Question:
What can I eat that won't nauseate me?

I started pureed foods on Tuesday. I am having a hard time. Everything seems to nauseate me. I have tried soft scrambled eggs, refried beans, chicken, ground beef, cottage cheese and malt-o-meal. I am not eating too much. Usually it is only about 1/4 cup or just a couple of bites. But everything makes me nauceous. I am suppose to have 74 grams of protein a day. That is why I mostly eat protein, but, nothing settles on my stomach. Any ideas of what else I could eat?    — Stacie B. (posted on July 24, 2003)

July 24, 2003
Hi there ... wow ... I was in the same boat as you ... I'm now 5 weeks out, down 31+ lbs ... but EVERYTHING seemed to nauseate me in the first few weeks ... finally I got a prescription for something to help the nausea, but I'd stay away from the ground beef (I was told to wait on red meat for 3-5 months) ... I was also told to aim for 40-60 grams of protein a day ... so try to get some kind of protein drink in (I got nauseated from them too at first ... I'm still trying many different brands, etc.) Most important thing is getting fluids in you (don't want to dehydrate and end up back in the hospital) ... then aim for the protein ... hang in there ... only now am I starting to get over the feeling of nausea ... but some things still bring it on. Also ... if you can, melt cheese on anything you can (I found some reduced fat swiss cheese at 10 grams of protein per slice ... so if you can melt it on eggs [although a lot of people are sensitive to eggs at the beginning ... I found that devilled eggs work well for me ... I use low-fat or fat-free mayo, mustard, vinegar and onion powder] ... or melt it on pureed chicken or even in grits, or something like that ... it helps ... take it day by day ... I also found that I feel nauseated when I don't eat regularly (every 3 hours or so). Good luck ... hang in there! :-)
   — Karyn B

July 24, 2003
A quarter of a cup is probably a little too much this early. And, there is no conceivable way you can get that much protein at this early stage. When I started on soft foods, 12 days post-op, I could eat about 2 or teaspoons of watery cream of wheat and that was all. Then, maybe I could eat half a small egg. Take it very easy and soon you will be doing great. Your doctor may have to give you something for the nausea. But, please try to drink as much as you can - right now, it's more important than food.
   — Patty_Butler

July 24, 2003
May I recomend yougert, cream of wheat w/sugar free maple syrup,chicken noodle soup without the liquid and cottage cheese with salsa
   — Robert L.

July 24, 2003
For the first month or six weeks I wouldn't worry so much about getting the protein in as much as getting enough liquids. One sign of dehydration is nausea, so upping your liquid might help that. To up your protein values, try mixing in protein powder, or powdered milk, with your food. Also, eat foods that are easiest to digest--ground meats of any kind might be too difficult now. I wouldn't eat chicken until at least 10 weeks out, and it still sometimes gives me trouble. Try thin oatmeal made with skim milk, sugar free pudding made with skim milk, cream soups. Hang in there, it will be much better real soon.
   — Vespa R.