I hate to ask - Vomiting

Okay - So, I have jumped all of the hoops to get to the point where I am now just waiting for the insurance approval. I've actively spent time here at OH.com, and have done a lot of reading - not a lot of posting. Here are my thoughts: I'm scared - I'm afraid of failing again - like many of you. I think I picked the right place to have surgery - OHSU I have lipedema, and am concerned that I will have adverse effects on that with the surgery MOSTLY, though, I hate to throw up. I can't imagine throwing up everytime I ate something. I can't imagine being 7 months post surgery and vomiting still. I need some sort of security that this is not all that common. Please tell me - what are the percentages of people that throw up a lot even 5 months down the road after surgery. If it is common, why is it common? I need this surgery if I have any possiblity of having the rest of my life be more than setting in this darn house feeling bad that I can't go anywhere or do anything because I am too fat and my legs won't support me any longer. Please tell me your experience. Gayla http://chronicpain-byladyfrog.com

Goodmorning Gayla, I have heard that story about vomiting. I hate it! I understand that with either surgery there is a possibility of vomiting from time to time. I am still waiting to have mine, since I have done all of the hoop jumping. With the lap band it may be due to being too tight after being inflated with saline solution. As for RNY it may be intolerance to some foods or maybe not chewing food well. I can honestly say this. I will work hard and follow all of my Dr's advice to maybe keep from Vomiting. I am not saying even this will work. Only we will know after the surgery. Please don't worry about it. I would much rather have the possibility of occasionally throwing up than becoming unable to move because of my weight. This surgery will be a life saver for me and for you. Try to thing of all the positives that you and I will have after the surgery and we begin to lose our weight. Just think of it. Feel free to talk to me whenever you want. Sheryl E.

Gayla, There are different reason to vomit. I have only done so when I have not chewed food well, eaten too fast or too much of a dense food. You need to eat slowly and chew everything up very well before swallowing it. Some people have a stricture which can cause you to throw up but that can be fixed. I will be one year out on the 10th of April and have lost 133 pounds. I think the few times I vomitted are worth it in the long run and I learned how to eat and what to eat. Julia

Hi Gayla, I can't believe that I'm saying this but-It's not so bad. I'm only a month out but I can say that SEVERAL times that I have vomited have been totally my fault. It's just like the post above. For me, it's usually from eating too fast. The good news is that it doesn't feel the same as pr-op vomiting. WARNING--THIS IS GROSS-- For me it usually starts with an intense pain in my chest (like when you've eaten too much peanut butter and it's stuck) and then I just kind of really burp the food up. No wretching. No eye watering. No stomache aches. No weakness. Just a really uncomfortable moment, up comes the food and it's over. And since you're only eating a couple of ounces of food at a time it really isn't very much food. The down side is that it comes with very little warning. A few women have told me that it usually takes just a few weeks to re-learn your body. I know that was graphic but I hope it helps.

Kathleen: You're right - the whole idea of upchucking is gross - but I really appreciate you providing a clear, simple, understandable, and gross description! I am having my RNY in less than a week and am looking for all kinds of information. Your description gives me a better idea of what to expect if I don't listen, hear and follow the process of eating to the letter. I am also glad to hear that the gross part most times can be prevented. Best wishes in your healing!

Graphic? YES! Helpful? Absolutely - thanks so much. I think I am going to just simply keep practicing slowing my eating down. I know that will be helpful even pre-opt! Thanks so much for taking the time to write!

Hi Gayla, This is just my experience. Throwing up in the early post-op stages was common for me once I trasitioned to more solid foods. However, this was not the fault of my surgery, it was the fault of me eating too fast and filling my pouch too quickly or not chewing my food enough and it getting stuck. Never have I vomited like a pre-op, it has always been the food that went down coming right back up without all the nasty acids mixed in. Now that I have figured out my pouches limits, I rarely throw up. It only happens when I eat absentmindedly and am not paying attention to the signals that my pouch is full. Hope this helps. Jill