Post-operative Gastroparesis

Ah, Sweet Potatoes soooo good .. butter and brown sugar gets the calories up... I am 5'-10" and now weigh about 170... Before that botched Nissen I weighed 196... I was down to 152 or so when I went to Mayo... I take a multivitamin... and a Mirtazapine ... to help me think that I want to eat ... also a generic Nexium in the Morning... At 82 years old .. I am doing a lot better than so many....and I am grateful.. I don't think that I have trouble swallowing ...its what happens after it is swallowed...when gravity seems to be in play... I have to eat a lot of sauces with the food to make it go down easier all the way to the stomach... I was an Architect and a Univ. Professor...and very active.. this focus on eating is just something I was not used to ... chewing a lot... cutting stuff so fine .... I even have to cut fettuccine or other pasta ... rice ...not too sticky works well usually... I don't ever use straws because of the air you have to swallow.. When I went out for Brunch this morning, a restaurant serves a Breakfast Slate... it is ideal for Grazers (slow and easy while doing a crossword...)... and that really works well for me... a little of this and that ...1 poached egg...a tiny bowl of porridge with a blueberry puree on it., candied bacon piece, a small slice of cantaloupe, pineapple, honey dew, grapes, some almonds, some cheese, some dried fruits, an shot glass of orange juice, and really toasted bread with fresh strawberry jam... with a chocolate filled filo baked pastry... crisp and flakey..
If I travel I do eat those granola/protein bars... and trail mix... I was never on a feeding tube.. but I order appetizer servings and take some home in a box to eat later...

We went out to a buffet for Father's day. My son, his wife and 4 grandchildren with us. I ate some shrimp and I forget what veggies I could eat. I had peach cobbler for dessert and had two cups of coffee. I did not get my husband's money's worth. He and my son and grandson ate all the prime food they could eat and grand girls loved the chocolate covered cherries and other desserts and made up for it. 😂

I am 5’5” tall and weighed in at a fat 180 lbs a few months before Mayo trips. I lost 50lbs two months prior which was part of my symptoms bringing me there. I was asked before 2nd surgery to gain at least 5 lbs. That was very hard to do. I came off the feeding tube weighing 140lbs.. lost 10lbs within i2 months after that. Kept slowly losing it and last year I lost 15 or pounds. This year I started off at 117lbs and am up to 122lbs... sometimes dropping below. If I cannot maintain my weight they say I may have to go back to feeding tube, I was nauseous whole time I was on it. The tube went to my remanent stomach and no way to throw up. Too nauseous and I would just disconnect from it for a while. Sometimes Zofran works and sometimes not for nausea. It makes me have a headache. I take valium for my back sometimes and it seems to help my stomach.

To me it sounds like you have the sphincter not working as it should. You need to find the cause and figure treatment. I am heading toward 68 years old in August. I feel much older. I am trying to take care of my 91 year old mom. I am blessed to have a great husband to help me.

I have a big plastic jar on my kitchen counter that I keep my mix of Costco Trail mix with added unsalted mixed nuts, craisens, dried apricots, and m&Ms.. I also have a big jar of pickles herring, olives, a lot of fresh or frozen fruit eaten with that Avocado frozen dessert.. that's how I keep the weight on..

Correction: Pickled herring...
I go to Mayo Rochester for this GI problem, but also for kidney stones, and now even radiation oncology for a prostate cancer .. prognosis is good.. the time the doctors, PAs, and nurses spend with you gives confidence to the patient..at least that's how I feel about it..

ken82 What type of surgery did you have?

@ginnyodie I am sorry you have had such a hard time. There are many in this group that have gastroparesis. You should use the search option .. magnifying glass up at the top on the same line as appointments to find conversations that might help you.

This illness is a challenge but workable. I eat about 5 to 6 times a day. Small meals and I stay away from foods that are hard to digest such as cabbage, broccoli and uncooked carrots. Beef hurts. the internet on Gastroparesis will give you lots of info. I take Domperidone three times a day. Good luck

I find that food cut small... and take the time to cut it while you eat as that slows the rate of putting food in your mouth... with a lot of sauces... pasta, barB Que, cream etc... what ever... I too do not eat much beef... ground up is OK but with mashed sweet potatoes and gravy on the meat... during the summer I have been able to eat Baby back ribs..with a lot of sauce.. they keep one busy cutting biting small bits... ..and Ice Cream for dessert... a blue berry at a time ... Good Luck.. K

@ken82 , what kind of surgery did you have that brought you to your gastroparesis? Thank you

A Nissen...to reduce Reflux. It damaged nerves in the stomach