What Was Your First Soft Food Experience Like after Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

[BamaXpress78 21]

So I was sleeved 11/16, had 6 days Clear liquids, followed by 8 days full liquids. I am moving on to soft foods and so far I'm not sure if what I'm experiencing is normal or not. Here goes...

I tried a scrambled egg with just a splash of FF Milk and put a small amount of shredded cheese on top to melt. First few small bites seemed ok but by 3rd bite I started feeling alot of pressure and discomfort in my stomach. Almost to the point where I had to stand up to relieve it.

For lunch, I just made a 1/2 cup of FF Refried Beans with a small amount of LF Cheese on top. Again, first few bites went fine but by 3rd or 4th bite it felt uncomfortable.

To explain the "uncomfortable" feeling further, it was as if a fish was swimming around in my stomach and it had too much air in it. I was able to burp a few times and that gave temporary relief but I stopped at 1/4 cup because it just didn't seem right.

So did everyone go through a transition like this when you went from liquid to soft? Does it get better or is this just the new experience of eating food with the sleeve?

[sweetness2005 18]

I am only out 4 weeks but one of the things i noticed is that if i eat to fast i get that air that causes me to belch.. So one of the things that you may want to try is bite chew chew chew and while doing that put you spoon down and then go on to the next bite. It takes me about 15 to 20 min to eat a 3 oz yogurt in the morning. So that is the ony thing i can recomend. I can not eat eggs they made me sick. I can do yogurt cottage cheesse and chillie and things such as that. Good luck i hope things get better for you.

[Lissa 2,631]

What you're feeling is pretty normal. I have a two oz bowl that I used to start with, and I often couldn't eat the "whole" bowl full of food. Mushies are way denser than the liquids and they sit in your sleeve while the liquids usually slide on through.

Try eating veeeerrrrryyyyy sllllooowwwwlllyy. It will seem stupid at first, but the slower you eat, and the better you chew, the easier the food will go down. Later on you will be able to eat a little faster, but slowing down helps to keep air out of the tummy and allows you to know when you're satisfied rather than eating that one bite past full. You will know if you eat that one bite past full, too. Either you'll slime, vomit, or have pain for a good while after that meal. I'd almost prefer to vomit and I HATE getting sick.

Early on, it's very easy to let your eyes pick out what your sleeve will hold...and then only eat 1/4 of it. I couldn't do a full 1/4 cup of refried Beans now, I don't think. I can usually handle 1/3 of a pintos and cheese from Taco Bell before I'm totally done with that bowl, if that gives you any idea for volume.

Several times I have ordered based on what I think I can eat, only to eat two or three bites and have to ask for a box. That's frustrating and rewarding at the same time, because it means that I have the same delicious food for the next meal or two. Some foods reheat better than others. LOL

Good luck with your journey!!

[MegInNOLA 531]

What you're feeling is called "restriction." It's what your sleeve is designed to do. :-) Burping can make a little more room in your sleeve, but remember that it's kind of important to under-eat your sleeve to leave room for all that digestive juice that's going to come rushing in to digest the food. It is really easy to over-eat at the beginning, and you will throw up if that happens--again, nothing wrong, just exactly what your sleeve is designed to do.

As you progress and heal, your sleeve capacity will increase and you will be able to eat a bit more at each meal. A couple of bites per meal right now is 100% okay and normal. Tiny bites, chewed well, and with a few minutes in between bites--I'm still working on the "eating slowly" part, even at almost 8 months out.

Hang in there! You're just starting your great adventure!

[longer-life 139]

A couple of bites per meal right now is 100% okay and normal.

I was told bite sizes should be like my pinky nail. Mine are actually like my thumb. Either way, do you mean 2-3 bites like that?

[MegInNOLA 531]

Hey Longer-Life: I'm not really sure what you're asking, but if it's about bite size, I used a baby spoon, if that's any help. I took realllllly small bites at first, since I had a LOT of restriction and what felt to me (and still does!) like a very picky sleeve; plus my sleeve seems to still be really small, and it was REALLY small right at first.

And yeah, I used to only be able to eat a couple of bites using a baby spoon--more if the food was semi-liquid, like yogurt, but still not very much. I still get full pretty fast, although I can definitely eat more now than before. I do still have issues with protein-dense foods like meat, chicken, and eggs and tend to stick with dairy and vegetable sources for Protein, since I can eat a bit more of those (still not a lot, mind you, just more than a couple of bites). I can still only eat one piece of tuna sashimi (around 1 ounce), and even that is challenging for my sleeve. But I can eat 1/2 c. of cottage cheese or yogurt. I think it's all about what works for each individual.

[BamaXpress78 21]

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated. I guess I imagined that if I took small bites (which to me is basically about 1/4 teaspoon), chewed really well, and waited a couple of minutes between bites then I wouldn't have any problems. But after thinking it over maybe my bites were a little larger than they should have been and maybe the couple of the bites I didn't wait long enough.

I completely get the restriction part and so glad that I have this working for now. I am just going to have to give it some time as far as capacity. Tonight for dinner I boiled and egg and made some egg salad (using light mayo, greek yogurt, and seasonings) and it went down really well not to mention I didn't miss the gobs of full fat mayo I used in the past to make it.

Thanks again for all your help and advice!

[longer-life 139]

Hey Longer-Life: I'm not really sure what you're asking, but if it's about bite size, I used a baby spoon, if that's any help. I took realllllly small bites at first, since I had a LOT of restriction and what felt to me (and still does!) like a very picky sleeve; plus my sleeve seems to still be really small, and it was REALLY small right at first.

And yeah, I used to only be able to eat a couple of bites using a baby spoon--more if the food was semi-liquid, like yogurt, but still not very much. I still get full pretty fast, although I can definitely eat more now than before. I do still have issues with protein-dense foods like meat, chicken, and eggs and tend to stick with dairy and vegetable sources for Protein, since I can eat a bit more of those (still not a lot, mind you, just more than a couple of bites). I can still only eat one piece of tuna sashimi (around 1 ounce), and even that is challenging for my sleeve. But I can eat 1/2 c. of cottage cheese or yogurt. I think it's all about what works for each individual.

You answered my question. Thanks!

[TiffanyC 7]

I feel a bit of discomfort when I eat certain foods - but not nausea. Right after my surgery I could only eat 2 or 3 bites too. Now I can eat about 8 or 10. It added up to about 2 oz at first and 3 to 4 oz now - about 1/2 a cup depending on the food. Alot of times I take to much and cannot eat but a few bites. It seems lately things are not agreeing with my sleeve that I could eat fine at first....

[jenni_867 14]

My first soft food was a scrambled egg and it was soooo good..... Until I got the slimes, etc. I havent tried an egg since. Almost one month out now, and things are going down much better, and in much smaller quantities. I love having this restriction. It really is all about learning how to eat and what to eat.

[Rev Me Up! 75]

Go slow!!!!

I used a baby spoon for a couple of months to remind me how small of bites I should be taking. Also, I couldn't eat more than about 3 bites - and that took me 20 minutes!!! Chew until it is liquid, and then swallow. Also, eggs and Beans may not be good ways to start. Easiest for me were: cottage cheese, very mashed sweet potato with salt, yogurt, soft cheese. That's all I ate for a while.

I still can't eat refried Beans without feeling queasy after (bummer, because I love it), and eggs were off limits until about 6 months. Even then, I could only get down about half of one.

Take your time and don't do anything that is uncomfortable.