Does eating get easier with time?

[Goonerette23]

Hi, im new here. I'm on day 17 of having the gastric sleeve done and my doctor just moved me to mashed potatoes, eggs, deli turkey as well as other mushed up things I can try. I tried one hard boiled egg today, got through half of it and actually began to vomit shortly after. It's the first time I vomited and I felt like crap! I'm not gonna try eggs again for a while, but I'm just wondering when eating starts to feel normal again. Does it? I know why I got the surgery, but just want to know if I will be able to have a small meal ever again. Also, what is the deal with the gurgling sound coming from my throat after eating or even after taking a small sip of water? Anyone else experience that feeling?

[DesertGal]

I'm 7 weeks out from surgery tomorrow and I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!! You're lucky you have been moved to those foods already.... I have been on pureed for weeks now and hate it. (But I have been eating softer foods that 'puree' in my mouth. ). Next week I can "attempt" (and I use the word LOOSELY) to eat soft, moist meat and steamed vegetables. I can't eat much NOW, and I have barfed too many times to count and I hate it. I have been grilling tilapia for myself (the fish is 3 oz) and I am lucky if I can eat 1 - 1 1/2 oz. One more nibble and it's barf time. I look forward to the day when I can EAT something and feel like it is a meal, and not have it make my throat/chest/sleeve feel bad. I've seen the surgeon... there is nothing wrong with my new stomach. I just can not eat much at all. I had tried to get 1/2 cream of broccoli soup in and did manage that a couple weeks back, but I got to say: I am not living on soup. Something better change.

And the bubbly feeling in my throat after eating, sipping water and even when I sleep (when I can sleep)... I have that. Insomnia issues BIG TIME.

[Donald G]

Yes eating gets easier. If you find that the foods your doctor told you that you can start eating are to much for you then go back to the foods you were able to eat prior to being upgraded. A lot of people though had trouble with eggs when being switched to soft foods, just remember eat slowly chew your food really well. Tonight for dinner at 3 1/2 months post op I had 4 ounces of chicken 1/4 cup mashed potatoes and 2 ounces of steamed green beans so yes you will be able to eat meals sooner then you think. Also thats about the maax I can eat without it upsetting me.

[DesertGal]

Oh Donald, your dinner sounds heavenly. I'm so tired of tuna, scrambled EGG, soup and refried beans. I just CAN'T get more than 2oz in me. I look forward to having meat and a vegetable together, on a small plate, and more than a couple bites. Maybe another month?

[Donald G]

Oh Donald, your dinner sounds heavenly. I'm so tired of tuna, scrambled EGG, soup and refried beans. I just CAN'T get more than 2oz in me. I look forward to having meat and a vegetable together, on a small plate, and more than a couple bites. Maybe another month?

Yup I wasn't allowed to eat some of those foods or that much til I was 2 months post op.

[DesertGal]

Not many calories.... I track it and its anywhere from 400- high 600's. (And that's with two protein shakes daily at 160 calories each.) I'm light headed when standing up from sitting, feel like I'll keel over after being in a store after 15 minutes. Insomnia NIGHTLY since surgery, and my prescription meds for sleep do nothing. Neither does melatonin. This is for the birds.
And I take all of my vitamins and supplements daily. Along with my acid reflux pill.

[RehabNurse]

just want to know if I will be able to have a small meal ever again.

If all goes well, you will be able to eat small meals somewhere between 2 and 3 months out with no problems.

I am a little more than two years out and my stomach's capacity has tripled since those early days. At 2 months out I could eat no more than 3 ounces. Nowadays I can comfortably consume 8 to 9 ounces.

A typical dinner for me would be two mackerel patties with a side of steamed vegetables, or a roast beef/cheddar sandwich with a side of salad, or a homemade flatbread pizza, or meatloaf with a side of creamed spinach.

[Christie13]

Sounds like you overate as odd as that sounds. Since you are in the beginning of being able to eat you need to eat very slow and allow yourself to feel the "full" sensation. It is going to be way sooner than you think. If you eat too fast or too much you will get sick. Without a doubt. Eventually it does get easier to eat. I am 6 months post op and I can definitely eat more BUT if I eat too fast or too much I still regret it.

