Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Help I think Ive started being afraid to eat!



Recommended Posts

Hi I am week 5 post op. I have one more week on the soft food diet but I am already at a loss for what to eat and what not to eat. Everywhere I go there seems to be no food for me. I am starting to become afraid to eat foods! Like when has anyone tried steak? Does anyone have a problem with shrimp? My friends want me to go and eat with them but i keep refusing because everything seems to be fried including the seafood. Plus I am getting totally freaked out about getting something stuck in there that has to be surgically removed. Please anyone have any advice? I never thought I would start having an aversion to food in general.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Respectfully you need to just chill out. I am 7 months post op. I have 6.25 ccs in my 14 cc band and I have pretty good restriction AND I eat steak, and shrimp just fine. I even eat bread. If you're worried, try things at home first. I honestly have never heard of a person getting something stuck and needing surgery to remove it...except chewing gum, and that isn't surgery, just an endoscopic procedure. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but the odds are very very VERY slim. You may take too large a bite, not chew well, and "PB" it back up (kind of burp it back up) and it isn't necessarily fun but won't require a trip to the doc etc.

Seriously discusss this with your surgeon or nutritionist if you can't move beyond it. While it's understandable to not want to try different foods out in public, you shouldn't be afraid to try them at home. Order things at restaurants that you've already tried and know you can eat.

And FYI for many (not all, but many) of us...until we get some fills, our bands are wide open and there are no problems eating anything!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was banded on 1/29/09 had one fill and have some restriction. I haven't tried steak ~ because I'm afraid it will get stuck. No longer eat bread for the same reason. Actually, I don't miss either!!! I love shrimp and have no problem eating it!! I can eat anything I want I just make sure I chew everything well and try my very best not to eat and drink. Happy eating!!!:w00t:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you do have concerns about a food, try it at home first if possible. When you do go out to eat, just remember to take small bites, chew, chew, chew and take your time.

I was banded on January 27 and the day I came off liquids - 2 weeks post op - my doc said "start with soft foods but whatever you can eat without a problem, go ahead and eat". We went to Old Country Buffet that night and it was great because I could take a spoonful of different items to see what worked and what didn't. After a month of liquids, everything tasted incredible!!:thumbup:

Shrimp is wonderful when you have it broiled or grilled. Same with chicken and fish. I do have problems with soft bread but toast has been no problem. I bought some melba crackers and put chicken or crab salad made with fat free mayo on them for lunch. Salads have not been a problem at all. I just chop my lettuce into smaller than usual pieces and it's great. Add some chicken and cheese and you will add Protein and Calcium.

Don't let it worry you but here's the biggest thing...if you start feeling pressure or fullness behind your breastbone or in the upper abdomen area, stop eating immediately and wait at least five minutes before eating more. Go to the restroom or something if you are eating out. That feeling means something is taking it's time to get through and the worst thing you can do is put more food on top of it. You WILL be throwing it all up. The first few times it happened to me, I didn't realize in time that I was heading for trouble. :w00t:

I have found that raising my hands over my head for a minute or two seems to help the diaphram unlock and the muscles then help send the stuck item through.

Good Luck and don't let it scare you. When you are nervous you tense up and that just makes things worse.

Karen

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is all excellent advice, and I'm glad I read it too. I'm only 6 mo out and still have a hard time deciding what to order. I really really really want a great big burger on the grill this weekend, with barbeque sauce and tomatoes, lettuce, etc. Spring Fever big time!!!! I'm gonna cook them, but don't know how much of one I'll be able to eat.

If you really don't think there is anything you can eat when you go out, get a cup of Soup. I love restaurant Soup, it is much better than the crap from the can, and I get it a lot. I try to stay away from the creamy ones though. You know those have got to be loaded with fat and calories. I'll order my soup, and my husband will give me 5-6 bites of whatever he's got if I want it, and I'm all set. We had mexican today for lunch, I did order my own plate this time. I eat about 1/4 of what was on it, my 2yo ate another 1/4, and I took the rest to work for my dinner.

All in all, there will be something. You may only be able to eat 1/2 of it, but that's a good thing!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×