Question:
Does anyone else have problems vomitting after WLS?
Right after surgery I was able to vomit somewhat if I had eaten too much, or too fast. But now I am almost 7 mos. post-op and can't vomit at all. The other day I felt really bad and thought if I could just throw-up I would feel much better, but nothing would come up. What happens if you get the stomach flu after WLS? Are you able to vomit then? Thanks! — JamieGarvey (posted on July 29, 2006)
July 29, 2006
I had WLS in Feb and while I was still in the hospital I was able to throw
up. I have the same problem as you. If I eat to much I just wish I could
throw up. It is almost impossible. Once in awhile I can force myself by
sticking my finger down my throat (I know this is not good) but I am never
able to vomit up food. All I throw up is foam or mucus. I dont know why
this happens but if both of us experience this itcant be that abnormal!!
— shannonwaycott
July 29, 2006
I am only 3 weeks post-op and I have this problem. In fact just an hour
ago I ate an egg and for some reason my stomach didn't like it and it set
lodged in my throat. I tried to force myself to vomit but I couldn't. My
mouth was watering terrible and I felt like I needed to get rid of it but
still wasnt able to throw up. I don't know how to get myself to feel
better if I can't throw it up. So I feel your pain.
— Eileenr
July 29, 2006
I have heard of other wls patients who had the stomach flu and did throw
up. I, on the other hand, avoid introducing "Ralph to John" any
way possible. So it's not something I would try to do....even if feeling
sick. But as for yourself, I think it boils down to a "your mileage
may vary" situation.
— Dinka Doo
July 29, 2006
I was told by my surgeon that right after and there after for a short while
if at all possible Not To Vomit, that it could disrupt the stitches amongst
other possibilties of problems.
I've only vomited twice in the last three months since receiving my RNY. If
I get that feeling as though I've eaten to fast or have not chewed enough,
then It teaches me and I just have to live with the discomfort till it
subsides.
— Michael Eak
July 29, 2006
My partner goes through that from time to time when she has either eaten
too much, eaten too fast, or eaten something that she shouldn't have. The
only thing she can do is suffer the consequences of the pain until it
passed. Yep, makes you feel horrible, however, if your system doesn't
voluntarily make you vomite -- don't push it -- you could also damage your
esophagus.
— the7thdean
July 29, 2006
Oh believe me you can surely vomit if you get sick. The last time I got a
bad stomach flue I vomited for 2 days straight. I was like I stll had a
stomach, I don't know where it all came from because I couldn't eat
anything. The only problem is that you get dehydrated real easy. I ended
up in the emergency room with an IV in my arm. Not fun. You learn tho try
and stay as healthy as you can.
— rose2rose
July 30, 2006
I can't vomit either and boy, do I wish I could at times! I just have to
wait out the pain. It does tend to make me avoid stuff I'm not sure of
before eating it. I've done the same thing with the finger down the throat
with the same results and I've also wondered if I'll be able to throw up if
I get sick. For whatever reason, I guess some of us just don't dump like
others.
— Lisarose10
July 30, 2006
I'm with those who say to use this as a learning experience. I know I've
not had RNY but I had lap band, but have certainly experienced the
discomfort when I eat too big of bites or too quickly and things get stuck,
esp. after a recent fill and I haven't adjusted to the change. Boiled eggs
are esp. difficult. I wonder too that if I get sick will the band prevent
the vomit from coming up therefore making me feel even worse? However,
what the pain has taught me is to slow down, chew thoroughly, eat less and
take smaller bites! This is frustrating, but eating too much and too
quickly are two big reasons I'm overweight to begin with! I need to learn
new habits. Also, vomitting just to get rid of too much food can be
considered bulemic behavior. Was it a pattern BEFORE surgery too? That's
a dangerous game to play (been there too). I'm with the people that say
use this as a learning experience and try to avoid repeating it as much as
possible. Old habits are hard to change, but I'll be glad to change them
if there's a painful consequence involved. So far, it's working! 4 mos.
out and havn'et felt this great since I was in my 30's!
— Debra R.
July 30, 2006
I'll try to answer this without getting too graphic LOL! In 1997 when I
had the VBG I could still throw up. It was much easier to get the food up
when I ate too much or something got stuck. It was basically like a baby
spitting up. I had a bad reaction to codeine during that time and spent 8
hours straight hugging the toilet and then it was just like normal. I had
to work "harder" meaning more heaving but stuff found it's way
out. When I had the RNY in 2000 I lost that ability to just empty my
stomach. I had to learn to suffer the misery of nausea and overfull pouch
or just something the pouch didn't like. Occasionally I could get it up
but I definitely used it as a learning tool as that was miserable. 6 years
later it's much the same. If I do get sick it is usually just foam. I
have gotten stomach flu type things and you CAN throw up but you feel like
you're gonna die in the process. I gag until I almost pass out but manage
to get the bad stuff up and out. I guess this is definitely a your mileage
may very thing because some people I know who've had WLS are like buzzards
with no problems throwing up LOL! Anyway, hope I didn't gross anyone out
and hope I helped a bit!
— Kellye C.
August 1, 2006
I had surgery 12/2002 open rny. I have never been able to throw up since
surgery. I had my surgery performed by Barix..Dr. Populawski.
Other post ops who have had surgery done by other surgeons throw up all the
time.
— debmi
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