HELP! NEED ADVICE!!

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago and things have not been going well. First I had to stay 6 days in the hospital instead of 3 because I was having severe pain and nausea. In these 3 weeks, I have also been to the ER for fluids and tests to make sure everything is ok. I have been experiancing severe nausea and have just recently received nausea medication which does help take the edge off. Now I am having trouble getting my fluids and protien down. I just don't know what to do. Everytime I take a drink I feel crappy! Has anyone else experianced this? For so long? I feel like it is never ending. -- I can not stop thinking why I even did this to myself. Please- I need help/advice. Katie

Katie: From what I understand, your situation is not the norm and I'm sorry to hear that your recovery is less than pleasant. I hope that you're in constant contact with your medical team as they are the ones that will see you through this difficult time. I had about 24 hours of extreme nausea right after surgery. Three injections later, it finally subsided. I haven't had any difficulty since then. This could be a long shot but did they ask you about what you're eating/drinking? I've heard that some folks develop a dairy intolerance after surgery, which could contribute to the ill-feeling you are having. I'm just throwing suggestions out there cuz given your symptoms, it's really hard telling what the culprit could be. You had no way of knowing your body would be one that would react like this, so try not to beat yourself up for the decision you made. Hopefully the nausea is resolved soon and you will then experience the good side of the decision. My thoughts are with you ~ kim

I'm sorry your feeling so terribly. I'm afraid I don't have any advice, but maybe a little encouragement? My nutritionist said something pre-op that has stuck with me... "Remember the hand you're dealt is not the hand you'll be stuck with for the rest of the game." Her point was that though things may be tough at first, it will get better! Good luck. Keep us posted.

Katie, Sorry to hear about your rough start. you might try some of the materity approaches to nausea with the anti-nausea wristbands. Can't hurt at this point. my friend used them with each pregnancy and it made a world of difference.

Katie, I am so sorry you having these problems. I am most concerned that you may not be getting in all your fluids which could make the problem even worse. Have you contacted your surgeon yet? If not please do. Depending on what type of protein shake you are doing, could you be intolerant of it since surgery(lactose intolerant for example). Are you doing plain water, if so you can try some sugar free flavorings in it, that might help. Is there pain when you drink, if so...call your doctor now! This will all end and you will feel better! Good luck and keep us posted here how you are doing. We all care about you. Holly

I had my open RNY on sept 6th and have been the exact same way. The first few weeks I had to go in and get extra fluids too. I am on Reglan which helps some but the last few weeks I have ate pretty much nothing. I continue to drink but only cuz I know I have to but I dont get in near what I'm suppose to. Next week they are going to do a scope to check my opening size to make sure that I dont have a stricture, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that with the scope they will find what the problem is and get it taken care of. I have lost 39 pounds and would love to be able to enjoy that instead of wishing I had never did this.

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%