CaseyMichigan

Hi, I'm Casey and I underwent the Gastric Sleeve on 12/28/12. I was so excited for this new chapter in my life. But honestly, I feel lost now - because although my surgery was what my surgeon called " a wonderful text book surgery" I have experienced nothing but problems since. I have not been able to hold anything down in my stomach that is not soup. And it takes forever for me to eat 1/2 a cup. Since my surgery, I have thrown up everything I have eaten. I was in the hospital for most of January. NOTHING is wrong with my sleeve. I have undergone endoscopy and my surgeon is the Director of a well known Metabolic Center in Boston. He says that my stomach and esophagus need time to heal after the constant vomiting I have undergone. I can't tolerate any of the protein drinks (I've tried them all). I wish that in the support groups that I attended prior to surgery, they had had people who had spoken about complications and resolutions that they have gone through so that I could have had a realistic expectation of what *might* happen. I am now have been on a PIC line for nutrition at night while the swelling in my stomach and esophagus heals. My surgeon has told me that it WILL get better, but honestly - I am feeling claustrophobic in my own body. I would love to hear from others who have experienced this AND GOTTEN better. Please don't share any horror stories with me because I'm freaked out as it is. I just want to hear from people who have gone through a similar experience and have gotten through it. Thank you!

I regret it every day. It has been 1/2 months of pure suckyness. However - it is time to get over that because the sleeve is not reversible. So we have to move forward.

Iggy - thank you so much for your post. Are you still on a pic line? How did you get past feeling like there was something stuck in your throat? I don't have a stricture or anything - my sleeve is probably too tight. I did undergo an endoscopy. There was swelling in my esophagus from throwing up so much and swelling in my stomach from the surgery. No leaks, no stricture, etc. What you have said above is exactly how I have been feeling. I can only eat like 1/2 a cup of soup. I can't even THINK of doing liquids too. HOW did you get past this? What did they do? If you are off the pic line how are you able to survive? You are the only person who seems to have gone thru what I'm going thru. I too am a single mom ( my 19 year marriage didn't make it past breast cancer - even though I caught it early AND I have been cancer free for 3 years). How are you eating? What are you eating? This is so not how I thought it would be. I literally drop my kids off at school in the morning, go to work, come home from work and have to hook up to a 10 hour overnight pic line to get my nutrients and then have to start the day all over again. Not the way I expected to live. :/ Thank you so much for taking time to write out your experience above. It helps knowing that someone else (unfortunately) has gone thru this too... Hugz back.

Thank you for your note above. I do not have a stricture. I have seen 2 other doctors. My sleeve is narrow. Ty for your concern though.

Thank you Holly Just like you I researched this for two years before going through it. I thought I was ready - I WAS ready for the presurgery part. I had NO idea how hard it would be on the post-side. I didn't realize how much of a crutch food had been to me. It was my "comfort" and it has been such a shocker emotionally not having anything to "turn" to in its place. Habitually every morning I would get a D&D Skim latte with a thick foam on the way to work... Those habitual food things that right now I cannot do. It has made a void. The fact that I am on a PIC line for nutrition while my stomach heals has kind of made it difficult for me to go out in a social setting after work. I agree with you that it has to be about *more* than trying to draw people in to undergo bariatric surgery - it has to be *informative* all the way around. I know they make you go thru a psychiatric screening before determining if you are suitable for the procedure - and I passed. I thought I was ready. But if I had known what I know now - if they had had different experiences present themselves at the support groups it would have helped me to get the whole 360 picture. Instead of this kind of "pie in the sky" (no pun intended) type of - this gastric sleeve procedure will have me in the hospital for 2 days and then I will go right into post surgery mode. That was not the case. This surgery is NOT reversible. My options now are as follows (as presented to me by my surgeon). 1) Allow more time for my stomach and esophagus to heal and receive my nutrition intravenously for the next few weeks via PIC line. 2) Undergo a stent procedure - keeping in mind that sometimes the metal stents move and you have to have surgery to get them 3) Undergo the third type of bariatric surgery - the big one. I have NO desire to undergo ANYMORE surgery. So I have decided to go with the first option - a longer time to heal. I just hope that I haven't traded my "quality of life" in for a "smaller stomach." - I don't say any of this to scare anyone away who hasn't gone through the surgery. I say it because its important BEFORE you undergo surgery to hear different sides so you can make an "informed" decision.

Thank you all very much. I appreciate your support.

Thank you SleevieRay - I really appreciate that.

No, everyone's bodies respond differently to the surgery. Just know that... My body is taking longer to heal. I wonder if there is any correlation between those women who under this surgery who have had hyperemesis during pregnancy. I should have known my stomach would rebel against this. LOL

I didn't realize how much "eating" has been my "comfort." Have you ever noticed how many FOOD commercials are on tv? Or food shows? I have to find something else for "comfort" now - and I feel like I have gone "cold turkey" (no pun intended). I'm only 1 1/2 months out and it has not been what I thought it would. I am hoping I have not traded "quality of life" for a skinner, healthier self... The last few weeks have been a total WTF moment. Guess I'm going thru food withdrawal.

P.S. - Although he has told me my sleeve is narrow. I do not have a stricture of any sort. I hate this feeling as though something is stuck behind my throat that makes me want to gag... I WISH I could push back the clock and not have gone thru this surgery. :/

It has been a little over a week since I underwent the sleeve. Wondering what the heck I have done to myself. I can't find a protein I can tolerate. All the dairy protein whey's make me want to puke. Which Is so weird because I was able to tolerate them presurgery. Now the simple smell makes me go BLAHHHH. I have tried the green tea Isopure and it tastes like dirty socks smells... I was so excited about a new start, a healthier me - but now I feel lethargic and uncertain that I made a wise decision. I can't seem to hold anything down in my stomach - except chicken broth. My sense of smell is like when I was pregnant and everything is intensified. I am down 26 lbs (that includes the 10 lbs pre surgery). I am a very optimistic person - yet I just don't know what to do... Yesterday I called my dietitian and she spoke with my surgeon who said even though it is early, I could try pureed chicken or tuna. So I tried tuna and my stomach felt like I had "quick sand in it." Between the cramping and reflex. It feels like so much longer than a week and a day. HELP. Feeling trapped in a body I'm unfamiliar with...

Going to be heading out to GNC in about an hour. Thank you for the ideas - at this point I'll try anything...

Hi, new at this. Got sleeved 12/28/12 - struggling with all these changes. While protein drinks seemed fine pre sleeve now I can't stand them. My sense of smell has become real strong and my taste buds seem to be dead. What is going on? I can't drink all that I'm asked. What did I do????!

Hi Jamie, I had surgery 12/28 and I've been feeling the same way. I guess we just keep trying. I called my bariatric dietitian and she said that it is more important to make sure we put fluid before protein because we don't want to get dehydrated. It has gotten to the point where I can't STAND the smell of my chocolate protein drinks. Going out today to see if I can get some chicken soup and blend it real good. Hang in there!