Question:
Help!

I returned to work one month after surgery, and was very excited to return. I had no previous problems, felt fantastic and was doing great! Then around lunch time I started vomiting. I only ate two teaspoonfuls of grits. I hadn't really drank a lot just sips of water like usual. When I am home I feel great not aprhensions etc. I had been home for almost 5 weeks with my husband who is very supportive. I wound up back in the hospital for three days. They controlled the vomiting so I didn't need a scope or anything and they said it was okay to go home. I stayed home another 5 days and returned to work yesterday. I have had two panic attacks already and just want to be home. I can't take anymore time off. I AM TERRIFIED TO EAT ANYTHING AT WORK. I am trying to keep water down. I have never experienced anything like this before. Am I going insane and will I ever be "normal" again?    — Lynn D. (posted on July 7, 1999)

July 7, 1999
Why don't you try drinking protein supplements and water at work and eat at home. Liquid will go through effortlessly, so that may reassure you about vomiting and maybe help control your anxiety. Then you can gradually add something like a hard-boiled egg at work, to see how it sits.
   — Deborah L.

July 7, 1999
I too have developed a "nervous stomach". My stomach was very sensitive for about the first 8 weeks. I never had anything like this before WLS. I now can only have a BM if I am extremely calm. I have to take a long hot bath to calm myself down to go to the bathroom. I am 3 months post-op now. My stomach has calmed down with eating, but I can not be stressed or anxious. I think it does subside in time for most people. Good Luck!
   — Michelle M.

July 7, 1999
First of all, calm down. The more you freak about anxiety attacks, the worse they get. I know. I suffer from them. Second, the suggestion that someone else offered, was a good one. Try protein supplements while at work for awhile. Just eat at home, where you feel comfortable, but make sure you continue to nourish yourself while at work, and drink your water. The most important thing, though, is to relax...take some deep breaths and calm down.
   — Peggy51

July 7, 1999
My heart goes out to you girl. I experienced about the same thing as far as vomiting. I was so scared to put any food in my mouth because I did not want to vomit. I had the scope done, and they found a lot of flem in my new stomach. The doctor put me on a new medicine which I apologize because it is at home and I am not, so I can't give you the name but if you would like it e-mail me personally and I will get it. It seems to control it most of the time, but there are still times when I do get sick (about 3 or 4 times a week) which is not a big deal because it isn't 20 minutes of vomitting like before just quick and easy. Sounds disgusting and I'm sorry but how else do we say it?!!!! I had planned on being back to work after 4 weeks but was out another 2 weeks then worked 1/2 days for 3 weeks because of the sickness. It does get better and I ate babyfood for about 2 weeks and that helped. Try not to stress over it because that will make it worse. Just put enough in your stomach to keep you healthy. I don't have an answer as to why this happened. I was told to eat about 2 ounces every 4 hours, I could drink after 15 minutes of eating and up until 15 minutes before I ate again. You will be hungry but it worked. I did that for 2 days. Be patient because we have a lifetime ahead of us to enjoy this weight loss and our new life, so cheer up!!! Need anything, just write. See ya.....
   — Rhonda B.

July 7, 1999
I understand your problem. I was out for 7 weeks before I went back to work and I have a history of panic attacts. It is also the worst thing for me to throw up in a public rest room. Try to take deep breaths and distract yourself when you feel the panic coming on. Panic feeds on itself. The more you think about it the worse it gets. Try to put it our of your mind that you might have a panic attack. As far as not eating at work, sometimes I don't. I can tell how my stomach feels and if Im going to be ok that day. If I feel "if"y about it I will do a liquid diet for that day. I hope this helps you a little and lets you know that you are not alone. Be strong and hang in there!
   — jenae C.

July 7, 1999
Hi Lynn, I think what happened was that you waited too long to eat. your body is producing a lot of saliva still. But since you are not eating as much as before, all that saliva is either stuck in your food tube or in a pool in your pouch. try eating little snacks about every two hours to prevent the vomitting. try saltine crackers. If you can drink some tea before you eat, it will loosen the saliva and it will prevent you from vomitting. George
   — George A.

July 7, 1999
Sounds real familiar only not quite to the extent you're describing. I was so used to snarfing down my lunch rapidly like everyone else and running back to my desk that the first meal I had at work upon returning, I took a huge bite of something, CHOMP CHOMP, GULP and then on top of that I took a HUGE gulp of crystal lite. Then proceeded to spend the rest fo the afternoon throwing up in the restroom right outside my bosses door. I blamed it on "bad food" or something ... It was a brand new job down in Ft Lauderdale ... I was nervous and feeling rushed and wanting to appear "normal" and not nibbling at my food or appearing to play with it. I learned 1) to eat very very slowly no matter what I was eating, when I am real nervous even a bit of grits could've gotten "stuck" back then, as well as something as easy to chew as a spoonful of cottage cheese. You'll be fine ... unless there is something unusual going on in the way of a complication, just need to learn to relax, eat super slowly and carefully and do not drink fluids until at least a half hour after and stop drinking fluids at least a half hour before your meal. Good Luck!
   — Sherrie G.

July 7, 1999
Lynn, First thing ... calm down. Do you have alot of stress at work? I know that If I am stressed, or cooking a rushed dinner, then I need to chill out before I eat. So maybe, if your in place that stresses you, then on top of that, being stressed about throwing up. Do you get a long enough lunch where you could go for a walk or do something relaxing for fifteen minutes before you eat? Try that, Hope it helps! Mary Anne
   — Mary Anne M.

July 21, 1999
I am only 1 week post op, and I've had 2 panic attacks. One was on the operating table prior to surgery (the Doctor feels that this one was triggered by a nausea medication I was given) and one happened last night (I think it was triggered by low blood sugar and rapid weight loss). I contacted my psychologist and she explained panic attacks to me and told me that there are hundreds of things that can trigger them (ie. low blood sugar, dehydration, rapid weight loss. She also told me that they are a very physical thing and therefore, need to be treated physically with warm comforting things, (ie rocking in a rocking chair under a warm blanket, hugging, taking a hot bath, or using a heating pad). I'm quite a novice when it comes to WLS as I am only 1 week post op, but I think my psychologist made sense. I'm hoping I will be able to handle any future attacks by using her suggestions. It's worth a try. Hope it helps you. Good Luck!!
   — Chris M.

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