Question:
Having pain eating

My surgeon is conservative with post op diet. I was on liquids first week and am now progressed to soft food. Every time I eat or drink I experience mid sternal chest pressure and moderate to severe pain. My diet is tofu, cottage cheese, scrambled egg and nonfat milk. Everytime I try to progress to a new food I vomit. My diet also allows chicken and fish. I take very small bites and eat slowly and chew carefully. It is hard to keep up my fluids because of the pain. I'm just wish eating was a little easier. I stop fluids a half hour before meals and don't drink for 1 hr after meals. I have had a big intolerance to anything that tastes sweet and all the protein drinks I have tried seem very sweet to me. Any suggestions will be appreciated.    — Jean C. (posted on November 10, 2002)

November 10, 2002
My surgeon told me that between weeks 3 and 6 the pouch hardens and becomes less elastic. He says this is the normal healing process of the new stomach. For us, though it amounts to pressure, pain, and difficulty eating. This happened to me around week 4.5-5.5. I got very nauseaus, had alot of pressure, and pain. My surgeon told me to go back to fluids for 36 hours and then work my way back up to eating normally again (i.e., softs, then add new foods). As long as you can still tolerate liquids and they go down without being thrown up, you are okay. Be patient, it does get better. Ask your doctor about this just to rule out anything serious. Good luck to you!
   — Jen D.

November 10, 2002
I get that way when I overeat. Try decreasing the amount you are eating at one time, and stretch out that small amount for half an hour. My surgeon said a lot of this pain is from the healing process. Your pouch is swollen and sore still. I am now 13 weeks out, and if I am careful, eat slowly (my biggest fault) and don't over eat I am fine, but if I am careless, I have the pain again! Be patient, it will get better.
   — Tami D.