Question:
what happen post-op if you get the flu/stomach virus

after 3 days of a really bad stomach virsu that was just gross, I had to wonder what happen if we get this after surgery.    — Peggy R. (posted on January 4, 2005)

January 4, 2005
I had always wondered this too until last week! It started out for me as a very bad stomach and back pain. It woke me from a dead sleep at 5:30 and I thought it was my back so I took a hot bath. While lying there I heard the rumble and then it hit me suddenly. Same feeling before surgery but I only dry heave or just froth (sorry so gross) comes up. So I guess the answer to your question is that I felt the same. LIKE CRAP! And lots came out the other end! But I could not throw up even though I felt like it. Just be careful you can dehydrate easily since it is harder to get mega fluids in when it is all over. I was very thirsty for days afterwards. I am almost 2 years post op and I have heard of new posties ending up in the hospital because of dehydration so stay away from sick ones after surgery!
   — jenafwife

January 4, 2005
I always wondered the same thing till it happened to me. I woke up sick and kept vomiting froth until it felt like I had done a million sit ups. I finally went to the ER where they put me on an IV cause I was dehydrated and gave me something to stop the sick feeling. I was out of commission for a week. I guess the virus settles in the intestines now??? I hope that never happens again though...yuck
   — Vegas_ T.

January 5, 2005
I, too, just got over a bout with the flu and I'm just now 2 weeks post op. I was MISERABLE!!! Sky high fever, achey all over and inside, very nauseous and I spent a ton of time in the bathroom. The biggest hurdle for me was to stay hydrated. I couldn't even sip water because it made me sick to my stomach. Luckily I didn't throw up, mostly because I flat refuse to! LOL And by the 3rd day I could start getting liquids in (watered down propel) and just eased back into the routine. Thank goodness it's passed!
   — lil_firestorm

January 5, 2005
hi peggy... i'm writing you because i want you to know THERE IS HOPE! to answer your question, everyone is different in the "after" of wls. not to scare you, but i was sicker than a dog after.i seemed to have claimed the 1 bathroom we have as "my palace" for many months. i couldn't shop, go out places or anything because i was excreeting from one end or another. (sorry to be gross, but it's true). BUT...... i was losing so fast i didn't care. i'm almost a year out (down 130+) lbs, and still have trouble with protein. i do fine with carbs, and ground meat, but no shakes, fish, chicken etc. i am bad about the water thing.. i do drink regular sodas.. (bad thing, causes the pouch to stretch)... i had medi-cal, my bmi was the same as yours i believe. i was told by many on here if a dr. is not smart enough to realize diets don't work, find a new one! i was lucky in that respect, my doctor was wonderful. i had to do all the lab, psycho, cardio, etc. stuff, but my wait was hardly nothing. all i can say is IT WILL HAPPEN! i'm still fat, but losing. it's hard everyday not to fall into my old eating patterns. i know you've heard this a thousand times, "wls is a tool, not a fix", and it's true. if i had to do it again, i'd be on that table so fast the dr. wouldn't have time to scrub. even with all the pain, toilet issues, and everything, it sure feels good to wear jeans and not have them be elastic.... write me anytime for support.... good luck, patricia wachsman
   — riotgirlp

January 5, 2005
I recently got over a week long bout with the stomach virus. had diarreha and vomiting until there was nothing left, then dry heaves and unable to eat or drink for several days. had to go to outpatient and get several bags of iv fluids and one bag of multi vitamins for dehydration. i am two years post op. I can tell you this much. After you have surgery only a couple of days being unable to eat or drink will throw you into dehydration which can be very serious. i even passed out.
   — Delores S.

January 5, 2005
Last April, at a little over 2 years post-op, I got some type of intestinal bug and had unrelenting diahrea and nausea for over 10 days. I had never been so sick as a pre-op. Had to stay very close to the bathroom as very little warning. Had to go to my doc and be rehydrated twice during this time period. No energy-no hunger. Any input of food or drink resulted in almost immediate diahhrea and intestinal pain. I even went to a specialist who said that because of our shortened intestinal track, normal bacteria from food doesn't get as diluted as it travels thru the system so we run the risk of getting sick from bacterial types of things that may not have affected you as a pre-op (my non-medical description!!). Good thing was that I lost 6 pounds, tho they found me eventually
   — Cindy R.

January 5, 2005
My doctor told me if I get a virus, to immediately go to the nearest ER because dehydration will occur so fast.
   — eufaulagal