and then...

Am 6 days post op in those days I have only been able to eat Clear liquids, I am suppose to be do Protein shakes but every time I try to drink one I can only get a little bit in and then I start throwing up not just a little I throw up until my back and stomach hurt. On Saturday I went to sleep to try to combat the nausea and then threw up twice in my sleep. I sat up and slept for the remainder of the night that night. I stop trying with the protein that day. I called the nurse and they had me stop the protein and go back to clear liquid, then had me try again today. I got 2 oz down then became increasingly nauseous until I threw up over and over for about 45 minutes. I called the nurse line again to ask about the throwing up and discuss some pain I am having... Well I am now sitting in the ER they were concerned about my lung where I am having pain and want ex-ray done they are also concerned about dehydration. I am frustrated, defeated, hungry, tired, and really regretting doing this. I am not really sure why I am posting.. Support? Sympathy? IDK to keep from going insane. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes. I am on anti-nausea meds. I have zofran that melts and another that starts with a "p" I can't remember the name off hand. Some times they help sometime not at all. I try calming my stomach with peppermint tea and peppermint oil rubbed on the outside. That helps calm the throw-up spasms a bit. My nurse called and said she is going to speak to my Dr but she is thinking they will just keep me on clear liquid until my appointment. There has been no mention of moving it up I have asked for an earlier one to no avail. I do have to travel 4 hours to the area I had the surgery for my first post op. So I doubt an earlier appointment is in my future. Yesterday I tried a Sucralose sweetened clear drink to try an up my Fluid since I am having a hard time with Water and kept it for about 30 minutes then sent me running to the restroom with diarrhea. As of now I am waiting on instructions from my bariatric team.

I tend to agree with you but according to my instructions I am not allowed mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes because they are carbs. Since I can't hold down the protein they are trying to get my protein through food. And asked that i focus on the highest protein sources. I am suppose to get 96gms of protein a day. I have some cream of wheat but shied away from it because it has no protein content. I actually love cream of wheat and malt-o-meal. My NUT wanted me to mix the protein in that was making me puke. At this point I am willing to try most anything. I will discuss with my NuT tomorrow. It all seems so impossible each egg is like 7gms or something I can't even eat half. I have no idea how to get all of my water in I am getting like 10-12 oz in a day which is futile against the vomiting and diarrhea. It like a vicious cycle of suck.

I wanted to check in with everyone, but I don't want to bring down the thread. I will just say I am 12 days out and have been unsuccessful at keeping anything down other than clear liquids. Someone up thread asked if anyone is having regrets and I will wave my hand big time. I won't drag you all down with all of the details but if you want to read what is going on with me I have a thread in post-op called "in need of support" if you are interested in reading the specifics.I don't want my negative experience to influence the choices you all have already made and worked so hard for. However, I will continue to support you all and cheer for each of your victories!

Thank you Hollyr for chase king in on me. I wish I had a glowing review of how much better I am but I don't. After leaving the ER I went home got some rest the Nut called me we discussed switching Protein powders. She thought it might be lactose intolerance so off I was sent to purchase lactaid and body fortress whey isolate. I tried it and didn't throw up! I was only able to choke down like 3 oz if it but it was down! Then the diarrhea started... Every time I drank a new shake I would get a terrible stomach ache and end up in the bathroom. Called my nut again. I have a artificial sweetner intolerance and we discussed since I have been on sucralose and aspertian as my main source of nutrition I was wondering if my body was just over it. I can keep down clear liquids and cream based strained Soups without issues. I asked about switching to a more Water like protein like Isopure but she refused saying it is not a good absorbable source. We discussed switching to a soy based but I have a intolerance to soy as well. She talked to my surgeon and decided to switch me to soft foods 4 days early. Yea!!! I was super excited. I chewed slow took about 15-20 per meal and here are my results: night 1 I had a piece of tilapia about the size of a quarter and two dime sized scallops stewed in tomato water. Kept it down for about an hour. Then puked for 3 hours until my back and stomach was in knots. Okay shake it off. Morning of day 2 something lighter... A scrambled egg. Kept it down for about 45 minutes. Then began to throw-up. Called the nurse hotline BAMB slapped down to clear liquid again. Talked to my hubby we decided I had kept most of the egg down had only thrown up once and didn't throw -up like the day before. I should try a little chicken and black Beans (we cook it in the crock pot then shred for burritos) I tried and ate maybe 1/8 of a cup of chicken. Kept it for a hour puked once but kept most down. Day 3 today try another egg without cooking spray. (The nurse had mentioned this could possibly be my problem) kept it in for 45 minutes proceeded to puke for 3 hours until every last bit of that egg was out. I conceded back to clear liquids and am feeling like my esophagus is a bit swollen and have been battling a mad case of nausea all day. As part of my clear liquids I had a drink with sucralose in it trying to rehydrate because I am starting to feel the effects of dehydration I just cannot see to get the liquid in. Sent me running to the bathroom with diareah. So at this point I have kept down next to zero protein and I am 12 days out. I am so heartbroken. I was sure that this surgery would help change my life but I truly feel that by doing it I have placed the nails in my coffin. I will eventually wither away only drinking clear liquids. Idk what to do at this point. I see my surgeon on the 20th I guess I will just hang on until then my nurse and Nut are suppose to be calling tomorrow but at this point idk where they will send me but back to the store to purchase another expensive protein that I won't be able to tolerate everything is sweetened with artificial sweeteners. Ugh sorry to be such a wet blanket but I wish I would have never had this surgery,

