Eating sucks

[cdaddy 22]

I'm 6 weeks out. The last week out eating has been horrible. After 2 maybe 3 bites the food is backed up into my esophagus. Gagging feeling like heck. It last about 20 minutes. Will this improve if so approximately when? I just hate having to eat nothing is pleasurable to consume

[Tracan 11]

I am about 6 weeks out too and can eat (not supposed to though) just about anything. Nothing I have tried has been any problem but I find that after a bite or 3 I have no interest in the food anymore. At least keep up in your Protein (something I personally am having a problem with) and hopefully soon things will ease for you.

[Stevehud 1,790]

Heres the most important tips you need to remember and go over it , over and over and consciously work at.

1. Make like a train, and Chew Chew Chew.

You must chew each bite many times beyond what you used to. When you think its time to swallow, chew 5 more times to be sure.

2. Slow and Steady wins the race.

Eating very slowly is your friend. the meal should take you 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.

[JamieLogical 8,710]

Like @@Stevehud said. You need to eat VERY VERY slowly. Take tiny bites. Chew them to death. Set your fork down between bites. Don't take another bite until you are sure the first one is staying down.

[ShrinkingPeach 1,291]

Agree with all the above. Also the joy of eating that we had in the past is what got us all into trouble. You must also forge a new relationship with food and eat to live not live to eat. Good luck!

[sleevenv 483]

I wish it sucked about 40 years ago!

[Cary U 2]

Ok, so I'm only 10 days out...dr said to start puréed food today- Ugh, made me so sick, keeps coming up into my esophagus... So it's not going to get better anytime soon, huh??

[cdaddy 22]

Cary u good days and bad days. But everyday I am thankful for the choice I made down 43 lbs in 7 weeks never hungry. Yes I have cravings and am not perfect. The days you can't eat it's frustrating. The times I can it worries me like o no I can't do this without my sleeve working. But the best decision I've made next to my wife

[Rebecca5222 4]

I am with you about food backing up in my esophagus. It isn't from too much food - it's as if it doesn't go down. It sucks and it's exhausting. I am 29 days out. Hoping it gets better soon.

[hockeyfan7 249]

One thing that I found helped was using my son's old toddler spoons and forks. He's 7 now but I still have the Thomas the Train set of spoons and forks and I use those. Little teeny tiny bites - I cut my food up to the same size I used to cut up for him when he was 2 or 3.

Chew everything to the consistency of applesauce before swallowing and one bite at a time.

[alicia-livin-life 8]

It took me awhile to find my "happy" amount of food to eat. I threw up nearly every other meal at first. Listen to your body's fullness cues. At first I would feel a tightness in my chest and food backed up in my esophagus. It seemed line no matter how hard I tried I could never avoid that terrible Thanksgiving dinner fullness feeling. I find that I need to keep myself busy. So I will try to eat while working or during conversations. This way I'm taking more time. I also noticed when I am full I do this worried hiccup/burp combined thing. When that happens if I take one more bite I'll be sick. I try to stop eating before that point though. I'm not ever really hungry anyway it's more head hunger.