On Tuesday im 4 weeks post op and Im struggling to eat the 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food (pureed or soft) that my dietician has recommended. Doesnt matter what i eat (soft cereal / porridge / poached egg etc) I can only get through 3 teaspoons of food, over a 5 - 20min period. If i go a 4th teaspoon i end up with the sharp pain in my left shoulder and a horrible full feeling that lasts for about an hour after eating. I dont pile high my teaspoon its literally a small teaspoon amount. Should i speak to my dietician??

Last night we had a friend over for dinner who i havent told i had surgery and i tried to eat a small amount of pasta salad and the tinniest amount of steak (chewed for ages because it was my first time eating a firmer meat) had the frothies after and 12hours later i have a sharp pain across my belly button . Is this part of the "over eating" symptoms??

i feel like im going to be on pureed/ soft foods for life

My doctor has recommend avoiding pasta because it is really filling. Sounds like the pasta salad and steak are not a regular part of your current diet. What are you eating regularly?

39 minutes ago, SassyTwin said:

My doctor has recommend avoiding Pasta because it is really filling. Sounds like the pasta salad and steak are not a regular part of your current diet. What are you eating regularly?

Thanks for your reply - my dietician has soft pasta and rice in stage 4 of my post op diet ( each stage min 5 days max 2 weeks) - at the moment im eating poached eggs, porridge, smashed avocado, steamed vegies, steamed fish, mashed vegies, mince with gravy....so your right its probably too heavy compared to what i have been eating....the pains just scare me a bit ...i live 2 days drive away from my dr/surgeon which scares me if i end up having a leak (always in the back of my mind when i start having pains) .

I think leaks tend to show up very quickly after surgery - often before you even leave the hospital. I'd contact the dietitian, though - feeling that way after 3 teaspoons of food that people can normally eat at four weeks out is a bit unusual. She may just tell you to go back to an earlier phase for a few days and then try again, but I'd definitely let her know what's going on just in case.....

1/2 cup of food is 4 oz and that's about the size of food/meal I was told to eat, every two hours. Over that amount, you're over eating. Eating slower too, would help also! I am 7 years post op and still have the problem you are describing. Laying down on your back helps with the pain for some reason. At least it does to me.

Good Luck!