Question:
Has anyone had these problems post op?
I had surgery 3 and a half weeks ago and have had so many problems I am really sick of feeling so sick. I gag on the vitamins and vomit them, same with the calcium. I got dehydrated and gagged on ensure(it was diluted because of the sugar content) skim milk makes me vomit, eggs make me sick. I had to go back to a clear liquid diet after geting IV fluids and vitamins at the ER. What do you do when everything you try seems to fail. I am allergic to most anti-neasua meds and the suppositorys irriated me so much I expelled them everytime I tried them. I have found I have no desire to eat anything ever again. Please share some helpful ideas. My husband is very upset that my recovery is so slow and that I am so sick. Thanks! — [Anonymous] (posted on July 24, 1999)
July 24, 1999
We must be sisters! I am 5 weeks post-op. I also gag on the vitamins, and
can not tolerate milk and egg products since the surgery. I found that
this week I made the strongest strides yet - more than the first 4 weeks
put together. Try baked or boiled chicken. I found that was the best for
staying down.
— Judy S.
July 24, 1999
My third week was the hardest. Everything I tried either stuck or made me
have nausea.
Have hope, by the end of the fourth week I was starting to get the hang of
things. I found the Flintstone chewable vitamins worked well.
Milk and eggs bothered me also. Low fat soup made with water did better.
Also sugar-free Jello made with fruit juice and water is a good idea.
I found that eating crushed ice helped me to control the rate of fluid
intake so as not to have nausea. Light toast also felt good in small
amounts.
Keep trying new stuff, everyone is different and you will have to find the
things that work for you. My wife's low fat chile was one of the first real
foods that worked well.
Try either warm or cold tea to settle your stomach. Sugar-Free pop-cicles
also became a favorite liquid. Hang in there it will get better a little at
a time.
— Ken C.
July 24, 1999
3.5 weeks is NOT a slow recovery!!!! Your husband needs a lesson in
patience!!! I'm sorry to be blunt but it's a fact. It's very difficult to
get used to your new lifestyle. You must eat or drink TINY TINY amounts at
a time, I wonder what your surgeon advised you on your post op diet.
Ensure has a SUGAR FREE version ... as does Carnation Instant Breakfast,
and if you're allow dairy products, the Sugar Free Instant Breakfast is
quite good. BUT again you must take TINY servings sips at a time.
Swallowing whole pills may be a little hard at first, you may need to cut
them into a couple pieces. Even a scrambled egg will get stuck if you 1)
don't chew very very well and/or 2) cook it too dry. Please talk with your
surgeon!! And seek nutritional advice from him, and if there is a
Psychologist connected with his practice as was with my surgeon, I would
strongly encourage you and your husband to go see him or her. Your husband
apparently doesn't realize you've been thru MAJOR surgery, and 3.5 weeks is
only small step towards your full recovery! You need his support ... not
his criticism and upset that you're not fully recovered in such a short
period of time. If you were saying 3.5 months ... perhaps then he might
have a need to be "upset that you're having a slow recovery"
Goodness!!! Take care of you!! and Please see your doc! Good Luck, my
thoughts are with you!
— Sherrie G.
July 24, 1999
Obvioiusly, you have already discussed this with your doc. But what's he
saying? Many are nauseated after surgery? But also, many RNY's get the
marginal ulcer. That'd be where the intestine connects to the pouch? It's
quite common. Mine was undiagnosed for 6 months. I just thought it was the
price I'd paid for being thin. But once diagnosed, fixed in 36 hours!
Also, the opening can heal up too tight. Not that I'm saying HAVE
happened, but they seem to hit about 50% of us. And both are VERY fixable.
Once diagnosed. Have you had an endoscopy? It's bascially painless (IV
stick only), takes about 1/2 hr and answers the question immediately.
You're out for an hour or so. Nice nap. Metallic taste? Water tastes
gross? Nothign tastes right? Nausea strikes 15-20 minutes after eating?
Saliva backs up-we call it "frothing", you can sort of huck up
thick saliva? Ask for a scope! We don't generally feel that miserable
unless that opening is blocked one way or another.
— vitalady
July 24, 1999
My doctor had me start very slowly with foods... first I was on clear
liquids and then full liquids....
I was to eat babyfoods only for six weeks to allow the staple line to heal
well without as much stress.
What does your doctor say about the situation? Each person is different. I
would definitely follow my doctor's instructions
very carefully. I realize this may not be much help to you if any. I hope
things get better for you soon. Just know that we all care.
I wish you the best.
— Peggy W.
