Question:
20 WEEKS POST OP-STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EATING AND NOW CANT EVEN DRINK WATER

   — PAM J. (posted on December 29, 2000)

December 29, 2000
This is serious. You can get dehydrated very quickly, and it can be life threatening. Call your surgeon right away, and most likely he will send you to the emergency room. You have to get fluids into your body, then they will probably put a scope down your throat and figure out why you aren't able to eat anything. If they see that your stoma has closed off with scar tissue, they can use a little baloon to stretch it back open again. I have not had this procedure myself, but have heard that it is not painful, and you will feel so much better afterward. Good Luck!
   — Lynn K.

December 29, 2000
Over the years (inc. pre-op, I've had about 14 "scopes". They put you under light sedation, so you don't feel a thing, and you're only out about 30-45 minutes. AS Lynn said, you need to get in to be seen NOW, and don't be afraid of this procedure. Many people wake up with none of the previous nausea or vomiting AT ALL, right then, all fixed, better.
   — vitalady

December 29, 2000
I am close to the same amount of time post-op that you are. I had my open RNY on July 19th and had NO problems eating or drinking until this past Tuesday. I ate some soup and then about an hour or two later ended up with a bad stomach ache. Seemed like a lot of gas. I called down to BTC and they told me to take some Dulcolax that it sometimes helps with gas. I had been taking Tums already with no relief. I took the Dulcolax and it did nothing besides make me have a BM. By 11:00 that night I couldn't take it anymore and my husband called BTC and they told him to take me to ER. There they gave me some Compazine for the nausea and Morphine for the pain. It helped a little bit so that I wasn't wretching every 10-15 minutes. The next day by 12:30 it was worse than before so back to ER we went. This time my surgeon called the hospital and ordered more x-rays and a swallow test to make sure that I wasn't closed up. Everything looked good so they gave me another 2 shots of the same stuff as before and sent me home with Compazine suppositories (one way to know for sure if your husband loves you) :) and Darvocet for the pain. Told me it was probably the flu which has been epidemic in our town. I still coldn't eat or drink anything for most of that day and then finally started to be able to sip water. I thin I got down about 16 oz. of water during that night. The next day, I was thirsty and couldn't get in enough water. Still couldn't think about eating, but at least I was being hydrated. And I couldn't stay awake. My husband was worried because I slept the whole day. My stomach hurt so bad from all the vomitting that I couldn't stand up straight or sit very well. I woke up at 12:30 this morning feeling a lot better. Stayed up for close to an hour and drank lots more water. Then I got up again at 4:00 and had a protein shake and am drinking more water as I write. It is very important to stay hydrated. When I went to ER the first time my blod pressure was down to 70 sistolic (top number) either from the pain or dehydration. Not good! Check with you doctor and follow his orders. You're in my prayers.
   — livnliter

December 29, 2000
I am not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. But after my own problem with this, I think AlkaSeltzer (just a few sips) helps. When I went in for my swallow test, they gave me seltzer before the barium. It blew my stomach up a bit. The barium stayed down and passed through. Nothing had even gone into the stomach for a couple of days. But definitely see the doc about it. Could be serious.
   — Perri T.

January 21, 2001
I recently had problems with inability to drink water, and eat food I was constantly vomiting. I had a stricture of my esophagus. I had dilation and it was better. However, I think part of it didnt take and will have to have some of it redone, as I still have food hanging up, but not half as bad as before!
   — Ruthie V.

October 30, 2005
I am 10 months post op from the band and since July I have nothing but problems keeping food, coffee, water or anything down. they have done the upper gi's hydascan swallow test ect. the only thing they can figure is take the gallbladder out so i go Nov 2 for that if that isn't it they are talking taking some pressure off the band and I don't want to regain what I have lost but i am soo weak from not being able to eat good. I only eat alot of ice cream seems to stay down well.
   — paliminolady