Idle curiousity about weird things

TheWombat
on 9/5/19 4:11 pm
VSG on 06/11/18

Here are a few little things that I was mildly curious about after my VSG. Not worried, just curious, and there were lots of other things to focus on, so I never got around to posting a question about any of them. But now that I know the answers (or at least my answer), I thought I'd post the information in case anyone else is curious.

How long will I feel aware of my new stomach? Before I started researching WLS, I didn't really know where the stomach was located. Like a lot of people, I assumed it was roughly behind my navel, because that's where I felt hunger pangs. After surgery, I could feel exactly where my stomach was! It didn't hurt (except maybe for a few hours right after surgery), but I was always aware of it. I was curious how long that would last. For me, I think it was about six months. I'm no longer aware of my stomach, and when I do feel hunger pangs, the sensation is back behind my navel, like it used to be.

What is vomiting like after VSG? I'm not talking about right after surgery, but after the stomach is completely healed. I was really curious about this one, but was reluctant to ask on the forum because it's kind of gross. Well, a few months ago I got 1) a really bad stomach bug, and 2) the answer to my question. Vomiting felt basically like it did before surgery, but the quantity was less.

When I have to pee, I need to go now. How long will this last? Right after surgery, I always kept track of where the nearest bathroom was because my bladder suddenly had just two settings: fine, or OMGneedtopeenowwillimakeittothetoiletintime. I don't know why that was. Sure, I was drinking a lot of water, but I'm drinking even more now. Did anyone else experience this? It lasted about two months for me, but then I was back to normal.

White Dove
on 9/5/19 4:17 pm - Warren, OH

I have RNY so might be somewhat different.

I never felt my stomach, either before or after surgery.

Vomiting only happens if I eat or drink too much too fast. And is same as before surgery.

I never experienced any change with the need to pee.

We all have bodies that react differently, so others may have had the symptoms that you did. It will be interesting to see.

Real life begins where your comfort zone ends

Citizen Kim
on 9/5/19 5:41 pm - Castle Rock, CO

Interesting because my experience is different. I am 15 years post RNY:

  1. I feel my pouch every time I eat. It's very obviously behind my sternum and nowhere near my navel. I can absolutely also tell when my food has moved into my intestine. None of this was the case before surgery.
  2. Vomiting is so easy. There is no bile, just whatever I ate or drank. There is no retching, it's just posseting like a baby.
  3. No change in urinary habits, but very obvious poop changes because fat malabsorption is still prevalent.

The differences are very interesting.

Proud Feminist, Atheist, LGBT friend, and Democratic Socialist

catwoman7
on 9/5/19 6:00 pm
RNY on 06/03/15

vomiting is very different for me (RNY'er here). Definitely easier. There's never much volume (because of my small stomach), and I don't get that awful taste in my mouth (maybe due to low acidity in my stomach??). It tastes just like whatever the food was, not like vomit. Like Kim said, it's more like an infant spitting up than true vomiting.

tracyringo
on 9/5/19 9:21 pm
VSG on 08/09/17

I also thought my stomach was farther down before VSG, but that is not the case anymore. It reminds me every time I eat exactly where it is !

H.A.L.A B.
on 9/9/19 5:59 am, edited 9/8/19 11:00 pm

When I have to pee, I need to go now. How long will this last? Right after surgery, I always kept track of where the nearest bathroom was because my bladder suddenly had just two settings: fine, or OMGneedtopeenowwillimakeittothetoiletintime.

I can relate to that. I discovered that my bladder was sensitive to something in diet drinks. Diet Pepsi, or Pepsi Max, or Diet Coke. When I drink this thing - more than one small serving once a week - I have urgency to go. My muscles to control the bladder get irritated and just let go. Very embarrassing and irritating.

I normally don't drink diet soda but one time we had family get-together and we got some soft drinks, some diet soft drinks. We had plenty of leftovers, and I knew they don't last, so I started drinking that daily: 2-4 of those per day. I liked it enough to keep buying some and drinking. They were my new way to increase my liquids.

When I experienced bladder incontinence, I was sure I had UTI. I got tested, but it came out negative. I tried different things, but nothing worked. Until one day I decided that I will no longer drink diet sodas. After 2 days diet soda free, I no longer had urges "to go". Within 5 days, everything was working great. Initially I did not think anything about soft drinks. But when a month later I had a couple of large diet soda, and started experiencing the urge to pee, something "clicked". Whatever is in diet soda - caused my bladders to get sensitive. I may have one small serving of diet soda once in a while. Less and less as time goes, because I don't like feeling like my bladder is irritated.

For you - it may not be soda, but some other drink or food. Unfortunately only elimination diet can help you with that.

Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG

"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"

"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."

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