Hello All

Had Surgery 04/02 I am now on pretty much soft food diets.. my question is why does it hurt to swallow when I eat chicken or anything solid I am cutting the pieces small… I don’t like that sensation and I’m scared to eat…

Dry foods like chicken breasts can be hard to swallow for first couple of months. Some struggle with steak. I still have difficulty with charred meats or vegetables two years out - too dry & rough for me.

Soft foods should still be a bit mushy. Try adding gravies, sauces, stocks (just watch the calories & ingredients in purchased ones) to your meats. Think thick soups, stews/casseroles type foods. The meat should be ‘fall off the bone’ breaking down tender. Try chicken thighs not breasts - they’re tastier & more tender. Try different cooking styles & recipes that will keep the meats moist like poaching, steaming, slow cooking, etc. & avoid things like grilling that can dry meat out. You may need to chew a little longer too before swallowing.

It does get easier.

When I first reintroduced meat after surgery, I frequently had problems where a bit of meat felt like it got stuck on the way down, and it was very uncomfortable until it worked its way through. In addition to cutting meat into small pieces, you should make sure it's moist (it should be swimming in sauce), not dry, and chew it really well. The good news is that I stopped having this problem after a few months -- but I still make sure to keep meats moist. I make a lot of Instant Pot recipes for shredded chicken, which is easier to eat than, say, diced chicken.

Thank You so much will definitely try this hoping it gets better

I am almost 9 months out and still have a hard time with meats. I can not eat any steak even if I cut it in tiny pieces. I am also having a hard time with chicken breast, I can eat the thighs. I can only eat the dark meat of the turkey.