I'm 3 1/2 months out. I still can't eat much and still can't tolerate many things. I'm dealing with it okay and I'm not complaining. So far I'm doing great. On occasion I lose my lunch but it's not too often. But I'm curious. Will I ever be able to tolerate all foods? Or will I always have trouble with certain things? I'm still not able to eat more than 1/3 to 1/2 cup of Soup and soup-like things (like chili) and solid foods even less. Sometimes I can eat a whole yogurt, sometimes not. Veggies are still impossible because there's no room for extras after my Protein. Once in a while I opt for a veggie meal and later have a Protein shake to make up for it. Carby things (healthy carbs) like brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, whole grain breads and pastas - I haven't even tried these. If there's no room for veggies there's certainly no room for healthy carbs, either. How long before I can eat anything remotely resembling a balanced meal? (Protein, veggie, carb)

As I mentioned, I'm not complaining. I'm content enough to continue on the way I am for now. I'm just wondering about long term nutrition requirements. :-)

My three month post-op was rescheduled till the end of September (at four months). I had my blood work done a month ago. The office said if there were any issues they'd call me. No call so 'no news is good news'. I'm assuming results were good.

Hi Terry1118....I'm 17 months post op. Everyone is different and I can only tell you what I have experienced. I do not do chicken, beef or pork well at all, every time I try to eat it I have a very difficult time processing and my stomach hurts. I get my Protein from cottage cheese, yogurts and shakes. I basically live on Soups, veggies, grains. I can't do Pasta or rice well...they just don't go down well. I make sure I chew, chew, chew, chew and still I have problems with meat. I can do fish but cannot do lobster well, I think its to stringy and I love lobster too I nice piece of catfish or flounder is just perfect for me.

I think you are progressing just fine. Everyone has to go at their own pace, I think I had a "regular" meal about 6-7 months out, I'm still learning what I can and cannot have!! If all you blood work comes out fine than are OK. My blood work always comes back perfect so I continue to take my Vitamins, protein and get my fluids in.

Just as BBdoodle says, everyone is different. chicken, fish and turkey are my best friends. I'm definitely a meatosaurus! Which is not to say that my eating habits have not changed. Dramatically. I think that you'll find your transition back to regular meals will be a gradual one. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Take your time and listen to your pouch. You'll slowly try a little of this and a little of that. "This" might not work too well while "that" will be perfect.

Even things that don't work well at a given point in time may be perfectly fine down the road a little. Long term, the list of things that you simply cannot eat will likely be very short. I'm almost two years out and the only thing I've discovered so far that I can't eat is white rice. Mind you I've only tried it twice but wound up dumping both times so it's off the menu options. Sooo not a big deal.

You're doing a great job and you're gonna love the new you!!

I am 14 months post op. I am able to eat anything I want really. Chicken can be tough sometimes if it is dry.

You will figure out quickly that the items that go down easy you are able to eat more of. I can handle eating steak, but after about 3oz I am full. Where as I can eat about 5oz of fish. So I tend to eat more fish than steaks. I could not tolerate scrambled eggs for several months and I am just now reintroducing them slowly and have had no problems. However cooked eggs sit heavy in my pouch.

As my pouch and I continue to get to know each other I am discovering new things and new rules. Our pouches are the ultimate decision maker and sometimes she can be a little fickle. However when I make her mad she explains in her own special way about my food choices.

Thank you everyone. I think one of the things I was fearful of is someday being able to eat the same things as I did before surgery. I don't want to do that. I WANT there to be consequences to poor food choices for the rest of my life. But I don't want those consequences to prevent me from getting the nutrients I need from food because I can't eat it or keep it down.