Question:
I've got several questions...help

I'm going to post this on another board as well but here it goes. I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op and I wanted to know..first, anyone out there still have quite a bit of nausea? Haven't vomited but just lots of nausea. Second, I wake up in the night or even early am and have lots of pressure still..like maybe lots of gas??? Third question is, no matter what I eat or drink.. I get this uncomfortable pressure in my chest. I'm watching what I eat or drink..not to much *I measure everything* not too fast either because i time myself. Any suggestions would really help or any advice. some days are great and other aren't. ???????    — Rebekkah T. (posted on January 6, 2007)

January 6, 2007
I hate surgery about the same time as you. I understand what you are going through because I had the same problem. I am alot better than I was, but I had the pressure thing alot at first. It's now gone. I would think I was having a heart attack it was so bad. I am on soft foods, and am not having too much problems now, but yes I do have bad days where I just don't feel good. Remember you just had major surgery no matter how good you feel otherwise. I keep having to remind myself to relax, things will get better. I get alot of back pain, and I know it's gas, I get up and walk around the house some and that really does help it move through. Good luck
   — Diane C.

January 6, 2007
I had GB on 10/11 and started to have similar experiences about 5 weeks post-op. Everything, including water, was making me nauseous. Since then, I have noticed that I do fine with soft foods, but still sometimes have trouble with solids (meat). I have found that if I stick to foods that are soothing to me (milk, yogurt, etc.) and then try to add in the solids, I do better. I have been told that this is normal since your stomach has to adjust and repair from the wls. Hang in there!
   — Barbara15425

January 7, 2007
You sound like I did after my surgery in June. I got nauseous a lot and still do sometimes. I've learned that in drinking things, 5 small sips maximum or I feel like I'm going to bend over and it will all drain out of my head. Too much and I have that pressure in my chest. Chances are that pressure is from too much food at once. Just because you are measuring everything doesn't mean that your body can take that much at this point. Slow it way down and make sure you chew chew chew. I've learned that if I eat something and feel the need to vomit, tht if I don't do it within the first 5mins of eating it.. it's not coming up. So I just lay down and ride it out. Thankfully, it's happening less and less. You did just have major surgery and everyone's body adjusts differently. You also are now in the relearning to eat stage. I know I wanted to sit down and gobble a plate of food down, even though I knew I couldn't. I found that the slower I ate, the better I was. Sometimes it takes me up to an hour to eat a 1/4 cup of something. That's just me though and your results can vary. Goodluck and hope this helps
   — oceanrayne

January 7, 2007
I had the same things happen to me and I had to have a scope and dilitation done 1 month after surgery. Everything is great now. They just go in and stretch your tube out. Sometimes when it heals it becomes very narrow and that is when you feel the pain in chest. I would call your Dr's nurse and have it checked out. Good luck.
   — tolnatrojan

January 7, 2007
I was severely nauseous for 3 months after surgery. So much so that I just wanted to lay in bed and I had a hard time eating, so I got low potassium and ended up in the hospital having IV infusions of potassium. They also stretched my stoma a little bit after one month to see if that would help but it didn't. My dr. said that some people are just more sensitive then other's and that one day the nausea would just disappear. Well, he was right gradually it did, I still get nausea if I eat to much now, 3 years later, which is good, my tool is working. But just hang in there, I know it's hard and you are thinking, what have I done! But it will get better it just takes time.
   — Rebecca Johnson

January 7, 2007
Thanks guys :) I'm just frustrated and don't know what to do. I have my first post op this coming Friday. I really hope I don't have to be scoped I'd have to pay for it out of pocket. In response the one of the above posts. I know its not from too much food because it happens with the first bite or first swallow and they are very small amounts like tip of spoon and sipping. I'm excercising too...**sigh** I just don't know?? Thanks everyone
   — Rebekkah T.

January 8, 2007
That has been happening to me also. I had my surgery on Dec 4th. I read the site "rules of pouch" and it talked about drinking as much water as you can prior to eating. I guess because it stretches your stomach. I've been drinking as much as I can and then waiting 10 mins to eat. I haven't had that feeling of pressure and naseau since I started doing that a few days ago. I still weigh and measure my food so I don't over eat. But the idea seems to work for me. Definitely check with your doctor but if you don't get anywhere try that it did work for me. Drinking first thing when I wake up still hurts but I stick with it. I drink my protein shake and by lunch time I make sure I drink the water first. I'm so glad its helping me.
   — trenansac