Question:
Why does everything I try to eat or drink make me throw up?

Help, help, help....I am one month post-op and I haven't been able to keep anything down now for about 10 days. Nothing tastes the same and no matter how little I try to eat, it makes me sick and I have to throw it up. I can't even take my vitamines or prescription medication. I can't even keep water down. What am I doing wrong? Nothing seems to be working and I am getting pretty worried. I am scheduled to see my surgeon in a few days, but need help now.    — Susan H. (posted on June 9, 2001)

June 9, 2001
Susan, I would not wait to see the surgeon in a few days. Dehydration can be a severe complication to this surgery if you are not able to retain liquids. Although I have not personally had this experience, I have read and researched this site and it sounds to me like your stoma has closed or there is a stricture. This can be diagnosed and treated fairly easily with an endoscopy and dilation. Those that have this done report instant relief from the vomiting. It is important that you contact someone soon if you can not keep even water down. This is usually the "tell-tale" sign that you need to be dilated. Hope this helps!! Call the surgeon! Shelley
   — Shelley.

June 9, 2001
I would contact your surgeon, something's not right. you could have a blockage or your stoma may have narrowed. I'd call right away.
   — Lisa B.

June 9, 2001
Hi Susan... I've experienced a lot of dumping over the past eleven months...sometimes diarrhea, sometimes vomitting. Recently I have come to the realization that the vomitting episodes seem to correspond to my overall health. If I have a head cold or a light flu, the first place I seem to feel it now is in my delicate little 'stomach'. Last week I had a cold and couldn't keep anything down, even protein powder. My episodes only seem to last 3 or 4 days, so yours could be a much more serious problem, I don't mean to make light of it...I just offer this information because for me, it was just so strange! I had always had a cast iron stomach before, never vomitted...this new delicate tummy is really different and takes some getting used to.
   — Anne G.

June 9, 2001
Dilation,dilation,dilation...don't wait any longer.I had the same problem you are and i had to wait another week and a half to get dilated and it broke and i had to go back in and have that part of the surgery REDONE and that is not fun.
   — Sharon F.

June 9, 2001
Hi ! I started having the same problem when I was 2 wks post. Its called a Stomal stenosis its where scar tissue is blocking the opening to yur new pouch. Contact yur surgeon ASAP and have a Upper GI done then most likely an Endoscopy will be performed if nno further damage was done. I am now almost 8 mos post and doing fine since I had my endoscopyin December took my ins 3 wks to approve the precedure then the hospital another 2 wks to schedule me. Have anymore questions please ask. Best of Luck Kim
   — kim H.

June 9, 2001
I started doing the same thing about 3 weeks post op. I finally got so sick that after 2 upper GI'S and a CT Scan the surgeon last week scheduled a endoscope. Last Thursday they found I have 4 large ulcers; one of them right next to the opening ! I am now on Prilosec twice a day. Yesterday was the first day since April 28th,2001 that I have been able to keep food down. Check with the Dr. about getting a scope done ASAP !
   — kountry

June 11, 2001
Susan- I had this same problem three weeks post op. Ater four days my Dr. set up another x-ray. It showed that I had a block in the intestines. I had to be readmitted. I am now seven weeks out and doing great. I would call your Dr. A block can be very serious. At least if you have the x-ray it can ease your mind. Best of luck-Ann
   — Ann M.