I started yesterday on soft foods and the food still stuck (feels like) what can I do? I had oatmeal w/ apples and string cheese.

I tried oatmeal too as one of the first soft foods and it did not go well for me either. I switched to cream of rice, I made it with skim milk and splenda and it was pretty good, went down MUCH easier than oatmeal and I didn't feel like garbage afterward. If food is getting stuck, you might not be chewing it enough...I know! Chewing oatmeal? The other problem could be taking bites that are too big. Eating anything is completely different than before surgery. I am one month out today, and I learn something new every day! Today has not been a great food day for me, so I am just taking it super easy, more (yucky) protein drinks, yogurt, soup blah blah...Good Luck!!! Hope you find that eating gets easier. OH! The other thing I had to do when things felt stuck was take little TINY sips of water, just to lube things up and get it down. I know we aren't supposed to drink and eat but when you can't swallow....

I did not do well with oatmeal either. I finally used 1/2 of the packets and made it really watery. That worked I did not eat it much..... Just did not care for the way I feel when it lands in my sleeve. To this day I do not eat much bread at all. I do not like the way I feel after. I took 3 bites of bread and it felt like I swallowed a sponge. I am just over 6 months and still stay away from bread. We are all different.... It takes time to re-learn what works and what will not. Hang in there..... You got this!!!

I would think the apple is too soon. It's too hard and fiber-y. I'd stick to soft cheese, yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese and such.

I too have some difficulty with oatmeal, 3 weeks out after surgery. But I can tolerate it. Yes, I chew it as much as possible. Jello is soooo good and real easy to deal with. Soup, especially liquidy ones. Pea soup was difficult, but loved it. Tasted ice cream (3-4 bites) yesterday, no problem with that (thank God).