Question:
I'm to my wits end. I'm 2-months post-op and still vomiting alot.
I will have a string of good days (like 3-4) then I'm back to not being able to keep solids down. I eat slowly, and I don't eat alot. Sometimes, it will happen when I've only eaten 2 small bitefuls. It's just not making any sense. There is no ryme or reason to my vomiting episodes. I'm confused and discouraged. I do not have a stricture either. When I do vomit, I have a HUGE stuck feeling in the base of my esophogus. Just feels like it's sitting there and won't go anywhere. Then eventually it comes back up. My surgeon said that at this stage, I should not be getting sick at all, and I should be eating anything. (of course, other than sugar stuff) No one seems to be able to help me. If I'm not overeating, eating too fast or have a stricture, what could this be? By the way, I don't drink for 1/2 hour before I eat or 1 hour after I eat. Keep in mind, there are certain foods/solids that I don't have problems with. But they are not the solids that I want to eat on an everyday basis. (nutrition wise) Any advice? — Kim L. (posted on June 1, 2003)
June 1, 2003
You said you don't have a stricture. I am assuming by that that you have
had an endoscopy done. If not, I would recommend that you have one. You
could have an ulcer or any number of things. Has your surgeon done any
testing to see what's wrong?
— Patty_Butler
June 1, 2003
Patty,
Yes, I had an upper GI done to rule out a blockage/stricture. Everything
looked fine. That is the only test my doctor has suggested. He said my
labs look good too. (that's hard for me to believe as I usually throw up
more than I actually eat) His only suggestion is to go back to
liquids/solids. Granted, I am feeling better than I did last week and the
week prior, but I'm still vomiting more than I think I should. Like, this
weekend. I vomited Friday, Saturday and today. But last week I only
vomited on Saturday. So I went a quite a few days not getting sick, but I
was eating things that were more liquid/soft and things that I have tried
in the past that I know work for me. It just makes no sense. I can't
pinpoint a cause or anything.
— Kim L.
June 1, 2003
I spent 2 months vomting and 3 weeks in the hospital because i could not
eat. I got a gi tube put in for feeding thru the lower part of my stomach.
Eventually they had to ballon the opening to my stomach biger so i could
eat. Now the opening is about the size of a pea. So the doctor actually
told me to drink with meals to help flush the food thru. I am telling you
it helps and i now it fills us up fast but you'll have to eat more times
during the day then your used to. I eat about 5 little meals a day. I
started out at 265lb and now I weigh 160lb 8 months out. boy do I have
hanging skin. So the best thing for you is to mabey see if you have some
swelling.
— sheri B.
June 1, 2003
I think it's up to your doctor to go further in investigating what's wrong.
An upper GI will not show everything that he needs to know. You probably
at least need an endoscopy done. Not everyone heals the same way, and I
don't think he should be sending you on your way to suffer like this.
Constant vomiting can cause your staple line to disrupt, so you really need
your doc or another doc to investigate your problem and give you some
answers. It sure sounds to me like you're doing what YOU'RE supposed to be
regarding your eating. It's really distressing to be just lumped in with
everyone else, with him saying "you shouldn't be getting sick at all
at this stage". Well, you're obviously not like his bulk of patients,
and he needs do a bit more work, and not just write you off. I hope you
can find help soon. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
June 1, 2003
I had 3 Upper GI's, an Endoscopy, tons of labs, and finally, after an
admission to the hospital for a bad vomiting episode, Endoscopy #2 showed
that I needed a pouch revision. Keep up your efforts with your
surgeon...things can be missed on first glance. Rayma Zwinge
— Rayma Z.
June 1, 2003
You had UGI, but not EGD? How does water taste?
— vitalady
June 1, 2003
Michelle,
Water tastes fine. I have no problems with water, or any other liquids for
that matter. What I had I believe was an upper GI. I had to drink barium
(omg, how nasty is that) and they watched it go through my system. That
was normal according to my surgeon. However, I've NEVER had any problems
with liquids, and barium was a liquid. I knew that would go through.
UUGH. How frustrating.
— Kim L.
