Post op Upset stomach

[Aneubeginning 0]

Hello. I am nine days post-op and my pouch gets upset very easily. Any foods that I can have(soft foods) my pouch doesn’t like I can no longer drink ice cold liquids. They all have to be room temperature. I can enter in to the soft food phase, but my stomach gets upset I can do liquids only with no problem. Any ideas on how to introduce soft foods without dealing with an upset stomach afterwards?

[toodlerue 452]

It might just take more time. Try again in a few days.
For the 1st year my daughter couldn’t eat chicken without it upsetting her tummy. Now she has no problems eating anything! She is 4.5 years out. The only problem I have is getting sick when I eat too much! I am 5 years out.

[Aneubeginning 0]

Thank you so much @toodlerue! I will give it more time. I have to realize that all this is new and I have to be patient.

Edited March 18, 2023 by Aneubeginning

[Arabesque 7,234]

Your tummy is still healing, very sensitive & learning how to function again. I described it as a petulant temper throwing 2 year old child. It may continue this way for a couple of months & then every now & again in the future. Liking something one day & not the next. Being able to eat your portion today but not tomorrow. And so on. Lots of fun & games. Cold drinks can make your healing tummy muscles spasm.Try room temp, warm or Hot Drinks - more soothing. Try swapping brands or flavours or avoid what upsets you for a week & try again. Sometimes it can be the texture - like your purées are too thick - try diluting them more. It does get better & easier.

I’m almost 4 yrs out & recently my tummy decided it didn’t like tasty cheese anymore. Don’t know why. It may be fine with it again in a few weeks time.

[Aneubeginning 0]

15 minutes ago, Arabesque said:

Your tummy is still healing, very sensitive & learning how to function again. I described it as a petulant temper throwing 2 year old child. It may continue this way for a couple of months & then every now & again in the future. Liking something one day & not the next. Being able to eat your portion today but not tomorrow. And so on. Lots of fun & games. Cold drinks can make your healing tummy muscles spasm.Try room temp, warm or Hot Drinks - more soothing. Try swapping brands or flavours or avoid what upsets you for a week & try again. Sometimes it can be the texture - like your purées are too thick - try diluting them more. It does get better & easier.

I’m almost 4 yrs out & recently my tummy decided it didn’t like tasty cheese anymore. Don’t know why. It may be fine with it again in a few weeks time.

Thank you so much for the advice. I’m learning all this takes time with a new stomach.

[summerseeker 2,131]

I never did the puree stage. The food looked so yucky and my taste buds were so off. I had Soup and broth for those two weeks and went straight to soft foods. Just do what ever you can to get as much Protein and liquid in you as possible. Try them again when you feel like it.

I couldn't eat chicken or fish for a whole year. I tried them every month but vomited every time. Then just when I thought I would never be able to eat them again - they are accepted in my stomach again. Carbs are another thing that I am struggling with but I am ok with never eating them again, they were my nemesis. We are all different and our bodies all take different lengths of time to heal. As they say - one size does not fit all

[RaiderRhode 36]

I've been having the same problem with soft foods. Whenever my stomach is feeling off or upset I just go back to purees or have a shake instead.

My favorite so far is to just get a can of chunky Soup and puree it with some unflavored Protein Powder. Its super good (Jambalaya has been THE BEST).

[gutha402 0]

I am 6 weeks post op and on soft foods. I have already found out that beef and couscous make me vomit. My problem is Protein Shakes. I have tried many and many flavors but keep gagging when sipping it. I wish I could just gulp it down. I now add unflavored whey to my Soup and Wendy’s chili. Tonight is my first time going out to a Hibachi restaurant. I will order a side order of hibachi chicken. The veggies are too hard to eat.
Would hibachi noodles be ok?

[summerseeker 2,131]

16 hours ago, gutha402 said:

Would hibachi noodles be ok?

If you are trying a new food then its best to try it at home first. If you are going to get the foamies then its so much better to be alone in your own bathroom.

[Blessd1 67]

I'm 5 days PO from gastric bypass and hernia repair and really struggling with fluids. Day before yesterday, I was doing ok but not meeting goal due to sleeping a lot still. Yesterday, I had diluted grape juice and strained vegetable Soup broth. I developed bad heartburn, experienced foamies for the first time along with belching and runny nose. Unfortunately, the heartburn was bad at night despite the bed being elevated. I think the juice and broth were too acidic. But even today, I'm getting the foamies and a feeling like a knot in my esophagus (pain in the upper back in the same spot) after drinking plain Water. Miserable at the moment and praying it gets better.

Do you think this is just swelling and inflammation or something more? I have a visit with the dietician tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

[Arabesque 7,234]

Yes, very likely. Your digestive system is healing from a pretty major surgery (think of all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together) so swelling & inflammation is to be expected. You’ll find that you’ll randomly experience these types of symptoms for a while. First because you’re healing & recovering & then because you’re system is relearning & generally can be sensitive & fussy. Some times you eat something one day easily but the next it’s no way & then next week it’s fine again. Of course the how long, when, why & what of this is different for everyone but it gives you an idea of what you may experience.

Best advice is go slowly & gently. Follow your plan. Sip leaving a few minutes before the next sip then same with bites. If something disagrees with you avoid it for a few days & they try again.

Are you allowed juice? Many of us aren’t but plans are different. Are you on a PPI to help reduce your stomach acid production? Water can almost seem heavy to drink at first especially if you drink it cold. Try warming your shakes, water, etc. or hot drinks (herbal or green teas are great) as they often are more soothing.

[Blessd1 67]

8 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Yes, very likely. Your digestive system is healing from a pretty major surgery (think of all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together) so swelling & inflammation is to be expected. You’ll find that you’ll randomly experience these types of symptoms for a while. First because you’re healing & recovering & then because you’re system is relearning & generally can be sensitive & fussy. Some times you eat something one day easily but the next it’s no way & then next week it’s fine again. Of course the how long, when, why & what of this is different for everyone but it gives you an idea of what you may experience.

Best advice is go slowly & gently. Follow your plan. Sip leaving a few minutes before the next sip then same with bites. If something disagrees with you avoid it for a few days & they try again.

Are you allowed juice? Many of us aren’t but plans are different. Are you on a PPI to help reduce your stomach acid production? Water can almost seem heavy to drink at first especially if you drink it cold. Try warming your shakes, Water, etc. or Hot Drinks (herbal or green teas are great) as they often are more soothing.

Thanks so much for your advice and suggestions @Arabesque. I'm sure it has mostly to do with the swelling and a need to take sips more slowly. My plan allows for diluted grape or apple juice (2 oz juice diluted with 2 oz of water) or diluted regular Gatorade in order to keep your blood sugar from dropping too low. Everything else is to be sugar and caffeine free.

I do take a PPI regularly but may ask about increasing the dose until things settle down a bit. I see the dietician today and have my one week follow up tomorrow with the doctor. Praying I'm still on track. The healing with incisions is going well thankfully. Thanks again for helping calm my thoughts. 🙂