Will this end?

Just wondering if anyone has experience when they are eating it is a little discomfort when the food is going down. I will be a month post op next week and I am assuming that I can have solid foods starting next week but will I always experience some discomfort when I eat something will that sensation last forever?

Has your surgeon cleared you for solid food? What types of foods/amounts are you eating?

I was on mushy food for a full month, and even in the 5th week I still chose softer choices. I haven't had discomfort with anything other than going too fast (which I did a few times re-learning to eat).

 

This was my reply to a topic posted earlier today, and I think it's the best reply that I can offer at this stage. And, no you shouldn't ALWAYS experience pain or discomfort when eating. It should resolve, and if it doesn't get to your doctor. Make sure you're on a PPI to help control any acid issues you may be having.

I think one thing a lot of people neglect to realize is that just because our doctors give us a guideline of what we "can" eat, doesn't mean we should, or that we will be able to consume those amounts.

At 5 weeks into my post-op diet, I was barely moving into mushies. So many things irritated my stomach, or didn't settle right so my choice was be miserable or rely on things that would work.


Just because it's on the "okay to eat" list doesn't mean your body will like it or even accept it. I would stick with what you know works. For me, refried beans with some cheese, greek yogurt can be flavored to keep it protein rich and not lose it's nutritional value, try mixing some ranch dressing sprinkles or sugar free pudding powder (the instant is best in my opinion), just add enough to cut the bitterness of the greek yogurt. I mixed chicken, tuna and hard-boiled eggs with greek yogurt and the ranch dressing sprinkles to make chicken/tuna/egg salads. That way the food was moist and still protein packed.

Some other staples in my diet were, soft poached eggs with a couple of cheese chunks, google ricotta bake for a nice change of flavors, also you just have to get creative and do things that your stomach can handle.

I relied on drinking some warm tea before meals because it helped relax my stomach. Just because the book says to return to a normal diet doesn't mean you'll be able to do so on that timeline.

I didn't get to regular foods, hell I didn't eat half of a normal diet for the first 6 months, but I couldn't even tolerate more than 2oz of solid protein until well after 3 months post-op. I didn't even really attempt rice, or bready type items that are known to expand in the stomach. 

Try to remember that your anatomy is unique to your body, and your surgeon has a guideline that is for "most" people. You might just be one of us that can not tolerate the stages as suggested by the "book" or guideline.

I am still on mushies, I could be eating too fast but I do not think so. I agree with USAF Wife that everyone is unique to their own body and situation. But some things like the tuna fish sits pretty well and the scrambled eggs sit well, but I could be eating it too fast that why it feels discomforting.

I am 29 days post op and can relate to what you are saying. I too felt pain while what ever I ate or drank went down but it has settled down quite a bit.

If I gulp, or even take an overly large amount into my mouth and down my throat at one time, I can feel it like I ate a big scoopful of peanut butter. (come on...I know we've all done that at least once in our lives, lol)

With the help of the more experienced people on the board I've isoated the issues I've had learning to eat again. I now choose a VERY small fork and SIT to eat (I've always been one to cook and serve everyone and just stand in the kitchen and eat, weird huh?).

I watch the clock (hopefully won't have to forever) and take a bite every 4 minutes. (Sounds stupid but my fish, 1.5 ounces actually went down and stayed down nicely tonight).

I made sure it took 20 minutes for me to consume my fi**** worked. No pain. No nausea.

Also, when I did feel discouraged by the eating process, I just went back to liquids for a day or so then tried again. This worked wonderfully. For my mind and my body.
 
Hope this helps.
Donna

I had the same problem and can still have it sometimes. It is like my esophagus tightened and my Doctor said, in fact it sort of has. I had to make sure I chewed very very well. Even large sips of water can feel like a boulder going down. But if I went really slow,took small sips and bites and chewed like crazy (when you are on solids) then I didn't have a problem. Sometimes it still feels like that,but it has gotten lots better.

I used a baby spoon to eat with......................our brains still want us to take a normal size bite of food. Call your dr just in case of something going on, in  the mean time try taking little baby bites and see if that helps.

I totally agree with disabled_nurse.  When I firs started eating solids, I would eat three bits of whatever, steak, tuna, chicken, and after that my brain would be saying, there is no way you are done.

When I was first eating mushies and solids, I got a discomfort in my throat then, if I ate anything bite after that I got the discomfort in my tummy, saying that was one bite to many.

So, now I don't get the discomfort in my throat anymore, and I don't get the discomfort in my tummy anymore, unless I eat more then 4 bites of any food.

I am almost 3 months out.

Susan

I know what you mean. Some of us here experienced more pain swallowing in the beginning than others did. I had the pain from the start, it hurt terribly even when I swallowed my own saliva. So no it isn't necessarily that you are eating too much or too fast. Some people who have not experienced this pain just cannot fathom that some of us had it due to no fault of our own.

It did get better in my case after the 5th week. I was on mushies until week 5 and even then I took it slow with them. But after a while the swelling goes down and the reflux settles down (I started a PPI) and it gets better. I still felt it occasionally in the mornings until about week 7 but now I never do. Good luck!

I had the same discomfort when I started full liquids but it went away after about a week, I figured mine was due to my esophagus being swollen still. I mean they did put a big tube down it and put pressure on it so thats what I assumed it was from. Now its fine. If it doesnt go away you should check with your doctor.