Question:
What causes persistent hiccups with vomiting after gastric sleeve surgery ?
It has been 4 days since gastric sleeve surgery and I have had nearly constant hiccups with vomiting and spitting up. Still in hospital and cannot keep anything down. What causes this condition and how is it treated? — Tarheel1983 (posted on February 14, 2010)
February 14, 2010
You are still in the hospital? What does your doctor say? He is going to
know best what is going on with you and since he has not yet released you,
he knows there is a problem. Have you had a barium swallow to test for
leaks? What are you drinking? I know I am asking more questions than I am
answering, but there is really no one out here that can answer your
questions as well as your doctor and the nurses who are caring for you. I
had the sleeve done six months ago, and the only time I had those simptoms
was when I ate or drank the wrong things too fast. Alcohol (wine), caused
that for me. You are in good hands. You are in my prayers for a speedy
recovery!
— Bonnie H.
February 15, 2010
Hiccups are USUALLY caused by pockets of gas that are trapped at the top of
the stomach. They are your body's way of trying to expel the gas. Right
now, your stomach is very sensitive, and you have been filled with a gas in
your abdominal cavity. It is likely that this gas is slowly diffusing
through your stomach walls and is causing a pocket of gas near the top of
the stomach. If this is the case, then the hiccuping will likely last a
couple of weeks until all of the gas slowly exits your body. You will be
expelling gas from both ends until it is gone. Your stomach is also likely
to be super sensitive for a few months. I am not a doctor, so take what I
am telling you with a grain of salt, but things are likely to improve if
you just give it some time. In the mean time, ask your doctor what you can
do to alleviate the symptoms. There are medications that can help
alleviate gas in the stomach, but I do not know how effective they would be
against the type of gas you are likely expelling. Most are geared toward
the type of gas caused by digestion, and may not be effective against the
type that was used to inflate your abdomen. I hope this helps.
— hubarlow
February 16, 2010
Everyone's different, but I had crazy hiccups with my RNY surgery last week
and at one point almost crying asked the nurse if I would have hiccups for
life. She laughed a little and said "no, you won't have hiccups for
life. They've just done major surgery on your stomach, probably irritated a
nerve that's causing your hiccups, and you'll get over them soon." She
was right, I stopped having hiccups three days after my surgery. Hopefully
you'll stop soon, too. Make sure to ask the nurses and the doc about all
your concerns... and make sure to ask the different nurses on the different
shifts, they all know different things and can be helpful. And good for you
for looking for help from your friends here on OH... we're pulling for you
and sending good thoughts for speedy healing your way. :) Your stomach has
a lot of healing to do... it will come in time.
— Greg K.
Click Here to Return