Question:
How do I keep from swallowing food whole? (Stilll A Pre Op)

I have a habit of taking a bite and chewing just enough to get the food wet and then swallowing it whole. Even though it often hurts going down, I just can't stop. I've been trying to "teach" myself not to do this, but I just can't seem to control it. I can take tiny bites and try to count the times I chew aiming for 30 before I swallow, but...I start to gag after like 10 times. Any ideas how I can stop this problem before surgery?    — Renee B. (posted on June 21, 2003)

June 21, 2003
Hi Renee...you absolutely have to train yourself NOW to stop this. This activity will give you enormous problems post-op! Things getting stuck, vomiting all the time, terrible pain in your esophagus. I'm not trying to scare you, but this is very serious. Post-op you should take bits <b>no larger than a pencil eraser</b>. You should start training yourself to do this now. You're absolutely not going to be able to eat like this post-op. Your stoma will be the size of an M&M, and will not permit food to go through that is larger than that. Practically NO DIGESTION of food takes place in the pouch, so it has to be chewed to MUSH beforehand. I hope you have a bit of time before surgery to get this problem under control. Hugs and good luck, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 21, 2003
What usually happens is that after surgery you're scared to eat and really chew well. If you don't, you'll learn for the next time. It's forced behavior mod. Don't be so hard on yourself pre-op.
   — ZZ S.

June 21, 2003
I would think the easiest way to avoid this would be to cut all food in absolutely tiny pieces. The less you have to chew to avoid serious pain and vomiting, the better. Obviously you do need to get used to chew-chew-chewing, but consider tiny bites to be training wheels. :) I share this fear! Best of luck on your surgery!
   — ladyphy

June 21, 2003
I agree with San Z. I was the same as you pre-op. As soon as i was able to eat my first bite of food past clear liquids I was very conscious of how much I chewed and savored every bite because I was very afraid of what could happen if I didn't chew it properly. Eventually, after "practicing" 6 times a day every day it just became habit. Once in a while still I swallow too soon and the pain of a big chunk of food going down reminds me that i had better smarten up!
   — Jen L.

June 21, 2003
You'll certainly be more aware of it... and I will tell you the first time you forget to chew, and experience that pain, you'll be aware... because it does hurt... sometimes I will be able to feel it going all the way down... I have really done better, but I've found I have to drink a little something with my meals...
   — MF

June 21, 2003
Renee, you, like me will have to retrain yourself. I too inhaled food. I'm 4 weeks post op, and have had the experience of getting something stuck. Let me tell you, it hurt more than the surgery did! Linda
   — lorien

June 21, 2003
I'm a post op (5 months now) and still do this too much. I've tried hard to stop it, but it happens. I do two things to help: (1) I eat very hard to chew foods (e.g. Beef Jerky)-- I find if it is hard to chew I pay better attention. (2) If I think I'm going to have a problem, I take a paypaya enzyme pill after a few bites. Papaya Enzymes will provide some digestive-type enzymes, and help break up foods. I find that if I take it in advance, I'm better off (and can take fewer) than taking it after my food is stuck. Then it can produce air bubbles, and make me feel like I have to vomit. Usually I won't, but it hurts when the food goes down.<br> You can find Papaya Enzymes at the Vitamin Shoppe, or GNC. They are pretty cheap. Never take more than a few (2-3) at a time, because an overdose will hurt like too much stomach acid.
   — Beth S.

June 22, 2003
I don't know how to help you before surgery, but I can guarantee you that if you do that after surgery, you will get so sick, that you won't do it again. Don't mean to sound harsh, but it's a fact.
   — joeandteri