gwbicster

@OutsideMatchInside No I do not. Sounds like I need to find one.

Actually I'm on Famotidine (Pepcid)- is that something different?

I am on one, but I'll see about increasing the dosage. Thanks!

I'm currently having a real problem with this. I feel like I'm hungry ALL THE TIME! I know that even if my brain wants to eat something, there's no physical place for my body to put it anymore. I'm currently at the 2 ounce phase, and I realize at some point I will be able to eat 4 ounces of protein plus some applesauce or maybe even lettuce (God do I miss that, never thought I'd miss salad), but my brain still wants to eat a full plate of something. I'm losing weight (although I've hit my three week stall a bit early) and you'd think that'd be reward enough, but I'm frustrated. I know it's something I'm just going to have to adjust to, but I worry that I won't be able. But the surgery is non-reversible and so I'm stuck here for the rest of my life. Skinny people might point to obesity surgery as "the easy way out", but I am here to tell you, psychologically, it ain't so easy, at least for me. Thanks for listening.

I had this too. Turned out I was eating too much. Eat slowly and try to be more sensitive to the signs that your little pouch is getting full. It may happen quicker than you expect depending on the consistency of what you are eating. Good luck!

My NUT said as soon as that "notch" in your stomach when you swallow water goes away you can proceed to the next phase regardless of the calendar. For some people that is two days after surgery, for some it is two weeks. As for myself, I gave it a try after a few days and I wasn't ready I threw up, went back to liquids, and tried again a week later. Good luck.

I had mine on the 12th. Congratulations for making this decision. I have decided to keep this decision to myself to all but a few close friends and family. My experience so far is that many people think it's the "easy way out" but in reality it's been quite a challenge, mostly mentally. Not that I wouldn't do it again. I've lost 49 pounds in 5 weeks. It's worth the sacrifice. My prayers and best wishes to you.

I threw up tonight after dinner. I tried some turkey meatballs, and I didn't remember to follow the advice to "lubricate" them (mayo, margarine, gravy, etc). I also may have had one or two too many. It's really amazing how unforgiving my sleeve is, but I'm learning to listen to her. Sometimes I get the message a bit too late. The hardest part for me is separating my liquids and my food. When I start to feel sick my first impulse is still to take a great big swig of water like I used to in the old days. That's a big no-no. I'm learning, slowly.

Wow this is fantastic- thanks for the recipes! Also you are a great writer and I enjoyed your story.

I am not a doctor but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night... I also had my sleeve done on the 12th. I think I can reassure you because I just had an episode albeit not with food but with pills. I took some additional pills above what was prescribed to me when I left the hospital on the advice of my general practitioner. I had the same "punishment" as you- and the same irrational concerns. I just spoke with my surgeon and he explained to me that I "tested" the sleeve and it failed... I was also afraid I had messed something up or that there was a leak. He told me that I needed to be gentle with it and sooner rather than later it would "dialate" (open up so I can eat real food). Hope this helped.

I've had a very uncomfortable afternoon. I have what feels like a huge air bubble in my sleeve and it feels like I want to burp it out, but I can't. This led to a rather extreme bout of hiccups. They stopped but the very uncomfortable feeling continues. I first noticed this feeling after eating my morning soup but I laid down for awhile and it seemed to subside until I got up and attempted to drink some herbal tea. The only thing I have done different today was that my doctor added a couple of new pills to my regimen. I already struggle with getting all my pills down, since most of my pills are extended release and therefore can't be split or crushed. I was surprised that this morning the pills went down easier than normal, so maybe this is a delayed reaction? Other than that I had a protein shake and the same soup that I always eat (bariatric cream of chicken soup). Any ideas? Did I eat too fast? Too much? (although I don't think so...)

For those of you who were on the edge of their seats, just spoke with the doctor. He feels that I "tested" the sleeve with the additional pills, and that the sleeve failed the test. He agrees with what I'm doing cutting back on medication for a day or two (just taking the antacid) until the sleeve settles down, and so long as my sugar is within reasonable levels discontinuing the Metformin even for a longer time as he had originally suggested, Also I have ordered Metformin in the standard iteration (not ER) which I believe I can crush safely. He says I need to be more patient with my sleeve, but assured me that there are no unusual blockages or anything for me to be scared about. It was reassuring hearing that from a professional.

