Will my stomach distress ever go away?

HI Everyone,

Just 12 days post op. Still on creamy liquids. Between the gas, stomach distress and acid reflux, my stomach is always in a state of chaos. Since I am not eating, I can only attribute it to the shakes and low fat soup. My average day is:

3x protein shakes Isopure or Syntrax 75 grams protein total

Soup 2 x a day 4 ounces creamy soup mixed with bone broth

Decaf coffee 12 ounces a day

Some fat free 25 calorie low sugar almond milk

Some crystal light

Some flavored water 0 carb

Total is 80 grams protein/ 64 ounces of liquids.

I have tried imodium, gas med, pepto bismol chewable

I also take Plaquenil for Lupus/Sjogrens (thought that might be causing it) as well as Cymbalta.

Taking all my chewable vits, B12. Starting IRON, calcium and D next week.

If you know of any natural remedies for stomach relief, please let me know.

Your stomach has been very traumatized and it will be a while until it settles down to it's new normal.

This is why it is so important to follow the post op eating plan. Your stomach has been sliced and diced and rearranged and is very sensitive.

It does and will get better. You will than have a long learning curve to learn how to live with your new configuration. Over time you will see how you react to new foods and drinks. That is why it is so important to go slow and give yourself time.

After a while you will get used to how to feed and care for your new, improved tummy. It probably will never be the same and that is not always a bad thing.

In the meantime it is trial and error. Ask your doctor what is safe to use to feel better. Your doctor is the best source of information as to what you can or cannot do.

Avoid things like Pepto! It is contraindicated for people with a RNY. Please consult your doctor before trying even over the counter remedies as they can be very bad for your new plumbing.

Hi, Thanks for telling me about the pepto bismol chewable. I had no idea that it is contraindicated for RNY. I don't know what I was thinking. Wont be taking that again.

I agree with everything ladytazz said. In addition I'd like to add that I also take plaquenil for lupus. I haven't had any stomach issues from it, but I have heard from others that the quinine can cause upsets. The easiest way to know for sure is to talk to your rheumatologist and see what he/she says about it. It's best to stay on it if you can, because we can't take nsaids now.

I find that peppermint usually helps upsets. I just suck on a sugarfree peppermint lifesavers. When my now 50 year old daughter was a baby and had colic, my mother dissolved a peppermint lifesaver in a warm bottle of water and it worked like a charm! I've never forgotten that and to this day I still use peppermint.

I hope you feel better soon!

Some of the symptoms you describe are side effects of Plaquenil. It may be that your new pouch is more sensitive to it. You should probably let your docs know. I have been on it for chronic Lyme; now off due to possible interaction with Carafate. :(

Good Luck!

Just adding one more point that I didn't see mentioned in the previous posts. It is not uncommon at all for people to become suddenly lactose intolerant after surgery. Sometimes it goes away and sometimes it stays forever. My first suggestion would be to lose the creamy soups to see if that helps.

HI, I was lactose intolerant already with a sleeve gastrectomy. :) THese were the low fat healthy choice soups. I haven't had milk to drink since 2007. But I think the protein shakes give me a massive tummy ache. So I may have to find shakes that are lactose free.

Ditto the advice on lactose intolerance. Make sure your protein drinks do not have whey concentrate and is a whey isolate protein. Whey concentrate contains lactose. I became lactose intolerant after surgery and it took several months before I figured out that my shakes were making me sick.

Dehydration can cause severe nausea. Make sure you are getting at least 64 ounces of fluid a day. Ginger tea or peppermint tea helped me early out.

Great idea! I thought it may be my shakes. I do better with the ISOPURE and the Syntrax. I had already tried some others.

Hi Babs,

I'm 19 days post op. I have also been struggling with significant stomach distress!

A natural remedy that seems to calm my stomach is Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Herbal Tea. I got up twice last night for a cup and it helped settle things so I could sleep. I'm drinking it warm, not hot. It seems to be the only thing that helps! I know different things help different people but it's worth a try for you if it helps! Good luck!

Jessiegirlie