Missing 'real Food" Terribly

Aww I totally understand what you mean :/ I'm 2 weeks post op and I want "real" food sooooo badly it's killing me. I keep trucking on, but the idea that I won't be able to eat anything good for a while is so frustrating. I hope you feel better!

LOL! as soon as I started my second week out this last Sunday I had this same freak out moment! I didn't think I would ever be able to eat normal food again! I posted a "Will I ever eat again" topic and got some really good feed back, you should check it out =) I quickly got over this and now I can have cottage cheese, yogurt, etc so I am doing much better. I think the pre and post op liquid diet combined with seeing your family eating (doesn't even have to be bad food, just FOOD!) doesn't help either. I just wanted to chew something so bad Sunday. I have upped my protein and water intake, had to get whey protein "bullets" to help get the protein in. If I have to look at or smell another protein shake... BLECH! the bullets aren't all that much better, they are super sweet and have a weird aftertaste, but they are 43 gr protein in only 3.8oz. which is better than 3 11oz protein shakes daily. I am now on day 11 post op and doing much better! Good luck! You will feel better once this week passes =)

I have been a bad post-op patient. Right now I should be on the soft food diet, but for about a week I have been eating "real" food. I'm chewing it up really really good and am very careful about what I eat, but I jumped ahead and went to real food. I have learned a lot over the last week about what I can tolerate and what I can't. I haven't thrown up from eating too much, so at least I'm listening to my body and stopping when I'm full which is about 5-6 bites of anything I'm eating. The only "bad" thing I have had was one small bite of pizza on Monday, other than that, I have been eating chicken noodle soup, string cheese, cooked fruit, grilled chicken. Good luck to you

I am 9 days out of my surgery and completely agree with you. I've been craving "real" food for days now. I have heard a lot of people who chew and spit. I think it's the loss of the texture. Just be safe! I'm horrible about my protein. I dont think I've had a protein shake since the day before my surgery. My tummy feels better with water and gatorade. But then again I have also lost 29 pounds since my pre op diet (2 weeks ago) so my doctor told me to bump it up. Chicken noodle soup, sugar free puddings, jello, sugar free popcicles, and anything that will "slide" through easily. Good luck!

I'm on day 14. I have felt the same way. It's been tough. The first week clear liquids. Second week full liquids It took me a couple of days to figure out how to get the protein in. I couldn't do the shakes anymore so I made my own smoothy -- 1 cup plain greek yogurt 23grams of protein, 1Tbsp of sugar free preserves whatever flavor you like a splash of milk and 2 pks of splenda more if you like it a sweeter. Blend in a blender. Thats how I get my protein. 3 smoothies a day 70 grams og protein . It's very filling and tastes good. Some people might not be able to drink it all. Now I'm starting the home soft diet were the motto is" If you can chew it don't do it" I have to figure this one out now if anyone has any suggestions let me know. Thanks! I wish everyone the best on there journey to a healthier lifestyle!

I had filet mignon yesterday and I certainly am not 4 months out - my nutritionists says as tolerated, and I tolerated it just fine Just have to chew, chew, chew. I know you are probably sick of hearing people say it gets better, but it does - I found that weeks 3 through 4 was where things began to normalize - that was when the diet was advanced. the liquid stage is mentally exhuasting.

Thanks everyone! I do not want to risk causing a tear or a leak by eating food I should not, but it is rather daunting when you think of it in terms of how long it is before you can eat certain foods.

That IS the reason why I needed the surgery, as I never said "no" to myself for anything I wanted.

That makes this phase especially difficult, as MOST things are off limits.

I am plodding along...had a few spoonfuls of the noodles from the chicken noodle soup today.....and felt REALLY full afterwards.

It was good for me to do that as it gave me an idea of how it is going to feel to actually eat something and it made me realize I have to take things slowly and do what is asked of me this week as far as the diet goes.

Don't get me wrong I still dream of eating that cheeseburger.......but I am going to try to follow the plan.....and eat soft and easy to digest things like the noodles in the soup....if I can't take it!

It will not take months (plural) to eat real food, I promise. For me, it was about 6 weeks out before I was able to comfortably eat solids again. That was roasted chicken breast, deli turkey, firmer tofu, shrimp, scallops, fish and cooked veggies. I started introducing red meat around 2.5 months with filet mignon, skirt steak, and ground meat in chili. It does fill me up faster than the leaner meats, but I can still enjoy it. I tried my first bite of an In-and-Out burger at about 3 months. Just got a crazy craving and got one. Had about two bites and wasn't impressed. Don't get me wrong, it tasted good, but I just didn't want anymore than that.

Now that I'm 6 months out, I can eat almost anything I want. It's scary how I can have a few bites of dessert, pasta, rice and other things I have to limit. I remember that feeling on the liquid diet, wanting real food so badly. It did pass for me, and now I still don't get really hungry unless I go too long between shakes or meals or don't drink enough water in a day. Hang in there!