Question:
HELP ! I can't get hardly any food in 4 wks post op

I am 4 weeks post op and can hardly get any food at all in..I tried chicken baked & other meats and they make me sick..can only eat crackers and grits(thin)...I tried mashed potatoes and other soft foods and can only eat about 2 bites before the food starts tasting GROSS...Liquids are fine but it takes me almost an hour to drink 4 ozs...any suggestions??? I have no energy to do anything, can't even get the bed made without resting.....    — Joi G. (posted on September 6, 2001)

September 6, 2001
Please TALK TO YOUR SURGEON !!!
   — [Anonymous]

September 6, 2001
This is actually fairly common at 4 weeks. I didn't start eating real solid food till 6 weeks and I still have to be careful. You do need to talk to your surgeon because these are possible symptoms of a stricture. My advice is to LISTEN to your body. If the solid foods aren't working, stick with the mush. When your body says enough mush, quit eating. Focus on the liquids, especially the water. Dehydration is the biggest risk for you right now. DO call your surgeon, but also be aware that this is normal and it DOES get better.
   — kcanges

September 6, 2001
Please contact your surgeon - it could be nothing or it could be your stoma getting smaller and that would require an endoscope procedure called a dilation (which is NOT that big of a deal - I had to have it twice - at 4 and 8 weeks - painless). Good Luck, Karan
   — chance2lv

September 6, 2001
I'm also 4 weeks post-op and am having the exact same problem. I had a barium swallow test yesterday and everything looked great - no stricture. So... I guess it's just my touchy tummy. I'm going back to soups for awhile. I would still get checked though. Lot's of times it IS a stricture.
   — mom2jtx3

September 6, 2001
Of course, I always suggest talking with the Doc. However, my experience was very similar. I'm at 7 weeks (I think - yesterday I posted saying 6 weeks - can't keep track)...anyway, at 4 weeks I felt like crap and couldn't eat well at all. Tonight I had my first "real" dinner...I ordered a hot turkey sandwich and baked potatoe. I ate some of the meat (no gravy or bread) and half of the potatoe with ranch dressing!! It was great!! I felt the closest to normal I've felt since surgery. Good luck to you. Open RNY 7/17/01
   — blee01