Question:
I AM 4 WEEKS POST OP. WHEN I EAT IT FEELS LIKE ITS STUCK
FEELS LIKE STUCK IN MY CHEST. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE I HAVE TO BURP BUT CAN'T. I USUALLY VOMIT AND THEN FEEL BETTER. I AM AFFRAID IT WILL ALWAYS BE THIS WAY. CAN ANY ONE HELP ME? — Holly W. (posted on August 28, 2003)
August 28, 2003
No it won't always be that way, however, you may have a stricture..do not
panic..I have had 4 in the last 2 months. Call you surgeon and tell them
the problem. They may not want you to eat or drink until the feeling
passes. But, check with them. If you have a stricture and something is
stuck...something can be done, it's going to be ok. I'm a big chicken..so
coming from experience call your doc.
— Karen Renee
August 28, 2003
Hi, I went through the same feelings. I could trace the food, and water for
that matter, all the way into the pouch. It just felt like a rock stuck in
my pouch. Needing to burp probably means you are swallowing too much air
while eating and drinking or you are eating that ONE bite too much.THIS TOO
SHALL PASS! Everything gets better with time. I am now 10 months out, down
127 lbs, and life is NORMAL. Eating will feel normal too but normal isn't
necessarily the same as it was post op. You will learn all new feelings
about being full and testig new waters. Hang in there. It really is soooo
worth it. It was about the 10th week when I realized things were GOOD!
Denise
— Denise J.
August 28, 2003
Once you know there is no stricture then SLOW DOWN and eat smaller bites.
Only eat a few bites of the heavier denser things and finish the rest of
the meal with softer things and slowly switch the ratio till you can keep
down your whole meal of the heavier denser things.
<p>I kept down everything for 6 weeks then started in with having to
throw up about 1 meal a day. Eventually I was checked for a stricture and
while I did not have one the surgeon decided to dilate my stoma just a
little to help. It did help but I eventually figured out I was just eating
the thicker, heavier denser things too fast. I was chewing plenty but
pushing it in too fast. I finally learned to listen to the first bite or
two also. If it seems iffy stop and get something else to eat instead of
pushing it.
<p>I still have a tendency to eat 2-3 bites quickly and sometimes I'm
not sure if it will stay. But fortunately I have learned when that
happens, that I just put the fork down and sit for 5+ minutes until things
start to feel a little better. Then the burps come on for a few minutes
and then I am fine to finish my meal. I haven't thrown up in almost 2
months using this practice. Idealy I should not eat the 2-3 bites fast and
I don't at every meal, but it still does occassionally happen. I work very
hard at trying to find a way to keep it down now as I do not want to use
throwing up as my way to fix what I caused. However, I am almost 7 months
out, so I am in a totally different place than you. At 4 weeks you do
whatever you have to, to feel better.
<p>Step back a little and go for softer foods like cottage cheese,
refried beans with cheese, manwhich, etc. Things that are already chopped
and ground. When that is going good then slowly add back in the things
that need more chewing. This what worked best for me. I had steak the
other night and it tasted awesome and stayed down very well so there is
definite hope for you. At 3 months a thin sliced piece of tendloin would
not stay down, so I have definitely crossed a new line with the steak. The
only things I cannot keep down are thick dense fish like haibut, haddock,
salmon. I have tried numerous times and I just get sick and force myself
to throw up. Maybe in a few months I will try it again. I do fine with
fish like orange roughy and shrimp and crab, but not the others.
<p>Take it slow and easy.
— zoedogcbr
August 28, 2003
When this happens to me, I go back on soft food for a day or two. You know
the pudding, popsicles, protein drinks. It could be pouch irritation.
But, if it persists I would call my surgeon.
Take care,
Barbara Brewer WLS 5/20/03 Weight 278.50 Dr McCarty. Weight 8/28/03 228.50
— babrewer
August 28, 2003
I've had 4 strictures in the last 10 weeks since surgery too and I had
every symptom you mentioned...However it could be that your tummy is still
swollen or you are eating to fast or taking too big of a bite.If it
continues I would call your surgeon.
— jennifer A.
August 31, 2003
i felt the same way at four weeks , but started feeling better around eight
weeks.
— Shirlene M.
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