This weekend, we attended a retirement party for one of Kirsten’s aunties – a lovely evening full of family, laughter, and more “When are you two getting married?” comments than we could count. Everything was going perfectly… until one innocent-looking sausage roll derailed the night.
We’ll call this a short post – a cautionary tale, really.
A Great Evening – Until It Wasn’t
The evening started well. We had a few drinks (just soft ones for us), caught up with Kirsten’s extended family, and felt genuinely uplifted by how many people commented on our weight loss.
James has lost five stone, and Kirsten four – though oddly, neither of us truly see it yet. Our clothes fit better, the numbers on the scales are down, but in our heads, we still imagine our old selves. It’s funny how slowly the mind catches up, even when the body changes so dramatically.
Still, hearing those positive comments really meant a lot. It was a reminder that all the hard work, discipline, and sacrifices had been worth it.
The Moment Things Went Wrong
Then came the buffet.
It looked harmless enough – standard party food: sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls, and the usual sweet treats. After finishing his drink, James decided to have a go at one of the sausage rolls. It was his first one since surgery.
Over the course of ten minutes, he managed to get through about half of it. That’s when things started to go south.
At first, he felt full – very full. Within half an hour, the discomfort turned into nausea. He went pale, struggled to move, and finally, he had to rush to the toilet.
What Being Sick Feels Like After a Gastric Sleeve
Being sick after gastric sleeve surgery is a strange, unpleasant experience. It doesn’t feel like normal vomiting. There’s no violent retching or large volume of food coming up – instead, it’s more like a dry heave or a strong tightening in the chest and throat, almost like a cat coughing up a hairball.
It’s uncomfortable and exhausting, and it can leave you feeling weak for hours afterwards.
Once the worst had passed, we decided to call it a night. One tiny sausage roll had completely ruined our evening.
What We Learned from It
Looking back, it’s clear that eating new foods for the first time is best done at home – not in public, and definitely not at a party. Your body reacts differently after gastric sleeve surgery, and it’s impossible to know in advance what will sit well and what won’t.
Even something as small as a few bites of pastry and sausage meat can overwhelm your new, much smaller stomach. Foods that are high in fat, dense, or hard to digest are some of the most common triggers for nausea and discomfort post-op.
We’ve since learned to test new foods in small amounts, in a relaxed setting, and only once we’ve had success with simpler meals first.
The Takeaway
If you’re early in your post-surgery journey, take it from us – don’t rush to try everything just because you can. Stick with what you know works until your body tells you otherwise.
Your tolerance will improve over time, but it’s a process. And sometimes, one sausage roll is all it takes to remind you that your new stomach has very firm boundaries.
So, lesson learned. For now, we’re sticking to our safe options – and giving sausage rolls a wide berth for the foreseeable future.
Disclaimer: This post is based on our personal experience living with a gastric sleeve. It should not be taken as medical advice. Always follow the guidance of your bariatric team or healthcare professional when reintroducing foods after surgery.