Question:
20 WEEKS POST OP-STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EATING AND NOW CANT EVEN DRINK WATER
— PAM J. (posted on December 29, 2000)
December 29, 2000
This is serious. You can get dehydrated very quickly, and it can be life
threatening. Call your surgeon right away, and most likely he will send
you to the emergency room. You have to get fluids into your body, then
they will probably put a scope down your throat and figure out why you
aren't able to eat anything. If they see that your stoma has closed off
with scar tissue, they can use a little baloon to stretch it back open
again. I have not had this procedure myself, but have heard that it is not
painful, and you will feel so much better afterward. Good Luck!
— Lynn K.
December 29, 2000
Over the years (inc. pre-op, I've had about 14 "scopes". They
put you under light sedation, so you don't feel a thing, and you're only
out about 30-45 minutes. AS Lynn said, you need to get in to be seen NOW,
and don't be afraid of this procedure. Many people wake up with none of the
previous nausea or vomiting AT ALL, right then, all fixed, better.
— vitalady
December 29, 2000
I am close to the same amount of time post-op that you are. I had my open
RNY on July 19th and had NO problems eating or drinking until this past
Tuesday. I ate some soup and then about an hour or two later ended up with
a bad stomach ache. Seemed like a lot of gas. I called down to BTC and
they told me to take some Dulcolax that it sometimes helps with gas. I had
been taking Tums already with no relief. I took the Dulcolax and it did
nothing besides make me have a BM. By 11:00 that night I couldn't take it
anymore and my husband called BTC and they told him to take me to ER.
There they gave me some Compazine for the nausea and Morphine for the pain.
It helped a little bit so that I wasn't wretching every 10-15 minutes.
The next day by 12:30 it was worse than before so back to ER we went. This
time my surgeon called the hospital and ordered more x-rays and a swallow
test to make sure that I wasn't closed up. Everything looked good so they
gave me another 2 shots of the same stuff as before and sent me home with
Compazine suppositories (one way to know for sure if your husband loves
you) :) and Darvocet for the pain. Told me it was probably the flu which
has been epidemic in our town. I still coldn't eat or drink anything for
most of that day and then finally started to be able to sip water. I thin
I got down about 16 oz. of water during that night. The next day, I was
thirsty and couldn't get in enough water. Still couldn't think about
eating, but at least I was being hydrated. And I couldn't stay awake. My
husband was worried because I slept the whole day. My stomach hurt so bad
from all the vomitting that I couldn't stand up straight or sit very well.
I woke up at 12:30 this morning feeling a lot better. Stayed up for close
to an hour and drank lots more water. Then I got up again at 4:00 and had
a protein shake and am drinking more water as I write. It is very
important to stay hydrated. When I went to ER the first time my blod
pressure was down to 70 sistolic (top number) either from the pain or
dehydration. Not good! Check with you doctor and follow his orders.
You're in my prayers.
— livnliter
December 29, 2000
I am not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. But after my own problem
with this, I think AlkaSeltzer (just a few sips) helps. When I went in for
my swallow test, they gave me seltzer before the barium. It blew my stomach
up a bit. The barium stayed down and passed through. Nothing had even gone
into the stomach for a couple of days. But definitely see the doc about it.
Could be serious.
— Perri T.
January 21, 2001
I recently had problems with inability to drink water, and eat food
I was constantly vomiting. I had a stricture of my esophagus.
I had dilation and it was better. However, I think part of it
didnt take and will have to have some of it redone, as I
still have food hanging up, but not half as bad as before!
— Ruthie V.
October 30, 2005
I am 10 months post op from the band and since July I have nothing but
problems keeping food, coffee, water or anything down. they have done the
upper gi's hydascan swallow test ect. the only thing they can figure is
take the gallbladder out so i go Nov 2 for that if that isn't it they are
talking taking some pressure off the band and I don't want to regain what I
have lost but i am soo weak from not being able to eat good. I only eat
alot of ice cream seems to stay down well.
— paliminolady
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