Giant step backwards...

I am 6 weeks out from surgery today and I have been tolerating less and less food for the past 5 days. I think I have a stricture :(

Last night at dinner I ate 4 small bites of chicken and 3 bites of very soft steamed broccoli and felt absolutely stuffed and I got pain in my upper sternum-I still felt the same way for 3 hours. Things just aren't moving like they were.  This feeling happened with everything yesterday-my greek yogurt in the a.m., my scrambled egg and cottage cheese at lunch, and even the 16 pistachios I ate as a snack.   I was tolerting all of these foods and more last week without this overstuffed feeling after a few bites.   I have spent a lot of times after taking a bite holding my chest in terrible pain, and the slimy feeling in my throat is so bad. I just keep pacing the floors when it happens because I keep thinking if I keep moving my body maybe my gut will move things along quicker. I had thought about drinking when the pain is really bad to help push things through but was worried everything would come backup so I never tried it.  I haven't thrown up but gotten quite close and would probably feel better if I did-kwim?

Today, all I have managed is a protein shake this a.m. and 1/4 cup of ricotta for lunch-plus water.  Even liquids are filling me up more than usual.

I talked to the nurse at the doctor's office, she suggested that I was eating too fast or too much, I assured her that if anything I was eating a lot slower and have only been able to eat 1/4 of what I was- she is brand new and I have never met her but she seemed condescending, called me "dear" which I just hate!  She talked to my surgeon and then called me back.  The nurse told me that my surgeon does not think it is a stricture and only being able to eat 3 or 4 bites of something is normal at 6 weeks out and that if I had been eating more than that, this is probably my body's way of telling me to back off on my portions...wth? It's not like I was eating a cup of food, but at least I could eat 4 oz of greek yogurt before...argh!  My surgeon is having me come in to see him tomorrow though, thank goodness.

Did anyone experience this?  What did your doctor do for you? I am freaking out because I was doing so well....

Thanks for any advice or suggestions you can offer.

For me, my doctor kept me on soft foods for a long time! She said the longer I am on it, the more I will lose weight! I am at 3 1/2 months post op and I still haven't eaten chicken. I still eat soft, pureed foods! I never had any pain, not sure why you are getting those pains. Maybe you should make an appointment to see your doctor in person rather than get a message from the nurse.

Thanks for your reply Melanie.  I see my surgeon tomorrow afternoon...

It does sound like a stricture developing to me. I'm glad you are seeing your Dr. Hopefully he will order a scope to check.

 I was initially told the same as you, that I was eating too much, too fast, or eating foods that did not agree with me.  It wasn't until I was vomitting up liquids and needed to go to the ER for fluids that I felt someone was taking me seriously.  Hopefully when you speak with your surgeon tomorrow, he will at least consider the possibility of an upper GI.  

Sorry you are not feeling well :(  I haven't had my surgery yet but my dr's plan is week 1-clear liquids, weeks 2-3: clear liquids with protein powder, weeks 4-6: full liquids, weeks 6-8: pureed foods, week 9-10: soft food, week 11: regular diet.  Maybe you are progressing too quickly?

chicken is hard for alot of us that early post-op,,sometimes when i have a bad pouch day i find it's best to let it rest and go back to fluids a day or so until my pouch is no longer angry,you are much braver then i am no way would i have even considered eating any kind of seeds or nuts at 6 weeks.

Thanks for the continued comments...

I am following my surgeon's prescribed diet.  Full liquids from post op day 3 to 2 weeks post-op, pureed/soft until 4 weeks post op and regular as tolerated and 4+ weeks post-op.  My surgeon admits he advances diets quicker than others but hasn't found a difference in patient tolerance between his suggestions and a slower diet progression.  Everything I am eating I am chewing very well, the nuts, chicken, etc. have been fine for me up until this situation started...

I had a very similar experience about the same time from my RNY. Same symptoms and all-----long story short: drank the contrast, had the scope, found out it was reflux. Went on prescription strength antacid for a couple months daily and was just dandy!

Hope a pepcid is all you need, darling.

 Kady, is it because of the nuts? I read that nuts are not well tolerated until perhaps much later. I am sure you will work through this. Let us know what you find out! 
Leslie