[Goonerette23]

You're probably right. I was so excited to be able to eat that egg that I may have just eaten it too fast and probably should've stopped when I started to feel full. I know it's a process and I need to be sure I'm listening to my body when it's clearly trying to tell me I'm full. Thanks for the info. Sounds like it starts getting a little easier after month 3 or 4. Just gotta hang in there. Thanks for the support!

[Goonerette23]

If all goes well, you will be able to eat small meals somewhere between 2 and 3 months out with no problems.

I am a little more than two years out and my stomach's capacity has tripled since those early days. At 2 months out I could eat no more than 3 ounces. Nowadays I can comfortably consume 8 to 9 ounces.

A typical dinner for me would be two mackerel patties with a side of steamed vegetables, or a roast beef/cheddar sandwich with a side of salad, or a homemade flatbread pizza, or meatloaf with a side of creamed spinach.

Thank you so much for the reply. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Soooo happy to hear that.

[Goonerette23]

Yes eating gets easier. If you find that the foods your doctor told you that you can start eating are to much for you then go back to the foods you were able to eat prior to being upgraded. A lot of people though had trouble with eggs when being switched to soft foods, just remember eat slowly chew your food really well. Tonight for dinner at 3 1/2 months post op I had 4 ounces of chicken 1/4 cup mashed potatoes and 2 ounces of steamed green beans so yes you will be able to eat meals sooner then you think. Also thats about the maax I can eat without it upsetting me.

Thank ya for the reply. Yea, I'm definitely gonna go back to liquids and my puréed soups for the next few days again. Even the small portion you mentioned of chicken, mashed and green beans sounds aaaamazing! Glad to see there is light at the end of the tunnel :-)

[Goonerette23]

I'm 7 weeks out from surgery tomorrow and I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!! You're lucky you have been moved to those foods already.... I have been on pureed for weeks now and hate it. (But I have been eating softer foods that 'puree' in my mouth. ). Next week I can "attempt" (and I use the word LOOSELY) to eat soft, moist meat and steamed vegetables. I can't eat much NOW, and I have barfed too many times to count and I hate it. I have been grilling tilapia for myself (the fish is 3 oz) and I am lucky if I can eat 1 - 1 1/2 oz. One more nibble and it's barf time. I look forward to the day when I can EAT something and feel like it is a meal, and not have it make my throat/chest/sleeve feel bad. I've seen the surgeon... there is nothing wrong with my new stomach. I just can not eat much at all. I had tried to get 1/2 cream of broccoli soup in and did manage that a couple weeks back, but I got to say: I am not living on soup. Something better change.

And the bubbly feeling in my throat after eating, sipping water and even when I sleep (when I can sleep)... I have that. Insomnia issues BIG TIME.

I'm sorry you're still having a not so great experience even 7 weeks out. I hope things get better for you soon. My doctor said the gurgling sounds do eventually happen way less frequently or never at all. Most meat and steamed veggies sounds amazing! Please let me know how it worked out for you.

[sraebaer]

3 years out and eating is as normal as it was 3 years ago, except I don't eat as much, and get full much quicker. Amazing.

Try soft boiled eggs, those worked for me in the early stages.

And the noisy tummy, that goes away too.

Someone mentioned chicken, for me that was the last to add. The first time I tried that at about 7 weeks out was probably the only time I felt near getting sick. (Never actually got sick in 3 years!)

[Tuesday2]

I'm 3 weeks out and I have the same thing. I've tried eating an egg and feel sick afterwards (I have chickens... so not being able to eat an egg is tough). I haven't thrown up yet, but I had a little tuna yesterday for the first time and felt SO sick. nauseated, freezing, exhausted. I went to bed at 7pm. I think today I'm going to stick to the foods I know are ok - yogurt, soup, and more soup.

and the gurgling sounds are HUGE. I can't believe my coworkers haven't heard through my office walls!

[Goonerette23]

3 years out and eating is as normal as it was 3 years ago, except I don't eat as much, and get full much quicker. Amazing.

Try soft boiled eggs, those worked for me in the early stages.

And the noisy tummy, that goes away too.

Someone mentioned chicken, for me that was the last to add. The first time I tried that at about 7 weeks out was probably the only time I felt near getting sick. (Never actually got sick in 3 years!)

Thanks for the reply and congrats on texting your goal weight! I'll try soft boiled next week (week 4). And thank god for the tummy noise stopping eventually