Question:
Am I going to be ok?
I had surgery 3 and a half weeks ago and I'm pretty miserable (to be expected I know), but I dump on everything! I tried some lunch meat (turkey and chicken) and dumped. I try to drink a protien shake and I dump. To top it off I'm puking up mucus and phlegm every other day. In the last 3 days all I've had is water, half of a protien shake, 2 oz of unsweetened applesauce, and some s/f jello. I take my vitamins, but I'm so worried that I'm going to do some major nutritional damage. I just can't eat. Please don't tell me to call my doc, because I did and they don't have room for me for over a week. Everything I eat I've chewed to death - even the applesauce if that's possible. When will I be able to stomach some normal foods again? When will I be able to stomach anything??? I'm pretty scared. Any suggestions on foods I should try? — Toni C. (posted on January 10, 2003)
January 10, 2003
toni,
Your not going mad, or even going through anything that unusual. If you are
throwing up mucus, you may be having post nasal drip that is causing the
nausea. Try and get something to stop that. Also, are you really dumping,
or just throwing up everything you eat?? There is a difference!! Stay away
from milk products, they can be brutal this early out. Take eating slow.
ONe bite of everything at first. It's easy to over eat at this stage. About
your vitamins. Are you taking the chewable kids ones? Take two, but
seperate them. A full dose adult one can cause nausea sometimes too! Save
those for a little further out. Lots to learn, and we are all different.
Good Luck in your journey. Make sure that you are getting in your water,
you do not want to get dehydrated. THat is the most important thing right
now---water.
— Vicki L.
January 10, 2003
It is still too early to be eating solid foods for most people. Keep on
liquids and pureed foods at this time and in small amounts. Make sure you
are taking your multiple vitamins. Devilled ham, devilled chicken,(the
adult equivalent of baby food), soft seafood like scallops will go down
pretty good right now, but keep it in small amounts. You are still in a
healing stage and food won't feel good for a few more weeks.
— Darlene P.
January 10, 2003
I agree with the first poster. It sounds like you have post nasal drip. If
you can get that under control it may help everything else. Buy a
children's liquid or fastmelt sinus medicine and try that. Once you have
that under control, try going back to full liquids. I used a strainer. I
pureed chicken soup and drank that. Also make sure the protein drink you
are using is sugar free. I used CarbSolutions and AdvantEdge Low Carb, both
available at WalMart. Try the premixed at least until you can get stuff
down. They are less chalky and don't have all that air introduced from the
blending. (I still can't do protein drinks from the blender!) While the
strainer is good, make sure you stay away from really acidic stuff like
tomato based soups or sauces and citrus juices. If your pouch is already
upset with you they may make things worse.<p>I would go ahead and
make the appointment with your dr. If you try all this stuff and it doesn't
work, at least you won't have to wait ANOTHER week to see him. And if it
does work you could always cancel! Be sure to keep sipping water all day
every day. If you get dehydrated you'll end up in the hospital for sure!
Good luck and I hope you feel better!
— ctyst
January 10, 2003
First, I can't even believe you're eating lunch meat. I couldn't eat
anything solid for 8 weeks! Your stomach is very upset. Try taking some
Mylanta to settle your stomach. I had stomach problems and my doctor
called in a prescription for me. It worked wonders. I know you don't want
to call, but do and ask if there's anything over the counter you can take
or if they can call you in a prescription until you can get in to see him.
If you're starving, try baby food (pudding, etc.) That's a very easy
consistency. The reason you're getting the phlegm is because your stomach
is upset and there's nothing in it anymore to bring up. Easy on the water.
That will also upset your stomach especially if you're not eating
anything. Feel better soon!
— dolphins94
January 10, 2003
warm tea or chicken soup broth
will cut down on the phlem and feel good in your tummy
Stop worrying
you will not die from lack of food
at 3 weeks out
I could not eat either
enjoy this honeymoon time of not being hungry
your a lucky one
some are hungry
better to be not hungry
try some cottage cheese
refried beans
mashed potatoes
soups
jello
try a ensure
just a little
you will be eating like 1 oz at a time
not much
swollow the food
let it hit your tummy before taking another bite
soups are a good thing for the first few weeks
you will be fine
Kathy
— Kathleen M.
January 10, 2003
Aw, Toni, your having a rough time, sweetie. I'm sorry, but be assured
that you will be OK. You will not starve, just sometimes its tough early
on. Trust me, it does get better. At this stage, its just a wait and see
if it stays down... I had severe nausea early post-op and what helped was
egg drop soup. Soft scrambled eggs were good too, as was clear Koolaid
looking protein drinks. The shakes might be a little thick for you this
early. Just keep sipping water, try to get in some protein and don't worry
about the lack of food at this point. You should start to feel better
pretty soon. Keep in touch with us. We're here for you.
— Cindy R.
January 10, 2003
I can SOOO relate! I literally thought I was going to die the first few
months. I would throw up nearly everything I tried, including water if you
can believe it. I was treated for dehydration at the ER twice in that
first two months. Things fortunately do get better, slowly but surely.
Now, two years post-op, I am 100% thrilled with my surgery and would do it
again in a heartbeat. A coupla hard months in exchange for a lifetime of
good health - can't beat that! Hang in there!!!
— Terissa R.
January 10, 2003
I was throwing up foam and mucus too. did not know it was stomach acid at
the time. after months untreated i started throwing up blood. went to
hosp and they did and endoscope and discoved that it was over producing
stomach acid which was making an ulcer. Please go the the dr if not then
please take and anti acid before you eat to see if that help. good luck
— Tammy P.
January 10, 2003
It might be a tad bit early for turkey and chicken. Regarding the mucous
problem, which I still fight from time to time, they have me take my
regular allergy meds, but before bed, take Zantac and a benedryl. That
dries me up and stops the stomach acid so I don't have problems the
following day.
— Cathy S.
January 10, 2003
I was on pureed food for the first 4 weeks or so - some things I was
allowed: oatmeal (I bought packets of instant regular flavor oatmeal and
made it with Lactaid milk for extra protein and calcium, and to help
prevent dumping), V-8 juice, pureed chicken (not lunchmeat - I got Tyson
roasted skinless, boneless breasts of chicken and pureed it with some cream
of chicken Soup at Hand), pureed cottage cheese, Dannon low fat, low sugar
yogurt, pureed peaches in juice, mashed potatoes, Cran raspberry juice (no
sugar added) diluted with an equal part of water, Choice DM (like Ensure
but for diabetics - low sugar, but lots of vitamins). You are still quite
a ways from being healed up inside, and you need to take it easy. Do see
your doctor next week. Chewing food is great, but take the time to puree
some food; it didn't seem as heavy when I ate pureed as when I switched to
chewing. You could try baby food if you don't feel like making anything,
but I personally would rather have skipped eating altogether if I had to
eat that stuff (Yuck!, although the fruits aren't too terrible.) I hope
you are doing better soon. (P.S try to have something in your stomach when
you take your vitamins - that may be contributing to the problem).
— koogy
January 11, 2003
If you have problems with eggs, try eggbeaters or something like them. I've
been told that they are much easier to digest.
— Beth S.
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