Vomiting and Pain

I'm 3 1/2 weeks out from a lap rny. The last week or so, I started having bouts of nausea. Then, I'd occassionally get the foamies, or part of what I ate would come back. When I do eat, I get a pain in my rib cage. I just finished getting very sick. I ate half a cup of lean beef chili, which I'd eaten without problem just the day before, and after three tiny bites, started vomiting. And kept vomiting. I'm getting my fluids in, or was until I got sick. I don't think it's dehydration. Is anyone else having problems eating; or with nausea and vomiting? I'm also going to post this on the big board, to get some seasoned feedback. Torrey, who isn't feeling good.

Hi Torrey, Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I'll be 6 weeks out tomorrow & some times as the weeks go by, we start to feel so good, we forget to continue to eat slowly. In the beginning I used a timer and made sure I set it for 3 minutes between bites. Last week I didn't use the timer, ate to fast & got sick for the first time. It sucked... I threw up 4 times before I started to feel somewhat better. If you are taking small bites, chewing to mooshy consistancy & waiting at least 3 minutes between bites & continue to vomit, call your Dr. tomorrow, you may be at the beginning stages of a stricture. Good luck & keep us posted. Tammy

I was having the same problem except I haven't really been able to eat solid foods yet. At 6 weeks out, not even a scrambled egg. I attempted low fat turkey chili on Tuesday and got the foamies and throwing up for about 4 hours after. I had air trapped and kept burping and the pain felt like my chest was going to break in two. This had been ongoing with nausea and vomiting but the chili experience was the worst. My PCP ordered an upper GI on Wednesday and I took the films with me to see my doctor on Friday (he's 3 hours away from my home). He said the preliminary report and films looked good and he thought I was just eating too fast. I do eat too fast and it's really hard to slow it down but I did take almost an hour with the chili. They had put me on the schedule for an EGD that afternoon and although he was sure it would be normal, I could go ahead with the procedure if I wanted. I decided yes, since I had taken the day off work to see him anyway, why come back again if things don't get better. Well, they found scar tissue in the opening from my stomach. It was 7 mm and should have been 10-12 mm. They stretched it out with balloons and will do it again in a week or two, then maybe a third time. I'm am so glad that I decided to have the EGD. I'm still afraid to eat much but I can tell just by the liquids how much easier things are going down. The good news is that I'm down 40 pounds. Anyway, you might ask to doctor to check for this if you continue to have the problem. Best of Luck! Janice

Hi Torrey, I'm almost 6 weeks out had some of the same symptons that you've mentioned. nausea and vomiting. Not to freak you out but I had a stricture. If this keeps up please call your surgeon ASAP. I just thought I had a bug and this went on for over 10 days and I could not keep food or liquids down. Before all this happened I didn't have problems with anything I've tried. Just make sure to get your liquids in. Since I couldn't I wound up in the hospital and that wasn't fun. Hope this helps and I hope you feel better real soon. Debbie

Hi Torrey, I'm Tammy Hewitt's sister, and had my surgery in June. The same thing happened to me. It started with a little vomiting twice during the week, then I had some chili (which I had not had problems with prior), and began a horrible vomiting session. Called my doc, they scheduled an endoscopy. Turned out I had a stricture (scar tissue over the opening from the pouch) which had narrowed to 2 mm. I was dilated 3 times and am now doing great. Please don't hesitate to call your doc. As Tammy said, if you are following the eat slowly, chew well and wait rule, then something is wrong. Vomiting is not a normal part of this surgery. Good luck, Debra

Does it hurt really bad to have that dialated? And did you feel much better when eating after that? I think I need to call my Dr. I have been vommitting probuably about 4 times a week? Do you think that is a reason for concern. It seems like things go soooo smoothly for a couple of days and I get a little brave and BAM I throw up one of my meals. Maybe it is just me and that I am eating too fast.