Question:
Im having trouble transitioning from soft to solid foods

Im 6 weeks post-op. My main diet consists of string cheese, eggs, yogurt and tuna blended in the food processor. Each time I attempt to add a more solid food (broiled white fish etc) I go through several hours of severe gastric pain and vomiting (mostly mucous). Im afraid to increase the consistency of my food. What am I doing wrong? Im sure there is no stricture and Im chewing well. Help!!!    — Barbara F. (posted on May 12, 2004)

May 12, 2004
are you eating TOO fast??
   — [Deactivated Member]

May 12, 2004
Barbara, I'm surprise that you can ingest these foods at only 6 weeks. Fish will take a while (although we are all different) I still cannot eat much fish or chicken or any meat yet and I had surgery in December 2003. You need to try different foods a 1/2 spoon to spoon at a time. Stick to white fish salads or chicken/tuna salad - do not forget 1-3 spoons will equal an entire meal for you. Your mind won't register this but your stomach will. Mucus forming will happen each time you eat too much or something too dense. You'll find soups (creamy-types) salads and a few crackers will fill you up quickly. Meats take a while even longer than my 5 months.
   — Anna M.

May 12, 2004
i also had trouble transitioning from soft to solid foods several hours of severe gastric pain and vomiting. i am now 10 wks out and doing a lot better, so please hold on it will pass i even had to go to the hospital a few times i do hope you are doing better. my doctor said i was loseing to much weight to fast. good luck. DEBBIE MCDONALD
   — DEBBIE M.

May 12, 2004
Here are a few guidelines that we share with early pre-ops at the Support Group I help to facilitate. First, only try the new foods at night (presumably when you have stayed well-hydrated all day). Only introduce one new food per evening meal. Secondly, try to keep in mind that the stomach upset you feel today could be attributable to foods you ate 24 hours previously. Also, as you are probably in ketosis given the high protein diet you are on (which I think is a great thing), your taste buds are kind of messed up (particularly given that the ketones are resident in your saliva). Consequently, the stomach upset that new the introduction of some solids brings is only exacerbated by the slight nausea caused by all the ketones. If it is any consolation, the stomach upset and discomfort passes (but, for me, when it finally did pass, I found myself no longer craving any particular kind of food or being desirous of special food items anymore). Good luck.
   — SteveColarossi

May 13, 2004
Hi Barbara --This sounds so very familiar -- I too had problems with solids. In fact just 2 weeks ago I was able try any kind of cooked eggs. The "frothing" you are experiencing is from the stomach not being able to produce enough "juices" and it goes into "panic" mode. I stuck to soups and soft foods for almost 12 weeks!!! I just hated the vomiting and then the dry, cotton mouth that followed. Be careful after you have vomited, because even though I was thirsty, sometimes the water came right back up. Your tummy will need a few hours or even a full day to settle down, so go back to clear liquids or at least full liquids for one day. This was per my Dr. office because I too was at my wits end. Like everyone else -- it will pass, but no specific time can be given because we are all so different. After one of my episodes I stuck to protein shakes, yogurt and soups. I feel your frustration!! One helpful hint -- I am six months out and I "shredd" ALL my meat before I eat it. I just us a good, sharp knife and "massacre" it (that's what my hubby calls it). Also remember the more moist the food (including meat) the better. We don't have the tummy juices like we use to. Rembember to eat slow (very hard to do because of years of programming to eat fast) and small bites. HOWEVER -- if it happens when you eat the proper way and/OR everytime you eat == call your DR! Good luck! (LAP/RNY 11/3/03 - down 100 pds)
   — LisaL.

May 13, 2004
Sounds like you're doing everything right but you may just be a person whose body needs to wait a bit longer to make the transition to solid foods. I was on pureed for the first 4 weeks, then advised to do what Steve suggested-- start small and slow and just one new food at a time. I know that when I first tried a really moist piece of chicken breast I got the "frothies" and felt sick. So, I stayed away from chicken. Have you tried refried beans?<p>I'm assuming that you know you don't have a stricture because you've had the test for it. If you haven't had the test, and you are still having trouble, I would call your surgeon. Actually, I would call the surgeon anyway to keep him aware of what's going on. Best of luck!
   — lizinPA

May 14, 2004
After ruling out a potential stricture, how much food are you eating over how much time? Have you tried cutting your string cheese into "dimes" and maybe eating 3? What if you do the tuna with mayo, but not in the blender? Have you tried baked potato or hot veggies? I'm thinking of things that are solid enough to chew, but not fibrous enough to hang up. And very small portions, still, like 2 oz over 15 minutes. Anything there?
   — vitalady