Warning - we're not out of the woods yet!

Just wanted to post an FYI to my fellow April surgery partners. I have had very few complications or problems since having my surgery and have lost almost 70 lbs in the last 5 months. Occasionally I have a problem with chicken and it winds up coming right back up. I really felt that I was through the worst of it and that life was starting to resume some normalacy again. A few days ago, I had a problem with some grilled chicken and it came right back up. Later that night, a protein snack did the same thing. Breakfast and lunch the following day - the same thing. For dinner on the 2nd day I just made soup - wouldn't go down either. At that point I was getting pretty nervous because fluids wouldn't even go down. I did call my surgeon who was a bit snotty that I didn't call after the first episode. I tend to be someone who doesn't like to over react and was just hoping this would clear up. He told me that once something is stuck, everything will swell up - since the opening is so small, it doesn't take much to make this happen. My repeated attempts to eat and then vomitting had created a ton of swelling so that nothing could get down. Dr. urged me to STOP taking anything in for at least 12 hours - not even water. At that point, if I could take water I was to go to the emergency room for fluids via IV. He also order two full days of the liquid diet to help calm everything down. I'm happy to say that fluids went down and that I'm sipping a protein shake once again. I guess I learned a tough lesson - we are not out of the woods - and we have to listen to our body. When something doesn't go down - don't keep trying. I've had a miserable couple of days, I hope the worst of this is over. Good luck to everyone! Linda B

Linda, I feel so bad for you but I understand what you are going thru. I ending up throwing up like that and no water was going down but I didn't realize that I was really SICK and I waited thinking I would get better. I ended up back in the hospital for a few days with severe dehydration and my kidneys stopping. But I made it through after they opened my throat up with a tube and took me to surgery to open my kidneys back up. Keep in touch and let us know how you are now. And stay on top of things Christy

Yes, Linda, I have been relatively complication free and totally felt "out of the woods." Now, you girls are really scaring me. Glad you are ok now though. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hugs, Vicki -120 incl pre op loss

I'm glad you're feeling better. And I'm one of those people that DOESN'T call the doctor for every little thing. I can be scary but at least you know the signs so you can recognize them if they happen again in the future. Have a great, pain-free weekened, L*

Wow, thanks for the "heads up". I too feel, or felt, out of the woods from complications. I really am grateful to be able to learn from others experinces. i hope you feel better soon. Kristy

Wow you really opened some of our eyes.. Thanks for the post!!

Sorry for your troubles.