. (posted on December 7, 2002)

December 7, 2002
Chicken is still hard for me at 18 months post-op. Did you eat the tuna plain? I tried some tuna salad early post-op and got sick, but I have become lactose intolerant post-op and think it was the mayo. I eat plain tuna in the little cans now without problems. Watermelon and other fruits were hard for me initially as well and even now I don't eat too much due to sugar. Are you able or willing to do protein drinks? That will help make sure you get in the protein. You still are early post-op and many docs recommend going slow on "real" foods (mine didn't). I'm glad you got checked and that you are alright though that must make you feel better. Every day you will grow more aware of what settles well with you and what you tolerate best. Soups were very helpful to me early on as well. Best Wishes!
   — Molly S.

December 7, 2002
Jean ... The one thing the dietician said to me was not to rush going from one stage of food to another. I didn't have anything that even sort of looked like solid food for three months after my surgery ... and didn't want it, either. I'm 2-1/2 years post op (open VBG) and there's STILL food that gives me problems. I used to love those little clementine oranges you can only get around Christmas, and now I can't touch the things; I think it's the pulp or something. The first time I had a watery scrambled egg, about four weeks post-op, I was in hell for five hours and then finally threw the thing up. To this day, it's no bread, no mayo (and I'm NOT lactose intolerant; it just tastes like it's bad to me), very little meat. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't be in a rush to reacquire your old habits; let your new stomach get used to your new self. It's gone through a trauma and needs time to heal. Take it slow. I have a "three times and you're out" rule still -- if a food gives me trouble three times in a row, I don't eat it again. Best of luck in the days to come, hon, and be strong! Love,
   — Cheryl Denomy

December 7, 2002
I'm 5 1/2 weeks post-op and was having the same problem last weekend. I'd had no problem up to that point, but the exact same thing happened. In fact I threw up after every meal for a few days. Felt like a lump was stuck half way down. The problem only lasted for a few days. Went to my doctor two days ago and everything had worked itself out. A friend of mine who is now 3 months post-op had the same problem between 5 & 6 weeks out. She went through all the testing including being scoped and everything was ok. It took her a couple of weeks to work through it. Since I'm new to this, I'm not sure if this is a common thing. Hope you feel better soon.
   — lezawomack

December 7, 2002
I do just what I would have done if I got sick pre-op. Slow down.... don't eat any more of the offending food for awhile, a week or two at least. And stick to bland, soft foods for a day or two. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
   — dorothy S.

December 8, 2002
Not sure what the deal is here - 2 posters in a row making reference to "lactose intolerant" and mayo. There is no lactose in mayo - mayo contains oil, egg and seasonings. Lactose is milk sugar. It _might_ be added to salad dressing (like Miracle Whip) or fat free mayo, but is not an ingredient of regular mayo.
   — RWH G.

December 8, 2002
I cannot tolerate regular mayo because of the fat content - it just doesn't sit right. Low-fat mayo I can handle...JR (open RNY 07/17 -122 lbs)
   — John Rushton