Question:
Is dry heaving normal and will it go away?

I had the gastric sleeve 3 weeks ago and am experiencing random dry heaving. It's not associated with drinking or eating, it just happens. Most of the time nothing comes up when it happens. No nausea medicine helps. This just makes me not want to drink and eat. Will this ever go away, and has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do different? Please help!! :(    — jenniferd5 (posted on March 21, 2008)

March 21, 2008
Jennifer, I think you need to see your surgeon immediately. Dry heaving is not normal and it puts a lot of strain on your pouch area. Have them check your gallbladder. I satrt with the dry heaves and two weeks later I had to have my gallbladder removed. Once that was done, no more dry heaves. Please go get checked. Tania
   — Tania_B.

March 22, 2008
Hi Jennifer, when I had episodes of dry heaving, it turned out to be 25 gallstones in my gallbladder that needed to be removed. See your surgeon right away and see what is going on. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

March 22, 2008
I started dry heaving about 1 year ago, & I am over 4 years post-op, there would also be no rhyme or reason for it, sometimes I would be driving down the road. If I had recently ate then it would come back up & I would feel totally better afterwards, if I had not eaten, then during the heaving I would just spit alot & again, I would feel better. But the heaving was sooo so painful, I would sweat, shake & it would almost take me to my knees but I don't consider this the same as "dumping", because I feel that is brought on my overeating or eating something that does not agree with you anymore. I had NUMEROUS tests done, upper & lower G.I., blood tests, I can't even remember them all & everything came back fine, so my doctor prescribed me metroclopromide, also called reglan, it TOTALLY works, if I have the slightlest inclination that I might "get sick" I take a small piece of one of the pills, I don't know what miligram doesage my doctor gave me but they make me sleepy so I only need 1/4 of the pill & it works like a miracle....I have been taking them on a as needed basis for about a year now....you can google the name of the pill to learn more but it has been a GODSEND for me.....Best of luck, HeatherB
   — heatherb

March 22, 2008
Jennifer, I am just one person but I had dry heaving for 5 weeks post op and then it stopped the next day. My surgeon said that it was normal and that it could possibly last up to 3 months. I did get nausea medicine too but it did not help. Since you still have your gall bladder, you should let your surgeon know so he can do an ultrasound of it and make sure it is ok. Put a pillow over your stomach when you dry heave to brace it! Good luck and remember, "It will get better!". Lori in Michigan
   — reretheplaylady

March 23, 2008
Hi Jennifer! I had VSG 10-25-07. I had nausea for two or three days after surgery but that was it. Call your doc. You also might go to the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum and ask the same question there. You might get more answers there. Keep us posted. Pat
   — pjennjr

March 23, 2008
Hi Jennifer, I had the dry heaves for 4 weeks after the RYN beginning at about week 3. I had returned to my doctor 2 times with no significant change, in fact it was getting worse by the week. Finally, I was researching this on the internet under hyperemesis and I found that it can be related to a vitamin B deficiency, epecially Vitamin B-1 Thiamine. I started taking it that night and I have been fine ever since. Maybe you could ask your doctor about this for you. For me an answer could not come soon enough! I hope this helps! Jill Johnson
   — jillj1