Question:
Has anyone experienced severe vomiting after surgery?

I am almost 4 weeks post-op and almost everything i eat comes back up.I've had all my tests repeated and my surgeon says that I am fine, I'm still on liquids/puree food.I've been told that stress is causing this but am having trouble accepting this. I vomit about 4 times a day and now I am really weak.All of this is really getting to me.Please help.    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 21, 2000)

May 20, 2000
I too am experiencing this at 4 weeks post op. My doctor told me that they may need to go in and stretch the openings at the stomach. I posted a question yesterday and found that it is called endoscopy. This may not be the same as you are having, but it is worth asking your surgeon. Hope this helps
   — Tony H.

May 21, 2000
Eat tiny little bites, several minutes apart. Limit it to two or three bites a sitting. Stay away from chicken, pasta, breads and broccoli, cauliflower, etc. In fact, if I were you, I would stick to creamed soups until you have adjusted to this. Your pouch is protesting, for some reason, so it would be a good idea to be very cautious. It would be much better for you to get a very small amount down, than to barf up your meals. Good luck.
   — [Anonymous]

May 21, 2000
Hi there! I'm almost 10 weeks post-op and I am still having trouble keeping food down. However, follow what "Anonymous" says. I now know I was taking too big of bites and attempting to eat these "big bites" too fast. I am eating much slower and taking "teensy-weensy" bites now, and FINALLY, I am keeping food down more often than not now. Haven't vomited at all for THREE WHOLE DAYS! It really goes against my grain to eat such small bites and so slowly, but NOW am convinced that is the answer. My surgeon put me on Regelan (sp?) and it made me so nervous and depressed I stopped taking it after 5 days. So, SLOW DOWN and TAKE LITTLE LITTLE BITES and I suspect you'll do fine. You know, some of us, just have to learn everything the hard way! Good Luck!
   — Sandy C.

May 23, 2000
The same thing happened to me. You should have your doctor check your potassium level. If it drops too low it can be very dangerous. I also could not keep anything down at 4 weeks post op. I became extremely week, so my husband took me to the emergency room, and my potassium level had dropped to a very dangerous level. The ER team made me drink a large glass of potassium while they were hooking up to an IV of potassium, which took 2 hours to get into my system. Needless to say, the vomiting does get better. I am not 9 months post op (lost 102 pounds)and I vomited last night for the first time in 2 weeks. You must learn to eat very small bites and chew them up VERY well before swallowing. I have to stay away from certain breads, pastas, and chinese food. I have learned that these foods make me sick very soon after eating them. Also, you need to wait at least 30 minutes after you eat before you drink anything. And when you do take a drink, make sure it is just very small sips. Sometimes the weight of the liquid sits on top of the food and that, too, will make you vomit. Hope you get feeling better real soon. Sincerely, Linda
   — Linda F.

March 8, 2001
I am now 5 months post op & have started to have severe vomiting in the last 2 months. I tried to eat smaller bites, more slowly, etc. but nothing was helping. I would normally eat 2 small bites, then my stomach would cramp terribly, I would have severe pain. If I continued to eat, I would almost immediately vomit. If I stopped, I would be in such severe pain & so uncomfortable, I would try to make myself vomit. I was told that my opening was too small & food was getting stuck. I had an endoscopy & they said that the ring that the Bypass surgeon put in at the end of my pouch is too small to allow food to pass through. I am now on a soup & very soft food diet. They also put me on pain medicine, which relaxes my stomach & will allow the food I eat to stay there. With this medicine, I am not in pain & can eat food again.I have tried to avoid this medicine because it is addictive & not the long term answer to my problem. I have scheduled a followup appt with my Bypass surgeon, to see if there is any way to widen the opening, since there is a ring in place. Very frustrating, to say the least. But modifying my diet & being on the medicine has helped tremendously. For a short while I could eat soldi food. For some reason, now I can't. I would love to hear from anyone else is experiencing any similar problems. Thanks!
   — Teresa R.