I want to give all of you guys a heartfelt THANK YOU for your responses. I am waiting for a call from my doctor later today (apparently he had an emergency surgery and had to reschedule all of his patients, yikes!) I realize we are all just spitballing and he will have a more definitive answer, but in the meantime you guys have given me lots of things to check out. This Site is the best. I don't feel like I could have done this without all you guys. THANKS to my big sleeve brothers and sisters!

The vomit the first time was light green and looked almost like the mucus I cough up in the morning (post nasal drip?) The second time it was more of a foamy white (I had just eaten a percocet and it looked like that.)

Well see that's the thing, I'm not "eating" yet. I am drinking water and green tea, and "eating" strained soup and protein drinks. I do notice that I haven't quite mastered the very SLOW pace of drinking required to avoid that "pinching" feeling in the pouch, so maybe you are right, but it's hard to believe this was from that. Maybe I'm wrong.

I am a side sleeper but resisted lying on a side for the first few days after surgery. I am now lying on my right side but have been afraid to try the left side. Because I am so heavy I generally end up alternating to reduce the impact on my (arthritic) hips. I'm going to try at least some left side sleeping tonight, and will use the heating pad. Thanks for the fab suggestion!

Yes it occured to me that this might be what it was. Next time it happens I'll try what you suggested. For now I'm stopping taking any pills other than my anti-acid one until I can talk to my surgeon. I'm feeling a bit better than yesterday but only after trying to take another pill and throwing up again. On the plus side I somehow lost 6 pounds yesterday! (Wow, how is this even possible?) Thanks for your input.

The soup was white. The vomit had the consistency of something you might cough up in the morning (mucus)- but good point about the green. I think it was obvious that I needed to vomit but my concern is why I did. Did I overfill my pouch? (Even though it was soup and I would assume liquid would move through?) Is it possible I have a blockage somewhere?

UPDATE: Just as I posted this I finally threw up. It was a green thick mucous-y vomit, and I feel better. Is it possible that there is some kind of blockage down there that caused this? Should I be worried? Do I need to call my surgeon? This is the first time I've vomited since surgery. I was sleeved 8 days ago.

I too am struggling. We have to be patient. I told a friend, I am ready for solid food, but my sleeve is not. Have faith (so I'm told by others) that it will get better, it's just a matter of time. In the meantime, try to make the liquid step of the journey as pleasant as possible. Experiment with different recipies and don't force yourself to eat the things that you don't like anymore. (For me, since surgery, now all of a sudden chicken broth tastes like Epsom salt, I don't know why lol.) You are in my thoughts and we will get through this together!

Any suggestions? My new stomach still seems to be real tender. When I take my pills it's a real struggle to get them down and occasionally quite painful. I have to go slow....and even then it's a real ordeal. I find myself really hungry for solid food, but of course I can't. Probably the solution is that I ought to be eating more protein shakes and/or broth, but although I still enjoy the taste of them I am starting to find that a chore. I guess if I am way under 1000 calories a day it is natural that I would be hungry. Did most of you require the full two weeks before going to mushy stage or do most of you go faster? Anyone need more than that? Anyone deal with the fear that I am that the new stomach will NEVER open up and I"ll be drinking my meals the rest of my life? I could use some encouragements from the vets around here. Thanks!

Yes I am aware of the portion restriction- that's why I had this done in the first place! But right now it feels like it's glued shut. Thanks for the encouragement! Your ticker isn't updated- how much have you lost total?

My NUT said that moving on to "Phase 3B" (mushy food) is entirely dependent on the patient and that I will "know" when it is time to do that based on the lumpy feeling when swallowing water (the swelling between the esophagus and the top of the new stomach) going away. She says that this can happen two days after surgery or two weeks, and that it varies from person to person. Does this sound kosher? Sounds like maybe two weeks might even be a bit optimistic. I wasn't aware it was going to be so tight for so long. ((TWSS...)

Ironically the biggest pill I take (Oxycodone, for the pain) is one that definately canNOT be split, according to the Interwebs, because it is time released. Splitting it can result in an overdose. FML.

I've heard about the head hunger. Yes usually when I have a craving I have a protein shake and it's OK for awhile. I bought some Ricotta cheese a couple days ago with the hope I could have some soon but I am getting discouraged. I am on acid medication. Several weeks, huh?