Duscouraged

I have been having issues with reflux for the past 1.5 weeks and am getting very discouraged. I'm trying to tell myself that it's still very early days, things could change very radically, but constantly not feeling well and worrying about getting enough fluids is wearing me down, as well as some lack of sleep. It will be 5 weeks since the surgery on Thurs., and I am now regretting ever having done this to myself. Sorry to be a downer but thanks for listening.

Are you taking a PPI? If not, ask your surgeon about starting one. If you are, ask your surgeon about a stronger one.

How much fluid are you getting in?

I agree with Gwen. If you're having reflux, you need to be on a PPI and if you are on one and it's not working, work with your doctor to find one that does. I had reflux issues and the only PPI that worked for me was Dexilant since it utilizes s different channel through the liver, i.e., it's metabolized in a different way.

Yes, all patients in my surgeon's practice take omeprazole. They've doubled up on mine. I am ekeing out 48oz fluid per day but that's not really enough.

I've been in contact with my drs office often, and now they're thinking the issue may not be GERD but gas getting trapped in my stomach. They prescirbed a muscle relaxant to see if that helps. The dietician doesn't think this is the case, but they want me to try a milk-free protein shake and cut out dairy for a few days to rule out lactose intolerance.

I'm sorry that you're feeling this way. Please don't feel bad about your choice, look at the positive road ahead...in the meantime check with your doctor about hydration places....my doctor makes appointments for us to come in and get hydrated..meaning through an IV which is helpful. I was told that patients from a year plus still drop in. See if that's an option for you! But hang in there...

Thank you. I'm trying to hang in there but it's wearing me down.

People a year out from surgery are still getting IV fluids? There is absolutely no reason to need IV fluids after the first few weeks -- and even that is rare.

People can become very dehydrated at any point in their lives, people who have never had surgery and even athletes tend to have issues from time to time. So there's no time frame on when a person may need an IV for hydration. It's there for people who need it.

Sure. Athletes can need an IV if they lose a ton of fluids in hot weather. The elderly and infirm can need fluids for medical reasons. But for everyone else, they just need to be mindful and drink more. There really isn't another answer. In the hours or days it takes to make an appointment, get yourself to a hospital, wait, and get an IV over another hour or two, they could simply be drinking. It's just a failure of self care.

I know someone who gets dehydrated and horrible cramps at night. But it's because they don't drink, at all, all day long. It really is a very simple fix, and one that doesn't require spending a ton of money for a hospital visit.

Once we've made it past the initial postop/healing stage, we can drink more than enough to stay hydrated. Nothing in our surgery prevents that.

I can tell you that the first month, for me, was the month from HELL. I regretted my surgery and kept shaking my head thinking, " I can't believe I did this to myself!"

I couldn't get my liquids in, forget about protein. I felt sick, and was having severe buyers remorse. Jump forward one month, and I was better and happy. Four months in, I was ecstatic.

Now I'm over 10 years out, and I can tell you that it is the best thing I ever did and wish VSG would have been around earlier because my new weight gave me a new lease on life. I stopped hiding out at home. I enjoyed doing things with my kids and husband, took up cycling, paddle boarding, scuba. None of these things were possible before.

Keep up your spirits, and you will see that this,too, shall pass, and life will become a new adventure.