Question:
Anyone heard of this?
I know someone who is just over a week post-op, she is having a really hard time. She is eating steak dinners...chewing the steak and spitting it out...licking potato chips and popcorn etc. Isnt this dangerous?? Couldnt she blow her pouch out if she accidentally swallowed this type of food so early out? — rhonni37 (posted on November 25, 2003)
November 25, 2003
I first want to say that I feel so sorry for your friend. She needs to get
help and fast. My eating disorder psychologist explained to me that this
type of behavior is a form of bulemia. It can get out of control very
easily. It could be dangerous if she happens to swallow some of these
foods, yes, but it is also mentally dangerous for her to be chewing foods
and then spitting them out. I wish her all the best. ~Kristy (lap rny
9/18/03 - 320/274.5/168)
— kristynush
November 25, 2003
I find Kristy's post interesting. Many surgeons actually encourage new
postops to chew and spit foods they crave but shouldn't eat. I'm not
saying that that's what she's doing and she may well have an eating
disorder, but she should talk to her doc about it. Not enough facts to
really help much. Good luck to you and to her!
— [Deactivated Member]
November 25, 2003
I never ate and spit out food. However from day 8 on I ate beef jerky and
just about that same time I ate alot of steak too. Now I chewed the heck
out of it until it was liquid. But the point I'm trying to make it that
steak is'nt all bad. The main thing is to chew everything to liquid as a
new post op.
— Danmark
November 25, 2003
I have to admit I did the same thing. I didn't lick things but I did chew
them up and spit them out. This mostly happened right after surgery when
everything was so bland and I just wanted to crunch or chew. I only did it
when there was something that I loved around; then I read an article about
how this is the 'new thing' but that we shouldn't do it because it causes
chipmunk cheeks. Apparently it causes us to over salivate and then our
cheeks swell. Oh well. I'm over it now anyway.
— Pambylah
November 25, 2003
My surgeon's information recommends doing this if you just HAVE to have
something. I did it only a few times early post op and I don't have an
eating disorder. I agree that it is really too early to jump to that
conclusion. I also have a friend who licked the salt off of Dorito's to
have something with flavor and salt. She's not bulemic either. Good luck!
Shelley
— Shelley.
November 26, 2003
I did that a few times at the very beginning. I thought it was weird but
I'm glad to see others have done it too! LOL I think I did this because I
just wanted to have something in my mouth, after not "eating"
anything for 2+ weeks. You get real tired of just drinking, I think. Once
I started eating, the desire to do this really decreased. I never
accidentally swallowed anything. I'm 2+ months out, and the only thing
that I still crave tasting at this point is italian bread with butter. I
"tasted" that a couple of weeks ago. I don't really think it
will be a problem for your friend once she starts eating again.
— Carlita
November 28, 2003
I cant understand how your friend felt! Just having liquids almost killed
me. I wasnt hungry but I just wanted some flavor! I licked the seasonings
off of Sour Cream and Onion Pringles and fed the actual chip to my dogs. Oh
did that do the trick!! I dont think that doing this blew my pouch or
showed that I didnt have control. I think that my behavior was natural and
I would encourage others that crave something besides apple juice and beef
broth to do the same! I am now almost 7 months post op and food does not
rule my life! Whooo hooooo!!!
— S A.
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