Thank you all. The CT showed I had a possible inflamed gallbladder, but that all of the surgery stuff looked fine. (I will reserve judgement until my surgeon reads the results) They did an ultrasound which the tech said my gallbladder looked angry but after the radiologist read the results said there were no stones and came back in the normal range. So conclusion is phantom pain as a result of surgery :/ I am calling my surgeon this morning so he can get the results of the testing last night. I am also suppose to hear from my nut today about changing the Protein so hopefully today is the day I can eat something! I am managing the upper right quadrant pain with a heating pad and tylonal it's not helping much hopefully it will get better with time.

I was wondering about the whey allergy possibility also but I tolerated it just fine for my 2 week post op. I was thinking also possible lactose intolerance since I am suppose to mix it with skin milk but I have been tolerating small amounts of yogurt just fine. It's weird the Protein I am suppose to be using is called Beneprotein. It comes in a can similar to baby formula. It mixes smooth with out clumps but-------- TMI warning---- when I throw up it comes up in curds yuck!---- They decided to do a CT . The tech came in to try and get me to drink 3 white foam cups worth of contrast in 1 1/2 hours I looked at her like she was insane when she tried to mix it with sprite and have me drink it through a straw. I argued with her round and round for like 10 minutes she kept saying just drink as much as you can pushing the fizzing drink at me and I kept telling her I was going to rupture my staple line and asking her if she knew what a gastric sleeve was. I told her I hadn't taken in that much liquid at one time in over a week. I told her it takes me 20 minutes to drink one medicine cup full of Water and she wants me to drink this bubbly concoction! Uhhhh nope! Finally exasperated she walked out of the room and the doc had heard out exchange and she ordered IV contrast and let me pass on the full foam cup shooters. So now I am waiting on results hooked up to a IV bag of fluids I begged for and finally got. Fingers crossed the results come in after I empty the bag!

I am in New Mexico had my surgery in El Paso. We have a bariatric center locally but it is out of my network and my insurance will not cover any thing done with them at all.

Thanks everyone. I am still waiting the hospital I am at doesn't do bariatrics I had to travel 4 hours away to a hospital my insurance covers for surgery. So I was getting my vitals done and they were drawing blood and one of the guys goes yeah I bet it's your gallbladder how we test that is stick our hand under your rib cage and grab the lower part of your rib feeling for the diaphragm and we should be able to feel the gallbladder. I snapped at him "the h3!! you are! I am six days post op you just start grabbing things that are potentially stitched I am going to lose it." I have a bunch of extra stitching because my surgeon also repaired a hiatal hernia. Please Lord direct these people on how to help me!

I had not thought of gatoraid I will have my hubby pick that up when my meds are ready. I do worry about the sugar content of them. I didn't get isopure. I am on something called beniprotin it comes in a can like baby formula. I mix it with 1/2 pack carnation instant breakfast(sugar fee) and skim milk. I backed myself back down to clear liquids. I have had two medicine (one ounce) cups of water and am nursing a jello. I am starting to wonder if I have an issue with milk because when I threw up the first time it was after the shake, then the next I tasted a cream soup literally dipped my spoon in and licked it. I am thinking of looking into those protein shots but I need to find a good easily absorbed and digestible one like the 100% whey isolate. Has anyone had any experience with those? I was thinking a could drink that since it is significantly less to consume then the 8 oz shake they want me to drink.

Thank you! I hope I can get over those thoughts also. I am sure in 6months I will think back and say my goodness you were such a baby! Lol I really appreciate the prayers I have had every intention of doing plastic surgery to get all of my loose skin and right now the thought of going through another round of surgery and or more makes me want to cry! I am going to slather my body in every Lotion and potion known to man to firm up my skin!

I was given heparin shot every eight hours. My thighs look like someone took me outside with a baseball bat. I was released today, but can't seem to keep anything down. I have thrown up twice today and I am fighting a wicked case of nausea with deep breathing techniques I have learn doing yoga over the years. So instead, I am working on getting my water in so I don't dehydrate and forgetting about the shakes until I am able to get my prescriptions filled. I hope it's gets better from here, because not to be a downer of a deterrent from getting the surgery. I am regretting it like crazy today. Wish me luck I am heading home it's a 4 hour drive and we got word our area has just got a bunch of snow ---yuck---

