Question:
ANYONE BEEN HERE??

I am writing on behalf of a lady in my support group who is so sick of being sick (nausea and stomach ache) since her open RNY that she is wanting a reversal. She has been scoped and they can't find any reason for her problem and she is about at the end of her rope. She doesn't have acess to the internet but would love to be able to call someone who can relate to this problem. You can e-mail me privately if you would prefer.    — livnliter (posted on August 8, 2002)

August 8, 2002
I am just about at that point too. I had been really sick, it has cleared up now for about a week for the first time. I can actually eat more than a bite or two without feeling horrid, but if it comes back I will be extremely upset. Dr's never did find out exactly what caused it, just put me on a bunch of pills that seemed to make things worse. Now that I have quit taking the pills it seems a little better, but I am still weary. Give her my best and let her know she is not alone.
   — Patricia H.

August 8, 2002
I can definitely relate! For the first 12 weeks after my open RNY, I was SOOOO sick. Nausea, vomiting (even water!), etc. I couldn't even keep down a single bite of food without throwing it up. I literally was getting in about 100 calories/day and maybe 12 oz. of water. After two trips to the ER for dehydration, as well as getting scoped, I was told, "Hmm ... that's odd." I baffled my surgeon. FORTUNATELY for me, I held in there and didn't opt for reversal. At somewhere between weeks 12-14, the problem suddenly vanished! I mean, I still had some nausea/vomiting, but I went from eating 100-200 calories/day to eating 500-600 calories/day. I felt a WORLD better. My weight loss slowed way down, but suddenly I felt human again. Please tell your friend to just hang in there. WLS is MAJOR surgery, and it does a number on many of your systems. I wasn't able to exercise daily like my surgeon had advised until about 6 months post-op, because (1) I was still too heavy and (2) I didn't feel well enough to. I have now lost nearly 200 lbs. and would go through everything that I did again in a heartbeat. PLEASE tell your friend to stick in there and try to be patient. Things WILL get better.
   — Terissa R.

August 8, 2002
I suffered the very same thing. My surgeon put me on REGLAN and it took the nausea and achiness away. I was on it for a couple of months. Have your friend ask her surgeon about it. I'm surprised he hasn't tried it on her yet.
   — Kim B.

August 8, 2002
Hi... I am now 4 months post op, down 66# and feeling really great. But I went through that also. Tell her to hang in there and it will pass. What worked for me was hot peppermint tea (I liked Celestial Seasoning brand). I would nurse that hot tea all day and into the evening and occasionally would substitute sugar free hot chocolate. I also went back to basics: broth, jello, oatmeal, crackers, things that were light and it did pass. I have only gotten sick since then when I've eaten too fast, too much or very very spicy. I for a brief moment wondered if I made a huge mistake -- I have not. It will get better.
   — AJC750

August 9, 2002
How I can relate to this woman.<br> There are still times I wish that I never messed with my insides like this, but for me the first 4 months were the worst of my life. The pain, the sickness, I'm not a crier, but sometimes I would curl up and cry myself to sleep.<br> It does get better. The last two months have been great. I can exercise finally, my incisin has healed up - after opening twice - and I've got my bounce back. Just gotta knock back on the sleeping and I'm almost 'normal' again, minus 100+ pounds. <br> How far out is she?
   — Gremlin Q.