RichardVST

I have been whining a lot lately so thanks for listening to me... I am almost 7 weeks post-surgery. Everything has been great, except my transition to real food which has been really difficult and this feeling like I have a bubble stuck in my throat or like I need to burp or like food is coming up. I am on Nexium and have been thoroughly checked out by GI doctor. He wants me to see ENT. I think it will be a waste of time but am scheduled tomorrow anyway. My latest thinking is that it is gas rising up my throat and stuck. I got a bunch of gasx and having been taking 250mg for the past 2 days. No change. If I force a burp, it feels slightly better for only a second. If I drink or eat, it feels better briefly. But it is there all the time and very annoying. Anyone have this experience?

Congrats. That is great that you are able to eat. I can eat, but I can't eat slow enough and then that fullness hits and --- whoa! I feel like exploding. Then I try to just take 4 bites and stop - don't get full and feel like I am starving. I'm 7 weeks out. Exercise really makes a difference is losing weight. I do stationary bike for a 1/2 hour and elliptical for an hour, and I see a huge difference on the scale. I joined 24hr Fitness - only $40/month. Congrats on the Libido - I don't notice any change. Wish I did... Good luck to you and keep up the good work.

It is strange and frustrating. My surgeon, won't take any responsibility. Tells me to see GI. GI, did endoscopy and scan of abdomen, says that all he can do. Then says I should see ENT (tomorrow), but I know that is going to be a waste. All very annoying. Thanks for the support.

Thanks everyone for the input!

I had my VSG 6 weeks ago. Everything has been going great, no pain, not much appetite, OK with the liquid diet. But ever since I started to introduce solids, I have been very frustrated. I find that I can only eat a few small bites of solids. I don't feel full right away and if I don't stop after a few bites, the fullness creeps in and makes me super uncomfortable. I force myself to stop eating after just those few bites and then I wait. By 15 minutes I become overwhelmingly FULL! That would be great if I felt satiated, but I am not! I feel like I am starving. I thought that the whole purpose of this procedure was that it not only provided a smaller stomach, so less room for food, but that it made our appetites smaller, so that less food was more satisfying. Please someone tell me that this is normal and that the satisfaction with less food will come? I am very very frustrated and feel like I have made a big mistake...

Thanks SpaceDust/Sleeve Guru: I don't think this is head hunger. Before my surgery, as with all my previous diets, I would religiously eat three square high Protein meals a day. As long as I stuck to my schedule (ie ate every 4 hrs) and kept it to about 1000 calories a day, I'd lose weight, fast! From 1/1/13 to 2/28/13 (surgery date) I lost 30 lbs. But most importantly, I would get enough protein and fill with vegetables and fruit and I wouldn't get head hungry. Now if I eat solids, I can only eat so little that I really feel like I am protein starved. It is the same feeling I would get when I was dieting and not getting enough protein. I do have stomach acid, but am taking Nexium. I am familiar with that acid feeling and the growling and don't think that is the source of my hunger. I buy in/bought in to the ghrelin theory and am hoping that it has yet to kick in for me. Or maybe my stomach needs to heal some more to accept a little more food so that I can get some more protein in my body...? Wonder if any one else knows if this is just still part of the adjustment process? Thanks for your help

Hi Everyone, Anyone have a feeling of food stuck in their throat? I was having this before surgery and now it is back 2 weeks after surgery. Before surgery I had endoscopy and everything checked out ok. Then I had my gallbladder checked and it was ok. After surgery, it seemed to go away, but now it is back. The solution was to call this GERD and give me prilosec. But it didn't help before surgery and its not helping now. It just doesn't feel like gerd. 1st of all, I'd have to have food in my stomach to have it come back up and since I am not eating that is impossible. 2nd, I wake up with this feeling when my stomach is for sure empty. There is no acidic feelings. It just feels like there is something in my throat, about where my neck meets my chest. After surgery my surgeon said that I did not have a hernia. Any ideas what this could be? Thanks in advance

Thanks for the replies. I get this whether I have eaten or not, fast or slow. In fact it doesn't even feel like it it related to eating.