Oops double post. Sorry

Hello everyone. I was sleeved yesterday and wanted to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers. I am still in the hospital, I just did my swallow study they said they didn't see and thing alarming. I am waiting on my doctor to read the results so I can start Clear liquids. Those moistened cotton swab things are just not doing the trick. I am in a lot of pain, which stinks. I had a hiatal hernia that the doc discovered and repaired during surgery. My pain is not a the incision sites it I above it on the right hand side. It is so painful tears come to my eyes when ever I have to sit or stand. I am staying another night due to the pain. This might be a little *** TMI so here is your chance to skip....okay last call......I am having a terrible time urinating it I like a 30-45 minute affair of staining and pushing down for a few drops at a time the doc said its a because of the morphine end TMI*** So long story short I am staying an extra night due to the extreme pain I am dealing with I am thinking and praying for everyone getting sleeved today as well as those who have already been sleeved

I am currently sitting in pre op. Really, really nervous. I will be okay, I will be okay. Deep breaths in and out.

I have Presbyterian insurance and they don't have a local bariatric center so they do all of the bariatric surgery through Las Palmas in El Paso. Its crazy, that there is a center locally and I can't use it! It would be so much easier on my family if I didn't have to travel.

Yes. I am in Albuquerque. Are you doing yours in El Paso also?

I also have a very hard time with sugar substitutes. I called my NUT and asked if I use agave instead and got a big fat no she said I could use stevia which I tolerate a lot better than the artificial stuff. In order to that I would have had to go buy a bunch more protein powder and then not eat the $80 I spent on the Sucralose sweetened ones. Yeah our family budget does not allow for me to just toss 80 bucks in the trash. So I powered through had a few of wicked migraines, luckily it has subsided now. I leave on Monday to make the 4 hour drive to El Paso for my post-op then surgery the following day. I am making lists like crazy we have 2 different people watching my 4 kids because everyone feels all of them together is "overwhelming" we are coordinating school pickups drop offs for multiple children with different care givers. Ahhhh I just hope this goes well and want to get back to my babies as soon as possible! This by far is the worst part. To top it off I thought I was over the crazy tear inducing craving after being on liquids for 2 weeks and tonight I just wanted to sit down to eat dinner with my fam, and eat what they were eating! I am currently hiding from dinner by soaking in the tub. Oh and one more! My mother who I asked not to tell anyone about my surgery (because I don't want to scrutiny and have to argue why I am doing it) told every family member and friend she has!!!! Ahhhhh she is watching 2 of my children so I had to tell her. Her response when I called her out was, "well you should have told them first" >. This was after she spent and hour berating me about my choice and telling me I am going to die in surgery and she needs a plan on how to raise my children.... Uhhhh hello I am in my 30s and I think my husband will have the raising of my children covered in the event of my death! Wow that kind of turned into a rant...sorry I was initially trying to respond the the sweetener discussion.

I am feeling all of the same emotions as well. I thinks it very normal. I am also on dec 3rd! It is getting so close!

I am currently on day 4 of pro-op diet, and I had a really rough night last night. I wanted to eat something so badly. Not just anything though I wanted a cheeseburger so bad. I obsessed about it all afternoon and evening :/ I made myself crazy trying to rationalize it to my husband. He finally threw his hands up and said do what you want. I am happy to report I did not cheat. I went to bed hungry with a rumbling tummy but I did not act on my impulse to cheat even though it consumed most of my day yesterday. I decided my new mantra is *this is not forever, I will be able to eat again just not now* rinse and repeat over and over. I still want a damn cheeseburger but I am more rational about it today. I incorporated beef broth in my diet yesterday. I wonder if that is what sparked the crazy craving. I am not a sweets person really. If you were to put chocolate cake in front of me a plate of Texas cheese fries I would choose the fries. Every. Single. Time. I was hoping by doing beef broth it would help balance all of the sweet overload from the shakes. I also have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners so the past 4 days have been riddled with headaches and migraines 8 more days of shakes then on to clear liquid the day before surgery. Yes I am counting every day, hour, and second. I keep telling myself this time next year it will be a distant memory. Just make it to this time next year. * I just realized I am not sure if this post is appropriate for this thread. If it is not I apologize and please let me know where this...uhh.rant/victory/update would be more appropriate and I will move it if needed. Thanks!

It was very.. Umm sudden. I feel bad because I missed the first day of the liquid diet. I have had to push past feeling guilty and that I have already failed not even 24 hours in.

Hello! I am getting sleeved on Dec 3rd I just got confirmation yesterday. Was instructed to start my liquid diet that day. I was unable to get everything to start liquid on such short notice so I started it today. It has been a long day. I am excited, and scared, and nervous, and oh gosh really just a big ball of emotions, a big ball of hungry emotions! Lol Happy to have found fellow Dec sleevers!

I would feel bad if I cheated too. I am so worried about sabotaging myself then not getting the surgery. I am obsessed with gum right now... I wonder if I can have sugar free gum to chew on? I am going to email my NUT tonight after I get everyone to bed.

Oops double post!

I started my liquid diet today also. All I want to do is go to bed! Can I sleep for two weeks? Making my kids Breakfast, lunch and dinner then not being able to eat was a special kind of torture! Day one down 13 to go.... <sigh>