Question:
Am I just incredibly lucky or is it too soon to tell?
I have to knock on some wood here... I am 11 days post-op and haven't been sick. The closest I came was trying to take a liquid vitamin from health food store-- yuck to the nth degree. (Switched to Flintstones for now). I am only on puree diet as of yet. Is it a good indicator that I haven't had any problems yet? Or is it too soon to tell and I may become sick in a few weeks? I had my open RNY on 7/31/03 and pre-op wt. was 323 (will weigh again for first time tomorrow at surgeon's office). — Wendy T. (posted on August 1, 2003)
August 1, 2003
Wendy, first let me say congrats on your surgery. It's great that you are
feeling so well. I had surgery on 3/20/03 and was just recently telling a
friend that I NEVER get sick. Last Sunday I was out with my son, had 1
chicken wing and about 3 boardwalk fries. Within 3 minutes of eating those
fries I was giving them back. It was the first time, and will be the last
time I eat french fries. The moral of the story is we never know what or
when our pouch will reject something we put in it.
— StephN1966
August 1, 2003
Hi Wendy, congratulations on your thus far successful WLS and recovery!! I
am just about six months out, and so far, I have not had a single episode
of vomiting (although I have had a couple of episodes of dumping, very
early on). I attribute this to several things, including luck, sticking to
my doctor's instructions (liquids for the first week or so, then pureed
foods until a month out), and the fact that I have a low risk tolerance
(i.e., I haven't pushed the envelope the see what I can eat - I haven't
tried sugars, for instance, and won't). I AM fortunate that beef and
chicken never gave me problems, because I do eat those frequently,
especially chicken. But when I first tried each of these new things, I was
very tentative - tried only a bite or two to see how it went down, then
went from there. There have been times when I've been nauseous, but so far,
so good. I agree with the other poster that as you go along and get further
out - especially when you start re-introducing foods, you may find that
there are things you simply can't tolerate. Only time will tell with that.
In the meantime, congratulations on your progress, and keep up the good
work!!
— johanniter
August 1, 2003
— Jazzy
August 1, 2003
BIG CONGRATS!!!!You are doing great! Personally, I am 4 mos post-op and I
can not relate to everyone who vomits all the time and has other problems.
My mother in law is 3 mos post op and has had numerous problems with
vomiting, dehydration and other issues. I didn't throw up until after I
started solids and it was my own fault. I had cooked clams and I didn't
chew one well enough. I take my vitamins, eat right and my bloodwork is
excellent. I had one problem with a potassium deficiency, and even that was
easy to fix with low-sodium V-8. It's my opinion, from reading this
website, that problems are the exception, not the rule.
— M B.
August 1, 2003
I'd say it's too soon to tell. I was doing great until I started easing
into eating food that I had to chew again at about six weeks out. Now it's
neither surprising nor uncommon for me to vomit from somthing I ate. I
think it just greatly depends on the person and one's tolerance to various
kinds of food.
— Amanda S.
August 1, 2003
I'm almost 8 months post, and I haven't thrown up once. In fact, I haven't
thrown up in YEARS. I came close twice, after not chewing well enough, so
now I chew everything to liquid consistency. I just follow the rules, and
so far I've been fine! :)
— Diana L.
August 1, 2003
In my opinion, vomiting is not "normal" and if you do it--that
means either something is wrong, or you have done something wrong. Barfing
was my biggest fear of this surgery, I have not thrown up once, had a close
episode after taking too many vitamins at once (whole horse pills) but I
have switched to chewables so that hasn't happened again. you are not
lucky, you probably are doing exactly what you are supposed to do!
Congratulations.
— missmollyk
August 1, 2003
I respectfully disagree that vomiting either means something is wrong or
that you did something wrong. Sometimes some foods just don't agree with
some of us. People who have never thrown up are, I think, both rare and
lucky. However, I think it's too early to determine if you are one of
them! I, too, had no problems until I got to solid food. After three
tries, spread out over almost four months, I've learned that I just cannot
eat pork or peanut butter anymore. I can sometimes eat chicken, and
sometimes not. Throwing up once after eating too much (that was my fault)
taught me not to overfill the pouch, so throwing up isn't necessarily a bad
thing; it can help in behavior modification. You may come across some
foods that you can't tolerate at all, or others that you can sometimes eat
and sometimes can't. It's trial and error. But in the grand scheme of
things, what's a few episodes of throwing up? I still wouldn't go back.
It sounds like you probably won't be chronically sick, though, and that's
something to be happy about.
— Vespa R.
August 2, 2003
My surgery was on Tuesday, July 22nd(open). I came home on Sat. the 26th
because I was doing so well. The only problem I've had has been diahrea.
My Doc said it was okay to take a half of an immodium which really works
great for me. I had mild IBS before the surgery, so diahrea was nothing
new. I have not vomited at all and I have already started on tiny
quantities of solid food. I too am questioning if it is okay for me to be
feeling so good. I feel like I want so badly to feel normal, that perhaps
I've somehow just convinced myself that everything is great. But I do
think it's true, and I don't think it's just in my head! I hope we're not
the only ones.
— Michelle G.
August 2, 2003
Hi, I'm going to throw my 2 cents in, and say that it's too soon to tell.
Pre-op I had an iron-cast stomach, and I hadn't vomited in about 13 years.
As an early post-op I did really well tolerating foods like chicken, shrimp
and veggies, and it seemed that I wouldn't have any vomiting issues. Well,
in 4 months, I've thrown up 3 times I think. Once vomiting taught me about
taking pills/eating/drinking too close together, once taught me that
ravioli is too sticky, and this morning taught me that a Triscuit is too
harsh and can get stuck. I don't consider these experience as having a
'problem' with vomiting--they're more like behavior modification reminders,
which I badly need. :) I still have my strong stomach that tolerates many
foods, but it's up to me to present them to my pouch in a moist,
well-chewed form and then wait awhile.
Good luck to you!!
— Judy M.
August 2, 2003
I have to say it's too soon to tell. Chances are, you will vomit at least
a couple of times once you make the switch to solid foods. It doesn't mean
there's anything wrong with you or the operation. I never threw up on
liquids or pureeds but like most people, I did a few times once I got to
"real" food. But don't waste any worry lines fretting about it;
it's not that bad and some people NEVER do. But if you do, it just means
you're average and it's not unexpected.
— sandsonik
August 2, 2003
I'm 14 months out, and (knock on wood) have not "hurled" once
since my WLS. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones, follow the rules
(of course), and hope that your luck holds! :-)
— Suzy C.
August 2, 2003
I am 7 months post up, and haven't ever thrown up. I have tried pretty
much all types of food that I enjoyed pre-op, and still enjoy them...like
the previous poster said, if it weren't for the scar, and the fact I can't
eat much, (oh, and the 110 pound weightloss), I would wonder if I had even
had the surgery. I don't know if I would call it "lucky"
though. I have no problems with bread or pasta, and I haven't pushed it,
but I don't think I dump either. This could really be a downfall if I'm
not super careful as the months go by and I start eating more. Carbs and
suger is what got me big in the first place!!
— thekatinthehat
August 3, 2003
I've only vomited a few times, and I'm 18 months post-op. The first time I
vomited was when I was on regular food after a few months. I vomited up a
spaghetti noodle that wasn't chewed enough! I haven't had any problems
with my RNY at all. Just stay cautious with your chewing, and you may
never have any vomiting or problems!
— Kathy J.
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