Am I sabotaging myself?

[Luchie 6]

Hi all,

I'm 8 weeks post op and about 24kgs down. I am having huge difficulties with food and am still throwing up anything that isn't thin Soup or yoghurt (not getting all the Water down either but I'm getting there with that). Now even the thought of yoghurt is making me nauseous and I'm sick to the back teeth of soup! Unfortunately the same thing happened with the shakes and now I can rarely take any without throwing it straight up again. I did start progressing to purée and loose soft food a few weeks ago but it really hurt my sleeve and now I seem to have gone backwards!

So my Protein intake is way down and I'm starting to feel a whole lot of buyers remorse.

Weirdly, there are two exceptions to my sleeves' 'liquid only' rule, neither of which are healthy options, but I'm going crazy and can't resist them! The first one is cheese - anything that turns creamy in my mouth (blue, Brie, babybel, etc), or dry crunchy things that crunch up to nothing - breadsticks, corn Snacks (quavers, monster munch, etc.).

Now I'm only taking in about 120g of soup 2 times per day, plus maybe 40g of yoghurt or Breakfast Cereal mush, so my surgeon just said to concentrate on my Fluid intake, eat whatever I fancy and not worry at all about calories until my intake is up, but I can't get over the fact that I'm eating cheese and crisps!!!! The crisps are under 100 calories per bag, and the most cheese can eat is maybe 50g, and one of these is instead of a soup or yoghurt meal, not as well as.

I know the cheese is helping with protein, but i'm also conscious of the fat, and the crisps do have some minor nutrition values, but..... It just all seems so wrong!

[mwrarr 244]

Have you contacted your doctor? It sounds like you could have a structure or something. I would focus on the Water, for sure. And if you can get water down, try the watery Protein RTD drinks. Isopure, I think? It's like Gatorade consistency (basically water) but has protein. One of the sleevers in my local support group said a few weeks ago that he switched to a straw (after consulting the NUT) bc sipping was actually harder to get fluids down & that he had a much easier time with water ever since. Definitely get the protein in however you can. If it's via cheese, then so be it. Just keep an eye on calories.

[Luchie 6]

Hi, thanks for replying....

I am in touch with the surgeon and my NUT - they don't seem particularly concerned but I can't help thinking this can't be right???? I'll look up Isopure (haven't seen it her - I'm in the UK- but I'm sure it's available online)....

What do you mean by a structure? An obstruction?

[Luchie 6]

Btw, the straws really work for me too!!! I can drink soooo much more with a straw than by sipping!

[T'snewstart 251]

I have had string cheese and it goes down just fine. My weight loss has not suffered at all! I would say get as much Protein and fluids in as you can! Have you tried scrambled eggs? That is another major source of protein I use. Oh yeah I eat low fat cottage cheese daily. Best wishes! Tina

[Luchie 6]

Thanks Tina! I'll give string cheese a try... I've tried cottage cheese every so often throughout my life to see if (now at 41!) I'm grown-up enough to appreciate it, but I can't stand it! Do you mix it with something or have it straight? i can't believe how many people here love it- i must be doing something wrong!!!

scrambled eggs I LOVE, but I think it's going to be a long time before my sleeve chooses to enjoy them sadly.... Thanks for the tips though! :-)

[NewKristen 356]

Hi' date=' thanks for replying....

I am in touch with the surgeon and my NUT - they don't seem particularly concerned but I can't help thinking this can't be right???? I'll look up Isopure (haven't seen it her - I'm in the UK- but I'm sure it's available online)....

What do you mean by a structure? An obstruction?[/quote']

A stricture is a tightening it narrowing of the esophagus or stomach. It is a risk of this surgery. Some people develop it after surgery and then they have a really hard time getting anything down. I don't think it sounds like you have one, because you can eat the crisps and they are solid. It isn't an obstruction, because usually they don't block everything, they just tighten so that it is real hard for most stuff to pass. When something gets stuck, you throw up pretty quickly.

[Luchie 6]

Thanks Kristen....

[Alamoloser 70]

Your issues sound a lot like mine, first the texture of eggs (that I use to love) make me sick. Im constantly eating imported cheeses and thin Water crackers w/ thin slices of meat. I can handle things that are crunchy and or slider foods of course. You will find out over the next few weeks what makes you happy and it will become your routine. Eating is different for everyone on here, some people are eating things I cant imagine post surgery but all the more to them if they can get it down. This surgery is to restrict our consumption not our choices, the choices are your decision.

[SMO 193]

cheese is a huge part of my diet at 7 weeks and it is not hurting my loss. It is good Protein and much easier to digest than meat protein for me. I also eat a few pretzel sticks with it. My NUT has those on my diet from week 3. I hate yogurt and have not eaten so much as a teaspoon. Everyone else seems to love it so I know how you feel with the cottage cheese. I doubt you can overeat at this point. If the doctor has told you to eat whatever you tolerate at this point, you probably ought to go with it.

[Luchie 6]

Thanks guys.... I feel a lot better now! Xxx

[epasseri 24]

I'm the same way. I've been living off of Laughing Cow Light 35 calorie wedges and plain Chex. Nothing else seems to agree with me at this point and I'm getting super depressed about it. But hopefully this too shall pass.

[minxie 13]

I'm 8 weeks post op and about 24kgs down. I am having huge difficulties with food and am still throwing up anything that isn't thin Soup or yoghurt (not getting all the Water down either but I'm getting there with that).

I had the same exact symptoms for 3 weeks. My sleeve was too tight and food wouldn't pass from my esophagus to my stomach if it were too thick. I couldn't eat farina, creamed Soups, mashed potatoes, fish. Things got stuck and I threw up frequently. My surgeon did an endoscopy and stretched the passage a bit. I still have excellent restriction, but can tolerate foods much better.

Hope this helps. Wishing you continued success!

Nathalie

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

Definitely don't worry about the calories in your cheese, you consume so little, eat the good stuff. I have never watched fat in anything I eat and I am at goal. Good Luck with your issue, I hope your doctor fixes it.

[Luchie 6]

Thanks girls....

Epasseri how many weeks post-op are you?

I saw my surgeon this week and he was happy from a health point of view but concerned about the boredom starting to get me down. He has said that he would do a stretch for me if I wanted it, and I'm thinking about it..... Really I'm hoping that just knowing that he's ready and willing to do something might be enough to help me power through, and with a bit of luck I'll only have a short time left where I'm so reliant on soup.....

Having said that, I'm hoping that I turned a corner this week, after my check-up; I've managed some soft food at last! Some canned ravioli and some ready-meal cottage pie (ready-made crap is much softer than home-made - this must be the only time when ready meals are better than home-made! Lol! ) - fingers crossed this will last!!!

Thanks for helping me feel that I'm not alone! :-) xxx