hi all. Well, since i had my appointment with my nutritionalist on tuesday and got more advice on eating.. ive had a major improvement.

Firstly, id had nearly continuous pain in my left shouldblade... worse at mealtimes, sometimes inbetween meals. i really wasnt sure what was causing it. But, im now day two out from talking it through with my nutritionalist, she gave me some guidelines for the timing of my mouthfuls, how to detect what was going on in my esophagus, and she said i could start some meat.. pureed. also, thicker veges, still pureed but more substantial.

Ive been following her guidelines.. at least 20 chews ( this is for the pureed meat and the veges which are still very soft ).... learning to recognise the feeling of the food passing down my esophagus, waiting for that to finish, taking another mouthful. (IM TIMING THAT) With the meat,(chicken) even though it was pureed, it still had texture, so i was chewing each mouthful about 50 times. waiting perhap[s for 30 seconds for that to pass through before taking another mouthful.

AS a result of being aware now of the length of time it takes for my body to push each mouthful down into the pouch... ( and learnt to recognise what i was feeling as it passed through) im now without pain in my left shoulderblade.

So, it seems like it was a combination of wind, inadequate timing for each mouthful and perhaps not enough bulk in my meals.

Im so happy this morning. i feel a lot better. i havent felt this good in a week or two. Its been well worth me seeing the nutritionalist.

My diet for the next two weeks ( im post nearly a month from surgery now) is as follows....

Breakfast. 1/2 cup baked Beans... mashed. morning tea... Protein drink with yoghurt. lunch... thick Soup.. 1/2 cup. afternoon tea (snack) Protein Drink. Tea... mashed veges and protein... 1/2 cup.

i havent worked it out exactly what calories in on. Im supposed to be having 1000 a day.

I just thought i would share this with you. Perhaps the pain in the shoulderblade can be alleviated for others here by doing what ive done. Like its been said here before... CHEW... CHEW... CHEW..

Good to hear you've got it figured out

Good to hear you've got it figured out

yes, it certainly is. im so glad that the pain isnt with me all the time now. I have noticed though... by the time lunchtime was due the pain did start as a dull ache so its possible its going to be a very sensitive alarm clock. lol. ive had a half cup of veges and very finely cut up chicken and feel really good now. NO pain at all. I did notice today when i was swallowing the chicken that it actually took about ten to fifteen seconds longer for it to go through the esophagus.. very interesting.