Question:
open rny on may 1 and still having trouble doing anything but clear liquids

My incision hurts, but not the way I expected it to. My discomfort is very high... Epigastric into the chest and shoulders. I feel like things are all trapped in my chest ( I know they aren't, it just feels like it) I'm supposed to be on full liquids... my doctor uses carnation instant breakfast as the protein drink... and I feel so ill each time I take a sip of anything other than clear liquids. I talked to the office and they said go back to clear liquids only and I have, but I feel worse every day, not better. It's not so much "pain" because I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance, just discomforts that continue to get worse. I have tried sugar free yogurt etc., so I know it's not just that I can't tolerate the carnation. I know I'm rambling but I feel so awful. I was prepared for pain and a few other "sensations" but not this overwhelming sick feeling. Any suggestions anybody?    — Cindi W. (posted on May 9, 2000)

May 9, 2000
I have problems with sugar free carnation breakfast and yogart. I get sick from most dairy products, I can have cheese (chedder) or things made with milk like yogart. I even dump from powder milk. I can have cream soups. Try to see if this your problem. I have herd people having problems digesting the fat found in milk (lactose). Just a suggestion. When I get sick from dairy, I feel blah, I am sick to my stomach and need to be close to a bathroom for those quick dashes. ~Sue Ann~
   — sue ann A.

May 9, 2000
Hi Cindi, If you are getting nauseated, try something salty such as chicken broth. I felt nauseated for the first few weeks when I ate a lot of sweet foods. Hope this helps!
   — Laura P.

May 9, 2000
Cindi: Let me suggest a few things..The discomfort you're talking about "could" be trapped gas.. NEVER drink liquids from a straw or gulp drinks..this causes air pockets, repeated belching, even vomiting etc. Also some people have said here on AMOS that a few weeks after surgery, hot liquids bothered them. Pepper bothered me first few weeks.. But please talk to your Surgeon or PCP about this problem, I don't want my guessing about this to be wrong and it be a more serious problem.. Better safe than sorry check it out.. <p> Open divided Proximal RNY 12/8/99 Beginning weight 367 NOw 260 <p> Check out my profile page for more information and recipes.
   — Victoria B.

May 9, 2000
My surgery was 22 days ago and i am just now feeling better, the protien i was taking ,of course was mixed with milk, i have become lactose intolerant, and thats why i was sick, an all over feeling of bla , intestinal pain and diahria, i learned this by getting off the milk stuff and 3 or 4 days later i felt a little better and now i eat split pea soups and other non milk soups and am getting some strengh. this is my experience , keep it in mind,and good luck.
   — nancy T.

May 9, 2000
I can't speak for your doctor, but when I had my surgery a year ago (04/1/99), I was on liquids (the protein drink, sugar free juices and broth) 2 oz at a feeding for 4 weeks, then was graduated to soft foods like jello, pudding (sugar free, baby foods) for 1 week and then to small chew foods, like yogurt, mushed up refried beans (high in protein), cot- tage cheese, mashed potatoe, mushed up fish for another week and then finally got to start real foods. I know that for me the "sweet" foods really got to me and if you're eating too fast (most heavy people do, you know), it can create a pain over on the left side that will make you try to make a bargain with God. Anyhow, because I needed something besides sweet, and since salt sometimes works to settle your tummy, I bought pretzel sticks (skinny ones), I ate the salt off of them like corn on the cob and threw the pretzels away. It worked wonders. BUT, and I can't emphasize this enough, one should not second guess anything. Definitely speak to your surgeon about this and see what he has to say. Hope this helps. Judy Pool
   — Judy P.