I am 8 days post op and feel pretty good. I am on the puréed food stage. I have been reading the forums on here and about the leaks. I am know really freaked out about getting a leak. Are leaks common? What is the best way to avoid one? Please help me calm down about this.

Leaks are not that common, sometimes they happen, nothing you can do about it.

All doctors are different and all have different protocols. I was on full liquids for 5 weeks. I was told this was to help prevent leaks. My surgeon wants to avoid leaks at all costs, I went to pureed food for a week, then soft food for a week and then it's regular food. First 6 weeks are the biggest chances for leaks*!

Make sure while you are on pureed food, you puree the heck out of the food. Don't overeat. If you can only get in 1/4 cup of Soup that's it. I am 7 weeks out and I really don't get much more than 1/4 cup of food or two ounces at one sitting.

At 5 weeks when I tried Tuna, I didn't puree it enough and it felt like it was getting stuck between my esophagus and my stomach. It hurt. When it did get down, I ended up with two pains, one inside my stomach and again it felt like I had food caught in my esophagus and stomach. This was only 2 teaspoons.

All people are different though. I was on clears still at 8 days out. If purees is too hard for you, go back to liquids, I still do purees and soft food though I'm allowed to go on regular foods. It's still a bit too hard for me.

Best of luck to you.

Edited July 25, 201214 yr by MinaT

I felt the same way i start my soft food tomorrow and is my 14 day out. It freaks me out just thinking about getting a leak but lets hope it does n't happen to us. Becareful on what u eat if u don't feel comfortable don't try it. Good Luck sending positive vibe ur way.