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Discomfort When Eating



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rachelr28,

Sorry to hear of your discomfort. I wouldn’t give up hope yet, though! I know five weeks seems like a really long time, but it’s not long in the scheme of things. Some patients don’t even try to start pureed foods until 4 or 5 weeks post-op.

You got some great tips from the other members on eating slowly. I’d also see if you can find out what your nutritionist or surgeon has to say.

I really don’t think it’s permanent, though! It just unfortunately seems like a long time.

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I'm on my ninth week and it's only just started to stop feeling uncomfortable. My surgeon says that it's just because there is still swelling in your stomach, and due to reflux. I'm still taking Somac daily.

I have what feels like a bubble feeling, where the food needs to pass an air bubble in my stomach before it will go down. It's only now that you've mentioned it that I've realised it may have stopped! :)

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@@rachelr28, this is NOT what the rest of your life is going to be like! It is rough the first few months...even up to the first year. It takes a long time for your tummy to heal and to stretch back out (not that it stretches back out all the way, but it will stretch). I am over 2 1/2 years out and, in the beginning, to keep myself from getting depressed :( or going crazy :blink:, I tried to remember that I spent my whole life eating what I wanted, in very large quantities. So, a few months--or even a year--of a super restricted diet wasn't that long in comparison to my years of face stuffing :P . You've got this. It is not always going to be easy, but you can and you will do it. Work at it by incorporating healthy habits: getting rid of starchy sugary foods (which for the most part will become your "sliders" later on), eating healthy foods, and adding in some physical exercise a few days a week. If you stick with this, it will become habit and part of your new, healthy lifestyle. When I look back now, I would re-do even the toughest parts of this journey because the results are so worth it! You've got this Rachel! :D

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Hi all. I just got my sleeve surgery 5 weeks ago and I'm in a mental rut at the moment. I have a question and all honest answers are appreciated. I'm a little depressed because everytime I eat the food gets stuck in my esophagus and takes forever to go down. I try to take small bites and chew throughly but it always happens regardless. My boyfriend, who is trying to be supportive, says that that's my new reality for the rest of my life. Tell me that can't be true. Tell me that I can eat without discomfort again.

OOoooooohhhh can I relate!!! I remember being so depressed and thinking...what have I just done! It DOES get better, but it may take over 6 mo's to do so! Not going to say it goes away completely, cause it doesn't. I still have episodes that come and go, where I get too aggressive eating and it all comes right back up.

I've found it's what I'm eating and have learned there are just some foods that I can't tolerate. Hamburger/pork/shredded meats...all come back up. Very small bites and waiting, even an hour before having more has helped...not drinking at all during any meals helps...and lastly, just stopping eating, even when I'm not full...helps tremendously!

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Helpful info everyone. I wonder if Fluid intake may be a factor. Do I get this feeling because I am not drinking 64 oz per day?

I don't think what or how much you're drinking has any effect on it. It more likely food choices. There are just some foods we can no longer tolerate that we could before. Everyone is diff. All trial and error.

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Have you tried if a bite gets stuck cutting the next bite in half the size and chewing it more like 60 times instead of 30? I know I was told to make sure everything I chewed was a bite size I'd give a 2 year old toddler and the consistency should be like applesauce when I was finished chewing.

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Hi all. I just got my sleeve surgery 5 weeks ago and I'm in a mental rut at the moment. I have a question and all honest answers are appreciated. I'm a little depressed because everytime I eat the food gets stuck in my esophagus and takes forever to go down. I try to take small bites and chew throughly but it always happens regardless. My boyfriend, who is trying to be supportive, says that that's my new reality for the rest of my life. Tell me that can't be true. Tell me that I can eat without discomfort again.

OOoooooohhhh can I relate!!! I remember being so depressed and thinking...what have I just done! It DOES get better, but it may take over 6 mo's to do so! Not going to say it goes away completely, cause it doesn't. I still have episodes that come and go, where I get too aggressive eating and it all comes right back up.

I've found it's what I'm eating and have learned there are just some foods that I can't tolerate. Hamburger/pork/shredded meats...all come back up. Very small bites and waiting, even an hour before having more has helped...not drinking at all during any meals helps...and lastly, just stopping eating, even when I'm not full...helps tremendously!

I was sleeved December 11th. I want to thank you guys for this. Reading your posts let's me know I'm not alone. I was thinking what is wrong with me. I have been feeling a little down thinking what the hell have I done to myself??!! My mother had the surgery almost 5 yrs ago and I can't help but compare myself to her sometimes. It doesn't seem like she had have the trouble I'm having. My Dr. did say that it is swelling in my new stomach and that it would get better. He told me to continue my Zantac and also gave me Carafate to help. I know that this is a process, I guess I'm just impatient.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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