I so agree - the shakes are terrible and so counter to eating well. All this fake chocolate, and candy substitute. Just wish I could eat real food and real protein. I had my surgery on 2/28 and felt good for the most part, but the past couple of days have been feeling very weak. I think its because Im just not getting enough nutrition. Cant wait til I get to real meals. Good luck to you.

Wow! Sorry to hear that? I hope that your MD is being supportive. I am 1 1/2 weeks out from surgery and feel essentially fine. I need to drink slowly, especially water. I have no pain. My MD gave me liquid vicodan when I cam home. Didn't really need it, but used it all up because it felt great and sleep was awesome. You might want to try that? Good luck.

Can someone please describe what a gallbladder attack feels like? As someone else asked is it something that progressively gets worse, are there early warning signs? Thanks

I limited my calories to about 1000/day - eating cottage cheese for breakfast, fish/chicken + veggies for lunch and same for dinner. Plus I have been doing elliptical 6 days/week for an hour each time I have lost 30 lbs since Jan 2. My doc is pleased and I am set for surgery on the 28th! I must say the food thing was really hard the first few weeks, but it has gotten easier. I also have learned that when I really started craving, it usually was time for a meal. Even if it was only 4:30 in the afternoon, I'd have dinner and then be good for the night. I also found that staying away from carbohydrates was key. Whenever I'd have carbs, I'd crave more in just a little while. It is kind of amazing how starving ourselves makes us so much more in tune with our bodies. Don't mean to sound like I really know what I'm talking about, because I obviously don't - wouldn't be here if I did. Good luck!

Sorry to hear & sorry I can't relate. My surgery is on the 28th. Question, though - did you have any symptoms from the hernia before? Did fixing the hernia impact your recovery? I have a slight hernia and I have been having lots of hunger like pains, and a feeling like food is always stuck in my throat...Really annoying mostly, but more of a concern that none of my doctors seem concerned that I have these symptoms involving my stomach going into my surgery. I would hate for it to complicate things. Conversely, if this is my hernia causing the symptoms and they will be fixed with the surgery, then great? But no one seems to say that is the case... Good luck.

I have the same worries. I too am scheduled for the 28th. I worry that I'll ultimately feel the same about food as I do after I get over the euphoria of a major diet. That is - I get all psyched up, buy into whatever diet gets my fancy - and then after I reach my goal, or slip even just a little bit - my appetite comes back and my will to succeed evaporates. I also worry that not only will I still have my pre-sleeve appetite and cravings, but the fact that after sleeve I will be physically unable to eat what I want when I want will really be frustrating and sad. Like having my mouth wired shut - if that makes sense.

I just got approved and am now scheduled for February 28th. Kind of in shock. I know that I want to do this and that I must, but wow, what a commitment. Am I really going to let someone cut into me and take out part of my stomach and forever give up eating all that food? I keep telling myself that I will do this, but it really is hard to believe!

How inconsiderate of that person. Someone from HR should so know better!

I too am confused on what to do about this. I just got approved today and the reality of this all is hitting hard. I have told my wife and kids, and they are supportive. But I kind of wish I could just disappear, get it done and move on without telling anyone. I have tons of family in the area, and I have always hated to let them know that I am dieting in the past. Even though they are supportive, it just calls attention to something I am very ashamed about. I really dread this decision and even if I don't say anything, it will become obvious pretty soon and then what? I know I am not answering your question, sorry. But I feel for you.

I too had that 6 month waiting period. It started in September and I just had my last check up on Monday. I too resisted the "diet" - why are we forced to do something that has never worked before...?, if we could do it why would we need the surgery...? It just irked me and made me feel like the doctors don't really get us. However I do buy their reasoning that they need us to lose some weight before the surgery because that 1st load of fat lost comes from fat around our internal organ thus making the surgery easier and safer. That said, I waited until after the holidays and went on a strict diet (1000 cal/day) and tons of exercise. I lost 25 lbs for my Monday appointment and the doc agreed to submit my application for insurance approval. Well...I just called Blue Shield and found that I was approved...! I know I should be excited, but I am really scared now. The 6 months did go fast, so hang in there. You might consider my plan. While I didn't "diet" in the 1st 4 months, I didn't gain weight in that period either - which is essentially a huge accomplishment in my book. Good luck.

