Question:
should my sister feel nause and gas and unable to eat 5wks postop

   — madonatai (posted on March 3, 2007)

March 3, 2007
Maria, No she should not. I'd suggest she contact her surgeon. In the 5th week her foods should be pureed foods and not whole foods as of yet. If she is feeling nausia, its a possibility that she is eating too fast and/or too much. Check the grams of sugar on her food to insure it is 5 grams or less. Otherwise, she should contact her surgeon ASAP before it goes too far.
   — the7thdean

March 3, 2007
Yes, this was normal for me. I was nauseous off and on for about three months. Of course it wasn't everyday and as time went on it got better. i drank just liquids the first week and then pureed food, ( I ate babyfood becasue I didn't want to mess with pureeing). I then tried solid food, but had problems with throwing up and pain in my chest as the food went down. My surgeon brought me to get scoped down my throat and esophagus. Low and behold I had what they called narrowing in the passgeway for my food to pass. That's why I felt the pain as the food went down and then it couldn't go down any futher I vomited. He opened as he scoped. It was a very easy procedure and I have had no problems since. I am almost six months out and I still have a problem with gas. I take gas-x but it still doesn't help. I have my 6 month check up with my surgeon on March the 12th. I have been told by many patients at my support group that there is a medication that will clear the gas and smell up. Your sister must be very patient with the things that will be happening to her body. Remember your body is trying to adjust to drastic changes in behavior.I have lost 70 pounds and I only have 15 more to lose to goal. I have been on a journey with ups and downs everyday. Keep a positive atttitude and don't be too hard on yourself. If you have not found a support group to attend you need too. It is very helpful to be in a room full of people that are going or have gone through the same things you are. Janet K.
   — janet-tsj

March 3, 2007
Yes, this was normal for me. I was nauseous off and on for about three months. Of course it wasn't everyday and as time went on it got better. i drank just liquids the first week and then pureed food, ( I ate babyfood becasue I didn't want to mess with pureeing). I then tried solid food, but had problems with throwing up and pain in my chest as the food went down. My surgeon brought me to get scoped down my throat and esophagus. Low and behold I had what they called narrowing in the passgeway for my food to pass. That's why I felt the pain as the food went down and then it couldn't go down any futher I vomited. He opened as he scoped. It was a very easy procedure and I have had no problems since. I am almost six months out and I still have a problem with gas. I take gas-x but it still doesn't help. I have my 6 month check up with my surgeon on March the 12th. I have been told by many patients at my support group that there is a medication that will clear the gas and smell up. Your sister must be very patient with the things that will be happening to her body. Remember your body is trying to adjust to drastic changes in behavior.I have lost 70 pounds and I only have 15 more to lose to goal. I have been on a journey with ups and downs everyday. Keep a positive atttitude and don't be too hard on yourself. If you have not found a support group to attend you need too. It is very helpful to be in a room full of people that are going or have gone through the same things you are. Janet K.
   — janet-tsj

March 3, 2007
I am 4 months post op on March 7th and I still get nauseated. My first months check up I ask the nutritionist and she recommended that I take my morning pills with 100% grape juice. It took the nasty taste in my mouth away and seem to curb the nausea somewhat. My gas that I had I was pretty sure came from my bi-pap machine. They raised the pressure and apparently at night I was waking up with a stomach ache and would wake up. The minute I sat up I would let out the biggest burp I have ever had in my life. Not to speak of the gas coming out the other end! I stopped using my bi-pap and it all stopped. I recommend she call her nutritionist.
   — Virginia M.

March 3, 2007
Maria... I would suggest that she call her surgeon. I also would be curious to see what she is trying to eat. Is she sticking with liquids or is she trying to advance too soon. I had trouble with gas initially.. had to use the dissolvable GasX pills... worked great... and stuck with the liquids. Still do even 4+ months out. If I am having a day where I start getting nauseous, I go back to the basics and then advance as tolerated again... so far, I haven't had to do this too many times... tell your sister good luck.. it does get better... Kari
   — Kari_K

March 4, 2007
Hi Maria, thanks for your concern for your sister. Gastric Bypass can be scary to watch another recover from. It is scary to know that they are going through things and big changes in their life. If your sister is in pain, she needs to call her surgeon right away. I am 3 years out now, and my surgeons advice to me was "if you are not getting a little better every day, you need to call". That is good advice. Now, regarding gas, even at 3 years out, I am VERY gassy. It is my worst side affect I think, but I will take it compared to obesity. I try and pass it carefully, but it has been a reality for me. Feeling that nausea can be very very normal. Her stomach is very very small, and a small amount will fill you up quick. That is so very normal. I would eat just a few bites and then feel sick to be around food. I could fix it for my family, but after eating, I had to leave and lay down for an hour to let the fullness pass. The pouch stretches naturally over time, and at 3 years out I eat about 1/2 a meal 2 to 3 times a day. It is quite a normal amount of food, and I am in the best health ever. I highly recommend Maria that you research this surgery and what your sister is going through for yourself. There is a wealth of research for this subject on this website, but also many books by good men and women have been written that walk you through many things. I also recommend strongly that your sister be part of a support group, and you go with her. At our support group we have a lady who comes with her elderly mother every time. She just wants to know what her daughter is going through. You get a lot of information and help from these things. It helped me a lot. Being unable to eat, just let me say the desire to eat can be subsided for up to 1 year. In our circles it is called the "Honeymoon period". It is the best opportunity to lose weight and it is such a relief to not feel that intense feeling to eat all the time. It is a welcome change. Now, if she refuses to eat anything, you need to see a doctor, but it is truly best to eat small portions (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) of food 3 to 5 times a day. You need calories, you especially need protein and water to heal from surgery, along with your calcium and vitamins. If she refuses to eat, seek help, but if she is eating, then most of what she is going through is really quite normal. It never hurts though to check in with your surgeon. They are paid well for their job, and it is so much easier to get on top of a merging problem physically that to wait until an emergency happens. If she is not better every day, even if it is just a little, she needs a backup call to her doc. Kudos to you for your love for your sister. Breathe, breath deep, and get some information. And please don't make fun of her when she passes gas:), it may be her lifelong partner:). Take care, Patricia P
   — Patricia P

March 13, 2007
I felt that way for months!!!!! It eventually subsided.
   — Novashannon