Two Weeks Post Op...is It Heartburn?! What's The Problem?

[hunnybee11 3]

Hi Everyone!

I've not posted here yet, but I have been so thankful for the support I've had here just by reading everyone else's concerns and comments. I've learned so much!

I have an issue. I was banded a little over two weeks ago. I also had a hiatial hernia repaired as well. I'm on the soft foods phase of the diet right now. I never had any heartburn or reflux issues prior to the surgery even though I had a hernia. Lately, after I eat meals, I develop an awful pain in the middle of my chest. It almost feels like my lungs, but I think it's heartburn. I don't know if I'm eating too fast or eating the wrong foods, I just can't seem to find the reason why. All I know is that I'm almost thinking my band is too tight. Is that possible? I'm rarely hungry and just have a hard time consuming a lot. It's not settling well. I've never thrown up or had anything come up. It doesn't feel like it's stuck, just that pain results. It lasts for hours and hours and I don't know why. I tend to eat the most at dinner, not out of hunger but out of mental hunger (I'm still trying to follow the rules for the most part). I also feel like I still have a lot of unresolved gas/constipation issues. I know I need more Water, and I take colace occasionally. Any thoughts? I just don't know if I'm totally abnormal!

[judych 225]

How much are you eating at the moment?? what sort of food? ? are you waiting between mouthfuls?? im not at the soft food stage yet..... reading what others have had to say, it could be how quickly are you eating, what sized mouthfuls are you eating?? someone said here that the size of bites should be no more than the fingernail of your little finger...then chew, chew, chew. Im sure there is lots of good info here... what do the others think ?? Im just repeating what ive learned so far. judy

[elcee 3,341]

A pain in the centre of the chest usually indicates that something is stuck or that you have eaten too much.

What are you eating? At 2 weeks out I was on mushies but every Dr seems to have different postop requirements so you may be on something different.

You need to make sure that you take small mouthfuls, chew well, wait between bites and do not overeat. Maybe you are eating foods that you should not be eating yet and these may be causing the pain.

If you can give us examples then we can probably give you a better response.

[hunnybee11 3]

Thank you guys for the imput...after your replies and also reading up in my book, The Lapband Solution, I did conclude that yes, I was eating too quickly and probably too large of bites. Wow! That is not a pain I want to experience anymore. The pain behind the sternum is a backup of food, and my esophogus having to strenuously squeeze that food down. I have been trying to count and make sure I'm waiting the right amound of time, but I see that I need to keep working on it. I'm kind of anxious about eating now...I hope I can learn to enjoy food eaing this way. Practice Practice!

[runnyf 8]

My MD said that once I start eating food (still on liquids post op), that it should take about 30 minutes to eat between a 1/2 and 1 cup of food. He said to chew at least 27 each bite. He also prescribed Zantac 150mg twice a day to help with any heartburn issues for the first 30 days post op. It makes a big difference. He also said to make sure you put your fork down inbetween bites to slow your self down.

[MoreThanJustaPrettyFace 55]

I got baby utensils and that greatly helps with the size of my bites. :-) you should try it.

[mandagay 93]

I use baby utensils as well. Bites the size of ur pinky nail? Seriously? Does anyone take bites that small for real?

[JJLaw08 4]

I use baby utensils as well. Bites the size of ur pinky nail? Seriously? Does anyone take bites that small for real?

Not me. Since I don't have restriction I take big bites. I'm trying to teach myself to slow down, and take smaller bites, but it is hard.

[mandagay 93]

I take small bites but nothing as small as my pinky nail!