Question:
4.5 Weeks Out, When Will The Nausea Stop?
I'm moving from puree to phase I solids and I get so sick! I've started trying things on the phase one diet now such as baked fish and burritos...with out shell. Even an Adkins bar will leave me nauseous for an hour. the weight is really coming off now and I think it is because I am starving. Baked Salmon....about 3 bites....left me ill and wretching! My question is...will this get better? I am 4.5 weeks post. Will I be able to eat half a hamburger one of these days? Or am I doomed to oatmeal! Please, share your experience as I am so depressed! — Sharon B. (posted on June 15, 2003)
June 15, 2003
In my experience, yes, it does get better. I was nauseous for about 10
weeks. I was running a low grade fever so the doc finally started me on an
antibiotic and about day 3 after starting, the nausea slowly started to
fade. I must have had an infection of some sort. But, I sure can
empathize with you. The nausea was relentless, it left me in a fetal
position most of the time. Anything I ate or drank left me feeling awful.
I was hospitalized briefly for dehydration. Try to make yourself drink. I
have heard of only one person that the nausea was a permanent thing. Hang
in there, it takes time. Things will get so much better and this will be a
distant memory! Brenda 2 years post op down 141 pounds
— Brenda H.
June 15, 2003
It is getting better. I asked the same question at about the same time and
all my answers were CHEW,CHEW,CHEW...and eat slow. I got so upset because I
thought I was but guess what? I went to see my Dr. he ran a barium test
thinking I had so kind of problem and I didn't. I did slow down some more
(now it takes me half hour to eat a couple of oz or less)and I chew much
more than 25 times and I do better. I am now 8 weeks out next Tuesday and I
find my biggest problem in getting nauseous is eating too much. I still
can't eat a full 2 oz. I have to keep it under. You will learn what to do
but hang in there. I just this Saturday ate almost a half really small
hamburger. It's funny, did you ever think you would be concerned you
couldn't eat a whole hamburger? Things do get better. Tummy just has to
heal and it takes some of us longer than others. Great the weight is coming
off! I remember when my mother used to tell me to empty my plate because
some kid was starving in Ethopia(sp?). I know now it took more time and
more than one meal for that to happen! Good luck!
— Barbara S.
June 15, 2003
I remember feeling that way at 5 months out and now wish I had that at 3
years. TINY bites and WAIT 5 minutes with each bite helps. Remember this is
why surgery works, eating will not be pleasent for a while and the weight
will drop off. The eating will become easier but savor these days. Make
sure you're drinking enough water also. GOOD LUCK~
— ZZ S.
June 15, 2003
I am 4.5 weeks post op too, and the nausea has almost completely gone, with
the exception of when I eat chicken of any kind. I throw up most everytime
I eat chicken, even with chewing it to death. I feel wonderful otherwise.
My surgeon started us off on soft protiens (no pureed) the second week
after surgery, so I've had time to practice some. Fish is another
difficult one to chew but I find that tuna (moistened with a little ff
mayo, mixed with some shredded cheddar and red pepper flakes for flavor)
does ok also. When I'm having a not-so-good eating day, I revert back to
refried beans, and that keeps the nausea at bay. I am getting tired of
nothing but protien... ready for some soft veggies already!
— Happy I.
June 15, 2003
Of course it's different for everyone. I was never sick on the liquids,
full liquids, pureed and then soft foods (all three ounces a meal).
Learning what I can and cannot eat on the general diet was more of a
challenge. I still do not get sick, but some things I know aren't for me.
Breads, pasta, rice, potatoes and things like pizza. It took a bit to get
used to very moist, NEVER overcooked chicken and beef. I still have days I
don't do as well on the meats. I know protein first, but veggies and salad
rule the day! Just listen to your body and don't push it. Your stomach is
still healing. Remember the outside heals much faster than inside. Give
it time and follow your doctor's instructions. It does get better. I am 8
months out and can, on a good day, eat about 1 cup of BULK. ;) Open RNY
and down 160 lbs. Feeling TERRIFIC!
— Ginger M.
June 15, 2003
I got ill on fish and most anything with strong flavors the first couple of
months. I found mild flavors set better with me...moz cheese, vanilla
pudding, franco-american spaghetti, plain med-rare steak, canned corned
beef with finely chopped cabbage, things like this. I also found if I took
deep cleansing breaths as soon as I felt the first signs of nausea that it
helped it pass so I could finish my meal. It does get better though. Good
luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
June 15, 2003
You should probably call your surgeon and ask him about this. It's
possible you have a stricture, which means the opening from your pouch to
your intestines has swollen partially shut. They can do an endoscopy and
dilate it to stretch it back out. This is pretty common at 4 weeks or so.
It may be that you just need to chew more, but you should have them rule
out the stricture also.
— garw
June 16, 2003
Your surgeon should be your first call with excessive nausea. Second stop
would be to talk to a nutritionist and maybe get some alternatives to what
you're eating. About 4 weeks out I had a horrendous time with nausea and
it was my allergies and the nasal drainage that was making everything a
torture test to try to eat--because the mucous wasn't allowing anything to
go through to digestion. I think one day I threw up something like 15
times. The told me to take a benedryl before I went to bed and stay on my
Zantac--worked like a charm.
— Cathy S.
June 19, 2003
Oh the nausea...how I can relate also. I have found that most times it
sets in, it's because I've eaten too fast. I would talk to the surgeon or
your PCP (only if WLS informed)before anything else. You (like me) are
early post-op and need to be extra careful. I know what you mean about
eating 1/2 a burger. Who would have thought this issue would arise? I do
best with meat if accompanied by bread or crackers. Yes, the carb-mongers
will hound me for this, but believe me...it's not like I enjoy it. I have
trouble getting enough food in for the day and whether anyone wants to
believe it or not...adding a few carbs occasionally has kicked me off of a
plateau. Do I think it was the carbs? NO...I think it was the protein I was
able to get in along with the carbs. Protein that otherwise would have had
to come back up (sorry for the graphics). Did this always work for me?
No..will it work next time? who knows.
Good luck on your journey!
— Diane S.
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