Eating is Painful

[shparks]

When I try eating something, I keep getting this painful sensation that is like a lump in my esophagus. And I feel like I am going to vomit. I don't think that I am eating too much, because I don't feel full. What am I doing wrong?

[Jerome]

To me this is typical and the only time I dont get it is when i eat yoghurt. I think we are eating too fast in between bites and need to put the fork down and wait a little bit. Also perhaps we need to chew even more. I know when i tried this it really helped. We think we are going slow but it is only in comparison to how we used to eat.

[Dee Leshuz]

I agree, I'd also add taking smaller bites and chewing them to a liquid before swallowing-this really helped me and I had very little trouble w/ eating non-liquid food as a result.

[nancy_marie_00]

yup i agree....my dr didnt say i could eat food for over a mnth after surgery...so take it slow...i still get the lump in my throat feeling when i eat and i am 14 weeks out...its just something that you have to get used to....its all a learning experience...hang in there...it gets better!

[Dee Leshuz]

Another thing that helped me is eating w/ baby spoons/forks/plates etc.

[Gwyn]

That feeling is perfectly normal early on. Make sure you are taking very small bites and chewing thoroughly. That feeling does get better over time.

[Kelin]

It takes a full 30 minutes to an hour to finish a 4oz protein shake and say 1/4 cup of yogurt. Slow is the key and baby spoons and forks! I actually love using them!

[shparks]

Thanks for the advice.

[shparks]

Today I threw up for the first time since getting the surgery. I still have not gotten the hang of eating.

[Iwantads]

I'm still trying to understand all of this. Why does this happen, the difficulty in eating and even drinking water right after surgery?

[mamamckinzie]

I'm still trying to understand all of this. Why does this happen, the difficulty in eating and even drinking water right after surgery?

your stomach is swollen from surgery...it can take up to 8-10 weeks for the swelling to completely subside.

[mamamckinzie]

Today I threw up for the first time since getting the surgery. I still have not gotten the hang of eating.

Been there done that! A few times actually! I was the youngest and only girl in my family. 3 older brothers. You had to eat fast if you wanted to have anything. So training myself to slow down, chew...chew...chew.. was especially difficult for me. Well there is nothing like adversion therapy cuz the sleeve will certainly make you pay when you do not eat right! lol! Now 9 months later I think I finally got it down...but sometimes I still mess up.

[EricV]

To me this is typical and the only time I dont get it is when i eat yoghurt. I think we are eating too fast in between bites and need to put the fork down and wait a little bit. Also perhaps we need to chew even more. I know when i tried this it really helped. We think we are going slow but it is only in comparison to how we used to eat.

Bingo for me. I think I'm eating slow but in reality I'm not really. Usually worst at dinner time when we are watching tv or talking. Eating lunch at work I eat at my desk and really stretch it out. I see it most when I take a couple good gulps to drink and I quickly realize I just screwed myself.

These are life long habits we are trying to break/correct, it will take time.

[John3697]

That's typical. Keep in mind that this is the way we test our sleeves. I also had trouble with pain. I resolved it partially by taking smaller bites and eating veeeeery slowly. What little discomfort I still had while doing this, I resolved by taking Omeprazole (Prilosec). I didn't think I needed it because I didn't think I had stomach acid problems, but it helped tremendously. Good luck.....

[jodiel]

All of these posts state the same thing I am going to say. Eat slower, take smaller bites, and chew very carefully. You are not quiet a month out. Take it easy. It will get easier as you go along. Do you have this problem with everything you eat or just some things?