July 24, 1999
Hi. Sorry to hear you are having a hard time right now. I am pre-op but I
have a few ideas for you. My doctor is going to put me on vitamins that I
think are liquid and are taken by sniffing them into the nose. Maybe that
would work for you. Also, I tried this Knox brand gelatine that is for
joint pain called Neutra-Joint tropical fruit flavor. It is sugar-free if
you can handle artificial sweetners-and for only 40 calories in 4 ounces
you get 9 grams of protein. I think it tastes good. I am supposed to have
surgery on friday so I don't know yet how it will settle in the tummy once
I am post-op. I hope you feel better. Also, maybe a milk made for
lactose intolerance would help you to tolerate it easier. I found some
low-sugar and sugar-free protein supplements in a health food store that I
like also. Hang in there! Kari
— Kari S.
July 24, 1999
Maybe your body needs to be on clear liquids a little longer. You are far
from healed. I did not feel good normal for at least 2 months after
surgery. I did not even feel hungry for at least 6 months. I just ate
tiny meals because I knew I needed to. Just give yourself time to heal.
It was a major surgery and you are from from healed.
You are in my prayers.
— [Anonymous]
July 24, 1999
I did not have any of those problems but wonder are you taking your
vitiamins and calcium in pill form? My doctor does not let you take any
pills for one year and this seems to be helpful. You can take vitamins and
calcium in chewables and I found vitamins in liquid. YOu may want to try
that. Good luck
— Helen W.
July 25, 1999
How frustrating for you! Maybe your stomach and other
affected digestive organs are having trouble healing. My
Dr. had me on the clear liquid diet post-op for 2 full weeks
Then very limited soft foods for 10 weeks - things
like ripe bananas, fat free yogurt, cottage cheese, soup,
and mashed potatoes. I did not need to take any protein
supplements, only my daily vitamins. I feel that these
restrictions helped my system to fully heal before I began
regular foods. I am now 15 weeks post-op and have not had
any episodes of vomiting. Try consuming only very basic
soft foods - ones with only a few ingredients and no
chemical additives, and resort to clear liquids whenever
you feel nausea. You may try crushing your vitamins into
applesauce or juice so that you do not have to swallow a
pill. This advice is based on the assumption that you have
already discussed your difficulties with your Dr. Of course
your Dr. will better know if your system is just slow to
adjust, or if you need tests to find the real problem. I
hope that you find relief soon. Keep the faith & I will be
praying for you and your husband.
— Lisa B.
July 25, 1999
Assuming that you had an RNY as you have not said what type of surgery, it
sounds like you are fighting 2 different problems. The first would appear
to be Lactose Intolerance and the milk and Ensure lead me to think this may
be the case. Also the eggs if made with miolk. Try getting Lactose free
milk and this may help some. On the other, you should get checked to see
thta you are not having a dilation problem. This is when the anastamosis
(new stomach outlet) starts to close up on it's own. It is an easy thibng
to check on and easier to deal with. Your doctor can check with an
endoscope and if it is closing, he can dilate it open with the same scope.
Good Luck
— Robert (Bob) L. P.
July 25, 1999
You should ceck with your doctor, I was not eating any kind of solid food
for the first 4 weeks after my surgery. This alows you stomache time to
heal. What kind of vitamins are you taking, has your doctor suggested
childrens chewable? or liquid vitamins. Hope you feel better soon
— Kim C.
July 25, 1999
I was still on clear liquids until four weeks along, and
then had to take it very slowly. Mostly pureed foods for
another couple of weeks. To be on real food at 3 1/2 weeks
sounds like maybe your system was being rushed into
recovering.
— dboat
July 25, 1999
Sorry to hear have had such a rough recovery. I did have one thought even
though you said you are allergic to most anti-nausea meds. Have you tried
Zofran. We have used this medication with clients that have responded well
to other anti-em meds. Feel better soon.
— Penny W.
July 27, 1999
You sound just like me in the first month. I was able to sip water and
slowly got up to the 2 qt. amt. I needed. I used the vitamens from
vita4life.com, these are complete and were developed by my surgeon. I
ended up removing the powder from the capsul and mixing it with applesauce
(the natural stuff with no sugar added) worked great. Some other hints,
drink only cold or warm water and liquids (no ice) sip and do everything
slow allowing your stomach to empty between sips. Relax and take your time
with everything, remember your stomach is new and needs to be treated
gently. I also used baby foods mostly the meats and the applesauce. I
truly avoid all sugar and milk and seem to do very well. I am now in my 4th
month post-op and have lost 60 pounds and feel great.
— Anna D.
September 22, 2002
I was on childrens chewable vitamins. Dr told me not to have anything
bigger than an m&m so you may have to cut the vitamins in half. Clear
liquids 1st week. full liquids next 2 weeks, pureed foods following 2
weeks, soft foods 1 week, then gradually introduce regular foods at 6 weeks
post op. Stick to sugar free and low fat. I am 3 months post op and
haven't had any food problems. I'm sorry for your misfortune. The above
diet was from the dr and nutritionist. I don't know what to say about the
other diets (food scheduals)out there.
— Candy J.
Click Here to Return