Question:
should my sister feel nause and gas and unable to eat 5wks postop
— madonatai (posted on March 3, 2007)
March 3, 2007
Maria,
No she should not. I'd suggest she contact her surgeon. In the 5th week
her foods should be pureed foods and not whole foods as of yet. If she is
feeling nausia, its a possibility that she is eating too fast and/or too
much. Check the grams of sugar on her food to insure it is 5 grams or
less. Otherwise, she should contact her surgeon ASAP before it goes too
far.
— the7thdean
March 3, 2007
Yes, this was normal for me. I was nauseous off and on for about three
months. Of course it wasn't everyday and as time went on it got better. i
drank just liquids the first week and then pureed food, ( I ate babyfood
becasue I didn't want to mess with pureeing). I then tried solid food, but
had problems with throwing up and pain in my chest as the food went down.
My surgeon brought me to get scoped down my throat and esophagus. Low and
behold I had what they called narrowing in the passgeway for my food to
pass. That's why I felt the pain as the food went down and then it
couldn't go down any futher I vomited. He opened as he scoped. It was a
very easy procedure and I have had no problems since. I am almost six
months out and I still have a problem with gas. I take gas-x but it still
doesn't help. I have my 6 month check up with my surgeon on March the
12th. I have been told by many patients at my support group that there is
a medication that will clear the gas and smell up. Your sister must be
very patient with the things that will be happening to her body. Remember
your body is trying to adjust to drastic changes in behavior.I have lost 70
pounds and I only have 15 more to lose to goal. I have been on a journey
with ups and downs everyday. Keep a positive atttitude and don't be too
hard on yourself. If you have not found a support group to attend you need
too. It is very helpful to be in a room full of people that are going or
have gone through the same things you are. Janet K.
— janet-tsj
March 3, 2007
Yes, this was normal for me. I was nauseous off and on for about three
months. Of course it wasn't everyday and as time went on it got better. i
drank just liquids the first week and then pureed food, ( I ate babyfood
becasue I didn't want to mess with pureeing). I then tried solid food, but
had problems with throwing up and pain in my chest as the food went down.
My surgeon brought me to get scoped down my throat and esophagus. Low and
behold I had what they called narrowing in the passgeway for my food to
pass. That's why I felt the pain as the food went down and then it
couldn't go down any futher I vomited. He opened as he scoped. It was a
very easy procedure and I have had no problems since. I am almost six
months out and I still have a problem with gas. I take gas-x but it still
doesn't help. I have my 6 month check up with my surgeon on March the
12th. I have been told by many patients at my support group that there is
a medication that will clear the gas and smell up. Your sister must be
very patient with the things that will be happening to her body. Remember
your body is trying to adjust to drastic changes in behavior.I have lost 70
pounds and I only have 15 more to lose to goal. I have been on a journey
with ups and downs everyday. Keep a positive atttitude and don't be too
hard on yourself. If you have not found a support group to attend you need
too. It is very helpful to be in a room full of people that are going or
have gone through the same things you are. Janet K.
— janet-tsj
March 3, 2007
I am 4 months post op on March 7th and I still get nauseated. My first
months check up I ask the nutritionist and she recommended that I take my
morning pills with 100% grape juice. It took the nasty taste in my mouth
away and seem to curb the nausea somewhat. My gas that I had I was pretty
sure came from my bi-pap machine. They raised the pressure and apparently
at night I was waking up with a stomach ache and would wake up. The minute
I sat up I would let out the biggest burp I have ever had in my life. Not
to speak of the gas coming out the other end! I stopped using my bi-pap
and it all stopped. I recommend she call her nutritionist.
— Virginia M.
March 3, 2007
Maria... I would suggest that she call her surgeon. I also would be
curious to see what she is trying to eat. Is she sticking with liquids or
is she trying to advance too soon. I had trouble with gas initially.. had
to use the dissolvable GasX pills... worked great... and stuck with the
liquids. Still do even 4+ months out. If I am having a day where I start
getting nauseous, I go back to the basics and then advance as tolerated
again... so far, I haven't had to do this too many times... tell your
sister good luck.. it does get better... Kari
— Kari_K
March 4, 2007
Hi Maria, thanks for your concern for your sister. Gastric Bypass can be
scary to watch another recover from. It is scary to know that they are
going through things and big changes in their life. If your sister is in
pain, she needs to call her surgeon right away. I am 3 years out now, and
my surgeons advice to me was "if you are not getting a little better
every day, you need to call". That is good advice.
Now, regarding gas, even at 3 years out, I am VERY gassy. It is my worst
side affect I think, but I will take it compared to obesity. I try and
pass it carefully, but it has been a reality for me. Feeling that nausea
can be very very normal. Her stomach is very very small, and a small
amount will fill you up quick. That is so very normal. I would eat just a
few bites and then feel sick to be around food. I could fix it for my
family, but after eating, I had to leave and lay down for an hour to let
the fullness pass. The pouch stretches naturally over time, and at 3 years
out I eat about 1/2 a meal 2 to 3 times a day. It is quite a normal
amount of food, and I am in the best health ever.
I highly recommend Maria that you research this surgery and what your
sister is going through for yourself. There is a wealth of research for
this subject on this website, but also many books by good men and women
have been written that walk you through many things. I also recommend
strongly that your sister be part of a support group, and you go with her.
At our support group we have a lady who comes with her elderly mother every
time. She just wants to know what her daughter is going through. You get
a lot of information and help from these things. It helped me a lot.
Being unable to eat, just let me say the desire to eat can be subsided for
up to 1 year. In our circles it is called the "Honeymoon
period". It is the best opportunity to lose weight and it is such a
relief to not feel that intense feeling to eat all the time. It is a
welcome change. Now, if she refuses to eat anything, you need to see a
doctor, but it is truly best to eat small portions (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup)
of food 3 to 5 times a day. You need calories, you especially need protein
and water to heal from surgery, along with your calcium and vitamins. If
she refuses to eat, seek help, but if she is eating, then most of what she
is going through is really quite normal. It never hurts though to check in
with your surgeon. They are paid well for their job, and it is so much
easier to get on top of a merging problem physically that to wait until an
emergency happens. If she is not better every day, even if it is just a
little, she needs a backup call to her doc.
Kudos to you for your love for your sister. Breathe, breath deep, and get
some information. And please don't make fun of her when she passes gas:),
it may be her lifelong partner:).
Take care, Patricia P
— Patricia P
March 13, 2007
I felt that way for months!!!!! It eventually subsided.
— Novashannon
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