June 1, 2003
You're correct, Kim, you had an upper GI with that icky barium swallow. It
will show if the barium is getting "hung up" anywhere, but and
endoscopy shows much more. It involves a tiny camera and the doc can look
at things like the condition of the tissues there and whether there's an
ulcer or some other thing going on. It's more invasive, and the docs
usually START with an upper GI. BUT, if you're still having problems, he
needs to go further with an endoscopy. My humble opinion. It kinda sounds
like he hopes things are just going to get better in time. But in this
meantime you're vomiting and when you vomit a very strong muscle constricts
your stomach/pouch in order to force things up/out. Not good for a strong
muscle to be pushing on your staple line. That's why I feel your current
condition is rather emergent and needs immediate attention. I think in
many cases we have to really be a squeaky wheel because the docs,
especially our surgeons, just don't get it. Many times they think their job
is DONE and really don't want to hear that we're not progressing as THEY
think we should be. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
June 1, 2003
Joy,
That makes total sense about the vomiting. When I do have a vomiting
spell, it goes like this. I will have the urge that I have to throw up. I
will start with spitting in a cup or whatever. (toilet, sink, bowl) Then
after about 5-10 minutes of spitting out my saliva....I will start dry
heaving....this dry heaving is first. Isn't that odd. Then after about
2-3 dry heaves, I have foamy crap come up. Then after a couple foamy
vomits, I will actually get some "food" or whatever I'd eaten
that comes up. Then, I'm done. BUT, after these episodes, I'm exhausted
and my stomach muschles hurt pretty bad. Usually I have to lay down.
— Kim L.
June 1, 2003
I have to agree w/ many of the other posters who seem to think that your
surgeon is dropping the ball with your concerns. He should have explained
that lots of small little problems can cause the nausea that you are
experiencing. First, if you are in ketosis (as you should be at this
stage), you have lots of ketones in your saliva which can be irritating to
your new pouch. Also, if you have lots of mucus that you are swallowing
(possibly post-nasal drip or seasonal allergies), you could be irritating
your pouch with that. Both of those issues converged on my when I was
about 4 weeks out--- a head cold and high ketosis did a number on me and
caused a lot of nausea. My surgeon gave me Prilosec (powdered form) to
help surpress some of the nausea and Claritin to help control the mucus
production; both took the edge off of the problem.
I know it sounds trite, but it really does get better.
Good luck.
— SteveColarossi
June 1, 2003
I had the same problem until I was about 5 months out. I was vomiting
every day...lots of dry heaves, and I was very sensitive to anything that
was still not a soft consistency. I had just about every test done on me
and my new pouch and the doctor's couldn't find anything out of the
ordinary. I was on Reglan 5 x a day, from about 4 weeks post op up until
about 6 months post op to help with the nausea...which it did somewhat, and
then eventually it went away on it's own. I'm 7 mos. post op now and
haven't needed the Reglan for about 3 weeks. I still occassionally get some
nausea, but it's a lot less frequent than it was. The surgeon and my PCP
think that it's just something that I'll 'grow' out of, and that my body is
just taking longer to get used to things. By the way, I had an Open RNY -
Distal and have lost about 130lbs. over the last 7 months...70lbs more to
goal. Now that I'm not as nauseous, and can eat more, I know that the
weight will come off slower. Good luck...keep pressing your doctors for
answers. After all the testing, I just resigned myself to the fact that I
may feel like this for a while...but it has gotten better. I know it's
terrible to feel that way day in and day out, and please know that I hope
you feel better soon and get some answers. Just wanted to share my
experience.
— angelav
June 2, 2003
Kim, it is not unusual for some post-ops to go thru months of vomiting and
being limited in their foods, yet nothing technically is wrong. I know
this is not what you want to hear...Eventually, they get past it but it can
be very tough while getting there. I would do as Joy suggests and ask for
an endoscopy-let them take a good look around to ensure that there is not
another problem. Also, asking for an anti-nausea drug like regalan may
help. If you rule out medical problems, then perhaps it will just take your
new pouch time to settle down and you may have to eat the foods that agree
with you until then. Good luck.
— Cindy R.
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