Help Needed!!!

Hi Everyone,    I could really use some help, advice and ideas.  Since my last surgery on 8/16 I've continued to vomit on a daily basis.  I have naseau med, but it doesn't keep the food & liquids down.  My protein & fluid levels are almost non-existent.  Prior to the RNY surgery I had no problem with Protein shakes, but since surgery they won't stay down for even 5 minutes.  I've tried a variety of types and brands of protein mixes, ready to drink shakes, Protica, Procel, Nectar, Isopure, etc.   I've also tried a variety of soft foods, but nothing seems to be working.  Anyone had this issue?   Advice?   Ideas?      I see my surgeon again in 2 weeks.  If I'm not better by then, he has said that he will have to scope me and stretch my stomach opening.  I really want to avoid having to have any more procedures and surgeries done, so I'm hoping that maybe someone here might have gone through this and have an option that the dr., nutritionist and ourselves haven't thought of.   It's getting to be a desperate situation.   If I manage to get 10g of Protein to stay down each day, I'm doing good.  I need 70 grams daily, so I'm way off.   I walk the line on hydration most days.  I've been experiencing the headaches and muscle cramps that come with dehydration, but I keep trying.  Sometimes the fluids stay down, other times they don't.       I'm also curious if anyone else has found that they have a heightened sense of smell since their surgery?   It seems odd, I guess, but unfortunately my sense of smell is also tied to my stomach's tolerance too.  *Ugh        My frustration level is over the top these days.  All I want to be able to do is eat or drink,  keep it down, and feel good.  I'm also not allowed to do much because my protein & hydration levels are too low, so I'm going stir crazy at home.  Nothing is fun when you don't feel well.  Anyways....    Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas you might have.   I'm overwhelmingly appreciative!   Blessings, Yvonne

Yuonne, I have a problem with protein shakes also, I can not do them,, the nut. told me not to worry about it. that i could get it thru food.  I had the same problem with keeping things down and being weak, to settle my stomach i ate a few cracker I know we arent suppose to have them but it was the only thing that settled my stomach and then i started eating a few raviolies and it seem to work  for me. i have my strength back now and dont feeling like passing out, the nut, said i have to try what ever works, I also ate one slice of toast with spray butter,  as for the water intake i use light grape juice and water, in a 20oz water i use 3/4 water and the rest grape juice. they said we only need to get 32oz water aday.. did you try yogart or cheese. Lynn the nut. told me to eat cheese what ever kind i can get in.. Hope this helps it helped me now i can eat more, sorry to hear your having trouble Barb

Thanks for the ideas Barb.  My nut. told me the same thing...whatever works.  I've found that I can keep down a few cheddar goldfish crackers, but the box says it takes 55 of them to give you 4g of protein.  LOL  That could take awhile....LOL   I've never been able to eat pasta of any sort, so that's not an option for me.  Did you have a hard time with the toast?  We are told that we need to try to get in 64oz. of fluids, which has been impossible so far.  I'll have to give the grape juice and water a try.  I did buy some Crystal Light that has electrolytes and B-vitamins in it to help with the hydration.  That part is getting a little better.   Yogurt has been one of those foods that stays down sometimes and comes up other times, so I never know how it's going to go.   As for cheese, I've managed about 1/4 of a mozerella string cheese stick.   Are you feeling back to your normal self yet?   Thanks so much for the ideas! Blessings, Yvonne

Yvonne, Protein shakes made me so sick I did not vomit but I sure felt sick. I too could drink them before surgery. You will not get very much protein in, in the begginning bu****ch the fluids. We could have SF popsicles and 2 of those counted as 1 fluid. They were a life saver to me !!!I was eating like 1-2 Tablespoons of yogart in the beginning and slow at that !!Real soupy cream of wheat tasted good. Water and those popcicles kept me on the line of dehydration I mean i would remember sitting up and drinking a few sips at night then sitting up again 10 minutes later all night as i could not get enough in during the day. IF you are not drinking protein shakes and still vomiting I would not wait until 2 weeks to be checked out. I never vomited but I never vomited before surgery hardly ever.

keep us posted and do check it out with the doc

I not only had a sense of smell but everything tasted like salt. I honestly thought they were putting salt in my water at the hosptial to make me drink more. I said something to the nurse she thought I was NUTS. My PCP thought maybe it was from the anthestic but it was awful and went away taste first then smell after a month or so Pam

Hi Pam,    It's sad that there seems to be so many of us that haven't been able to drink the protein shakes post-op, but I'm happy to know that I'm not alone.   What type of SF popsicles did you try?   Originally our diet included them, but then the nut. deleted them because of the extreme temperature issue.  However, she told me to do whatever I needed to, so the popsicles sound like a good option.      Funny that you mentioned everything tasting like salt.  I had the same experience when I was in the hospital and at first when I came home.  I thought it was probably all the Saline Solution that they gave me through the IV to keep me hydrated.      I'm glad to know that the intense sense of smell went away.   Hopefully it'll disappear soon!   Thanks for the advice and letting me know I'm not alone on this journey, Pam.  I really appreciate it! Blessings, Yvonne Blessings, Yvonne

I'm sorry you're having it so rough right now.  I hope they find an answer for you soon.  Even if it means a scope, at least you would feel better.  I'm afraid I can't help with the vomitting, but I can tell you that my sense of smell is off the charts.  At a dinner a few weeks ago, someone about 10 feet away had a beer and it was all I could smell.  It's crazy.  I was told it could happen, but never realized it would be THIS intense.  When I mix a protein drink, I have to hold my breath and walk away from it for a minute till the protein smell disapates. I'll keep you in my prayers.  Keep us posted. Hugs, Jeannie

Thanks Jeannie,     Your prayers are priceless!  Thanks so much for thinking of me.        I can relate to being able to smell things from 10 ft. away!   The food smells are what seem to bother me the most.  Not everything, but plenty of them make my stomach quesy.   Let alone try to eat any of it.        I'm not sure about the scope making me feel better.  That's what the surgeries I've had so far were suppose to do.   I'll have to ask to see if someone here has had the scope and whether they feel it truly helped.  The surgery/procedure itself isn't really my issue, but the extreme pain I have to go through in order to have an IV put in, plus the after-effects of surgery itself are never fun.  I ended up being allergic to all the pain meds they gave me last time, so I'm not sure I want to deal with that again either.  Basically I just need to get better soon, before I have to go down that road.  I know your prayers will help.      Blessings, Yvonne

Yuonne, yes i am feeling more normal these days my strength is back and I started excerise this week. I walk a mile and ride bike for 10mins. do 10 situps on ab louguer. I dont get 64 oz water in a day only 20-30 and i feel great. protein i dont get 60grams likey i get 20..but she said im doing great so im not worried.  I think everything is going better for me but ido have my times when i eat it comes back up. the biggest problem i have is coming out the other end. very loose stool. but i can live with that as long bathroom around. driving bus i better drive fast..lol good luck Barb