constant sensation in chest: upper pouch?

[BandedLikaGecko 0]

hi...

so, i was banded 8/29. due to some serious issues with diarrhea, i have been eating mashed potatoes to try and bulk up my stools. anyhow, i have noticed in the past couple of days a feeling of pressure, or tightness, in my chest (between my breasts). i am wondering if perhaps i transitioned to the potatoes too early and have messed something up with healing. maybe i am just being paranoid?

anyhow, i am wondering if other people feel this pressure at this stage of banding? also, i am wondering if eating mashed potatoes too early could cause a slippage? let me just state that when i eat them, i have with them Soup. that way, they end up watered down once inside my stomach.

thanks!

m

[PATCHELTON 0]

hi...

so, i was banded 8/29. due to some serious issues with diarrhea, i have been eating mashed potatoes to try and bulk up my stools. anyhow, i have noticed in the past couple of days a feeling of pressure, or tightness, in my chest (between my breasts). i am wondering if perhaps i transitioned to the potatoes too early and have messed something up with healing. maybe i am just being paranoid?

anyhow, i am wondering if other people feel this pressure at this stage of banding? also, i am wondering if eating mashed potatoes too early could cause a slippage? let me just state that when i eat them, i have with them Soup. that way, they end up watered down once inside my stomach.

thanks!

m

Different bariatric centers have different approaches to post-op diet. In my case I was 2 weeks full liquids, then 2 weeks pureed (mushies). Mashed potatoes fell into the mushy stage for me. They told me instant mashed potatoes, and I would heat fat free gravy to put on it for a little more flavor. If you are on the same schedule, your liquids wouldn't end until tomorrow, so you may have progressed to mushies a little prematurely. Also as part of my dietician consult, I have 6 months followup with the dietician for the fee I paid. I would suggest calling the dietician for advice on what you can do.

The sensation you describe sounds like the feeling restriction gives you. The food stages are to allow healing and for swelling to subside. It may well be that the potatoes (unless the cosistency is such that you practically can drink them) aren't going down as easily as you would like. I still have trouble recognizing satisfaction as the point to stop eating, but I do recognize when the pressure starts to build, so I know that is where I must stop (to push that invites PBs and sliming--productive burps, and excess production of saliva when food is stuck, that has no place to go but up and out--you are not nauseated, but you need to spit up--the amount of saliva can be impressive).

Also, the soup is a liquid, and the mashed potatoes a pureed food. They really shouldn't be consumed together. Liquids stop 1/2 hour before eating (I am guessing the drinking rule applies here) and can start 45 minutes or more after eating. You didn't say what kind of soup you were having, so I wonder if you are consuming Protein first. If it is just a broth, your meal has little or no Protein, another good reason to talk to the dietician.

If you received different instructions, follow those. I would also call the surgeon's office to see what to do about the diarrhea. Good luck.

Edited September 11, 2008 by PATCHELTON

[DanaM 0]

I think you are ok. I had surgury Aug. 22 abd I still have pain in my mchest sometimes. I have noticed that when I get hungry that is when my chest hurts. I told my husband I guess that is hunger pains. I started eating mashed pot. a week after my surgury.

[Lis 0]

I'm 4 weeks out and can still eat as if I did not have the surgery! But, in the past two days, I have the pressure between by breasts and a lump in my throat. I have been drinking and eating together - because I never felt any restriction to this point. Why do you think all of a sudden I'm feeling the pressure. Could I finally feeling some restriction?? Nervous, I'm feeling like my band slip - maybe worrying myself to much?

[::tracy:: 0]

i get chest pain when i am hungry. I am now 9 months post op ... it seems to be something that somedays doesn't bother me too much and others it is terrible pain. food fixes it though.

It is kind of weird experiencing all these new niggles and sensations ...

[Figpuddin 0]

Hello! My Doctor said that the feeling in the chest like that is because the esophagus is spasming trying to pass food through. I had that feeling a lot right after surgery- unfortunately I am at a point now where I am hungry and can eat more Fill next week thank goodness!

[sil 0]

hi my dietian told me when you fill pressure in your chest or between your breast it means you are full. i,m not banded yet.