Hi, I'm a 55 year old Dad, overweight most of my adult life, married, 3 adultish kids. My BMI is just under 50. I decided 6 months ago that I want to have the sleeve surgery. I found a doctor and just finished my 6 month wait for Blue Shield CA. My doctor required that I learn to eat right and lose weight prior to surgery, which I began doing in earnest on January 2. Since then I have religiously exercised and limited my calories to about 1000/day. I have lost 25 pounds, my doctor was very pleased and agreed to submit my case for insurance approval. Woohoo! However, having met this objective, I find that I am kind discouraged... As I have been dieting/exercising since January I have been feeling much better and feeling especially encouraged with this progress. I can do this, dieting isn't so hard, I don't miss the calories or the variety, blah blah blah. But the minute I got my met my goal, I started slacking off, feeling like its ok to eat a little more and exercise a little less. All the stuff I have done with ever other stinking diet in my life. I commit to a diet and follow it religiously. It makes me feel good and feel good about my self. I drink the koolade and think I am cured and can do this for the rest of my life, until I reach that goal. Then like clock work I slip a little here, and then a little more there and before I know it I have lost all my self discipline and am right back to my old habits. Even though it is literally 2 days since I reached my goal and I haven't gone completely off the deep end, I know the feeling and I know where I am heading. Sure, I may get to schedule my surgery and that will FORCE me back in line, and I may even get back on the band wagon and be religiously "GOOD" for some period. But I feel like it is doomed to go my old path. Maybe the time frame will be longer and maybe I will lose a ton more weight, but eventually I will find myself back on that slippery slope. It really depresses me and makes me feel like I am an idiot to go through this horribly invasive and expensive procedure if I am just going to "F" it up just like every diet I have ever tried.... Don't know that there are words that will make me feel differently, but I am so invested in this at this point that I would love some help. Thanks to all.

Thanks everyone for the support. I am feeling better today, sort of...

Thanks Keldolbeth Do my symptoms sound to you like GallBladder symptoms. My surgeon only ordered the ultrascan because I was so insistent. And my GI doctor is giving me grief as well - his statement regarding my symptoms was that from a GI perspective I am fine. I would hate for this to be a developing gallbladder problem, get my sleeve and then have to come back like you. Conversely, I don't want to mess with it if its fine. BUT I am concerned about ignoring the symptoms and about going into surgery with something undiagnosed...

I posted this in a Hernia Topic earlier - but it applies here also. I apologize if this is not proper etiquette. Please see red below - can this still be a gallblatter problem even if they don't see stones? "I am waiting insurance approval. Hope to have sleeve later this month. I too have a small hernia which he said he would fix. Couple of questions: For the last couple of weeks I have been getting a feeling of food coming up my throat, bad hunger like feelings, and pain (mid back) when I sleep on my right side. Had endoscope - all ok. Had gallblatter ultrasound - ok. I have had gerd before and this doesn't feel like it - it doesn't get worse when I lay down, opposite - worse when I stand up. I take 2 nexiums/day. Does this sound like something from my hernia. My Doctor is unconcerned about this and all set to continue with the surgery? What is all the gas from and why is it such a big deal after surgery? I have read lots of recommendations to bring Gas X for post surgery..." Thanks All

I am waiting insurance approval. Hope to have sleeve later this month. I too have a small hernia which he said he would fix. Couple of questions: For the last couple of weeks I have been getting a feeling of food coming up my throat, bad hunger like feelings, and pain (mid back) when I sleep on my right side. Had endoscope - all ok. Had gallblatter ultrasound - ok. I have had gerd before and this doesn't feel like it - it doesn't get worse when I lay down, opposite - worse when I stand up. I take 2 nexiums/day. Does this sound like something from my hernia. My Doctor is unconcerned about this and all set to continue with the surgery? What is all the gas from and why is it such a big deal after surgery? I have read lots of recommendations to bring Gas X for post surgery... Thanks All

Interesting subject. I have used CPAP for years and although I fought it for years, I finally got used to it and am addicted to it. I have surgery in about a month and sure hope I can get rid of this thing. But how will I know when I'm ready?

Thanks