was anyone else still not able to eat food at 4 months out

I am 3 months out (and also a Husted patient in AZ) but I am able to eat a lot and almost anything at this point so NO you aren't normal and better let him know!

lorilee -

I can't imagine Dr. Husted allowing this to go on!  If you haven't been frank with him about your situation, better do it ASAP!  Your very life could be in danger if you don't get treatment for this! 

That would be me that couldn't eat for about 6 months. I threw up each and every day for 6 months. I took all my vits and made sure I drank, drank, drank. Nobody seemed concerned about me not being able to eat. They sent me for bloodwork and I had an upper GI series that showed I had acid reflux (which I didn't have before surgery) and I was put on medicine and then I was able to slowly reintroduce foods.

Just keep trying... I did shakes (yuk) and even started back with baby food, cottage cheese and baby fruit, etc.. I don't know about you but I felt so weak and definately not like myself. I just wanted to feel normal. But you just keep going with it and trying because what else are you going to do. I was so jelous reading about people that had no problems after surgery becuase that wasn't me, but I do know that there are those that are far worse than I was.

This is not an easy surgery for some people. It just isn't. I can honestly say that after I had it done I wished I hadn't, but that is normal when everything isn't going so well for you. It is a life change that you are forced to deal with. You have to eat right and take your vitamins. Where you were not in control before (or lets face it we would not have been overweight), you have are forced to be in control with your eating and vitamins or you will pay the price.

I had a hard time with water and I actually ate ice pops and froze snapples. My urine was so dark for awhile and this was due to not enough liquids but I couldn't keep them in because I threw up so much.

Make sure you have ALL your B Vitamins checked next time around, especially B-1.

From what I've read on the interwebz, the kind of neurological problems that gastric bypass patients and alcoholics, in particular, suffer from are caused by vomiting.

Edited...This is the article I was thinking about:
ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/163/1/15



www.neurology.org/content/68/21/1843.short



 
 

My story is a lot like Lisa A's with the vomiting daily for many months.  I was probably completely protein deficient by 3 months out, but didn't get the nutritional support for TPN that I needed for another 4 months.  

Do what you need to do to get some nutritional support NOW.  I had to take the lead and make my own calls to insurance, etc. to get the ball rolling.  I know you feel like crap, but you CANNOT wait for your doctors to take the lead.  You have to squawk and call around and push until you get what you need.  Do you have a PCP working with you?  Can she/he order tests and/or TPN for you?

I don't know your history, but if you have a stricture, what is your surgeon doing about that?  How are you supposed to get food in and/or keep it down with that?  

I had 3 upper GIs that showed nothing wrong (except for the reflux I developed that I didn't have before surgery).  After I got on TPN, everything has been gravy.  It takes a good, long while to rebound after being nutritionally deficient--I'm into my 7th week of TPN with no end in sight.  If that's what you need, the sooner you get started, the better.

There are others who struggle with food post-op, but not to this extent. This is NOT normal with the DS, and not healthy.
     Strictures can recur, or there could be some other physical reason for your inability to eat. When you see your doc on Monday, don't try to downplay what's going on (not that I'm saying you have). Insist on further work-up, and insist on nutritional support. Your life depends on it.
     And if you can't get the care you need with him, you need to see another doctor. Your pcp could also arrange nutritional support for you, which wouldn't solve the underlying problem (whatever that may be) but would at least keep you alive. Your pcp could also order tests like upper GI x-rays or endoscopy if you need them, he just doesn't have the surgical skills to fix anything that is found.
     I really think you need much more aggressive care. Just my OPINION, of course.

Larra

So after reading all the posts on your thread here, and considering this is the first time I've been on Obesity Help in quite a while...Can you tell me what type of surgery you had, was it revision? (  you may have already posted about this, but I haven't seen it )

I have had (2) revisions...Original gastric stapling (couldn't eat hardly anything, maybe 3 or 4 bites a day for about 8 months) First revision revised to gastric bypass ( couldn't eat anything for 5 months except for 4 or 5 bites a day ) Had another revision almost 2 years ago to ERNY ( I strongly advise against this procedure ) But after surgery could eat anything and everything...

After the first two surgeries my follow ups with my Dr. he suggested 15-16 tiny bites every 2 hours...also suggested (and this is the bad part) eating things that will go down easily such as mashed potatoes, soups without a lot of bulk, and believe it or not bits of chips...This is totally unhealthy but honestly after doing this for about 2 months I was able to work myself up to a fairly normal meal 3 times a day...My Dr. told me that I had severe scaring and I had to somewhat stretch the stomach...Everyone has a different situation...But when my Dr. told me that he was going to take me in and do a compelte take down of the surgery....I made myself do it...and I got stronger and stronger...Upon the original Gastric Stapling I lost over 120 lbs in 6 months...The first Revision I lost 125 lbs in 7 months...Everyone is different, everyone recovers different, everyone requires something different...You obviously have a problem, whether or not it is something like mine no one knows, but it is important that you get down and see a surgeon who can run an endoscopy or xrays to see what is going on....I have heard of people going for as long as a year without eating but a bite or two or a daily shake, believe it or not...When I had my first two surgeries....They didn't have shakes or have you not eat anything but liquid several days before surgery...It's changed a lot since 1977...

Another question I have for you, is do you experience extreme nausea or dry heaves from not eating?

Thanks,

Janie Rolfson

Not normal at all. At two weeks I started vomiting. It continued (and got worse) for two weeks after that, and after a couple of scopes, my surgeon determined that a second surgery was needed to take care of the stricture.

Vomiting is not normal. Inability to tolerate food and liquids at 4 months out is not normal. If your surgeon can't help you, please find one who can.

You really need to push to be put on TPN immediately. Honestly, you should be in the hospital and have an upper gi done ASAP. This is nuts. It's time to consult with another doctor. I'm worried for you.

It is time to go to another surgeon. This is not right or normal. Please get the help you need.