Question:
3&1/2 weeks post-op-having difficulty keeping food down! Any suggestions?

HELP PLEASE! I have only been able to keep food in my stomach about 1/3rd of the time. Most of the time it comes right back up within 2 minutes. Also, what is it with the belch reflex? I feel very thirsty most of the time, but if I try to quench my thirst, I throw up! I am also very hungry, but when I eat I get a full uncomfortable feeling which usually ends up with my throwing up. All I really crave is to not feel sick when I eat. Any Help? I am a 49yr old M. At this point I could care less about losing weight if I could just eat or drink without throwing up! Let me just add that when I do eat or drink, it is in very small amounts-1/4 cup or less at a time, 3 x's pr day.    — Michael P. (posted on June 18, 2003)

June 18, 2003
Hi Michael, I had the same problem at 3 1/2 weeks post-op and it lasted for about 2 weeks until my doctor found out what the problem was. I was throwing up everything I had ate or drank so they did an endoscope on my to see if I had a stricture that was causing me not to be able to keep anything down, it wasn't a stricture though they had found out thru the endoscopy it was just acid build up in my throat that was causing me to be sick, so my doctor put me on stronger medicine to help with that which was nexium and now everything goes down pretty good! So my advice to you is to please talk to your surgeon and get an endocope done, {which is a painless procedure}, and takes only a few minutes to do, to see if you have a stricture which is keeping you from keeping anything down, and a stricture can be easily fixed, or to see if you have the same problem as I did and need to be put on medicine for that! Hope this info helps, and good luck!!
   — Melodee S.

June 18, 2003
Make sure you ask your dr. Mine told me that if I had this type of reaction, there could be a stricture. I find if I don't chew well enough, it causes nausea. Sugar free popsicles or fruit bars tend to ease mine.
   — lharbison

June 18, 2003
Try eating more often in the day. I find that I never feel hungry but if I don't eat often enough I get sick and then when I do eat, it hurts my stomach and it comes right back up. My nutritionist told me to eat every other hour but in very small quantities. I am four weeks out and now. I still throw up but it is because I forget to eat. Eating has become such a PITA!! Anyway, good luck to you! I hope it isn't a stricture!
   — Tami H.

June 19, 2003
My mother in law & I had surgery a few weeks apart. We had similar problems for different reasons. They scoped her & found no problems so the Doc had someone watch her eat. They determined that she was throwing up because she was taking larger swallows & bites of food than she should. They were pretty tiny bites, but not small enough for her new stomach. Once she adjusted her bite sizes even smaller, she got better. I had a problem at 5 weeks and learned that I was swallowing air with my food. and didn't even know it.
   — M B.