Chew and Spit

[milton5a 0]

I am 1 week and 2 days post op and I have lost half a stone which is excellent, the weight loss is obviously slowing down now and most of the pound loss is from Fluid however I have developed a very strange new habbit.

Third day post op I was so down, depressed and angry all at once. I knew exactly why I was feeling like this, my personality completly changes when I can't eat food or the bad food I like - does anyone else get this??

It was to the point where I was literally curled up in a ball not wanting to go on - crazy I know. Food to me is like a drug I need it and I'm not sure I had mentally prepared myself for the weeks of deprivation you had to endure after the band procedure. It was all explained to me professionally but it just didn't sink in.

Anyway so I started off eating ice cream - lovely made me feel better.

Then I went onto high calorie youghurt - ummmm nice.

Well I got bored of the slipery texture and I WANTED my food back so what did I do? Well I ate what I wanted and then spat it out. Since I have been chewing and spitting or CS as they call it I have felt normal and not deprived, I've made sure nothing goes down my throat so it will not cause complications with my healing stomach / band. I think it mentally tells my brain here you go here's your food but don't swallow it otherwise it may harm you.

I'm sure this behaviour will stop as soon as I can eat normally again, but for the time being this is how I am coping. Some people say it's an eating disorder but I had one of those before the band - binge eating so chew and spit to me is like wearing nicotine patches!!

p.s. I am not advocating eating disorders at all, I'm just sharing my band experinces.

Kindest

Lauren

[VegasGrace 1]

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

but at 1 week post op...why are you dieting? Eat! Enjoy!

[Shinyhappymommy 2]

I know I wasn't eating or enjoying much of anything at 1 week post-op. liquid diet, and all that. . .

[mss 1]

I'm sure this behaviour will stop as soon as I can eat normally again, but for the time being this is how I am coping. Some people say it's an eating disorder but I had one of those before the band - binge eating so chew and spit to me is like wearing nicotine patches!!

Hi Lauren....I am curious, how can you be sure that this behaviour will stop as soon as you are able to eat all foods? My concern would be that when you are eating other foods you may decide to have one bite of a hamburger and spit it out, and the next time you may decide to have one bite and swallow it, the next time two bites and so on.

Are you able to see a counsellor to provide some support for you as you get used to the changes in eating behaviours that are an important part of success with the band?

I wish you all the best, let us know how you are going. :smile2:

[Foofy 0]

I wouldn't worry too much about this yet. I did the same thing in the second week after my surgery. I was soooo starved for the taste and feel of meat that I would chew up a few pieces of my husband's dinner (steak or bacon or other chewy things) and then spit them out after the flavor was gone. My dog LOVED this habit.

I never swallowed any bulk material, and I only did a few peices a night. The craving stopped TOTALLYonce I got onto solids. It definately got me through the liquid and mushy stage.

[HeatherO 7]

I did this a couple of times also during the liquids stage. However, I quickly became bored with it. It was never really all that satisfying but it did help to get cravings to pass. Once I was on mushies I didnt do it anymore.

[princesstracey 1]

I did that during the 2 week liquid only stage before surgery. It was during Christmas, which was HELL. Its the only way I got through it. Im not ashamed at all!

[aubrie 6]

Sometimes I do this just from sheer necessity. I'll put something in my mouth and chew, and I know it's not going to break down far enough. Like asparagus, steak, chicken breast, stringy green Beans, skin on fruit, etc. The texture is all wrong, and I know if I swallow it, I'll be stuck for sure. So I spit. It keeps me from getting stuck. I this regard, I see it as a defense mechanism to keep me from getting sick.

I cracked up about the dog liking the rejected spit pieces of meat. Sometimes my dog sniffs my plate on the coffee table and sees my little spit piles and looks at me like, "Damn, are you not going to eat that? Sure looks good to me!"

[Miss Michelle 1]

I am seven days post op and on an all liquid diet. Which, by the way I have been on since two weeks prior to surgery. Anyway, as much as I have wanted to, I am to scared to chew anything and spit because I am terrified to accidentally swallow a piece. But I am dying to chew on something! I have developed a habit of licking food for the taste- yea I know how this sounds and I agree I am pathetic. So far I have licked a piece of steak, two fritos, and a piece of chocolate. Yup, I am off to a great start :w00t:. I am hoping though that I will mentally adjust to my new way of eating soon.

[Dino 0]

Post op for 3 days surgery on the 10th All liquid except 1 piece of Bacon very thin and a few (maybe 6 gold fish crackers). So far so good. At least I think

[Ariel 1]

It's really bad but I have developed this habit. It happens towards the end of the meal, when I am full but I still have food on my plate. The food taste soo good that I chew and spit it and then give it to my dog. It sounds soo bad as I type this but I get such enjoyment of tasting the food. I never knew that there was a name for it, I thought I was the only one that did it.