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I was in soooooo much pain the fist few days, but it definitely gets better as the days go by. I am 10 days post-op and can still feel the change in my stomach but am not in pain anymore. I can drink water normally but no chugging obviously. Hang in there! Go slowly with your diet. Anything other than clear liquids takes time to go down and makes me feel sick if I consume it too fast. And by sick, I mean tired, weak, and slightly nauseous, although I have yet to actually throw up. I usually just end up laying down for a loooooong time.

Intermittent fasting not very good for preop. I don't know any surgeon who would recommend it. There are some very good tasting protein shakes. Have you tried Fairlife Nutrition Chocolate. Tastes just like chocolate milk. I really hated Premiere Protein shakes and most powder-based shakes. You will need lots of protein (60-80g per day) after surgery so best you find one you like and start using now. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you all so much! You are all so helpful. 😍 I find the three protein shakes a day + vegetables very difficult, not so much because the shakes are yucky, but more that they are making me so hungry. I find myself gravitating towards intermittent fasting in stead - I don't feel as hungry and can go about my day much easier. I do one shake in the morning and then some plain vegetables at night. In terms of weight loss this is working quite well - I've lost close to 11 lbs this past week.

I have a PPO with out of network benefits. They submitted the claims through that. So they'll just check your insurance first to see if you have benefits that they can use, and then you can get the fast track.

My surgery is july 7, I start the liquid diet on July 4, I'm not good with this fasting thing.....

From your profile it appears you are 18 years old. Speaking strictly from my experience, I was much more self conscious at that age than as I got older. I was an average weight person then, but was self conscious about probably a million other things. In our weight obsessed culture it makes sense that you aren't shedding negative body image thoughts as fast as the pounds. My hope for you is that through this process, with or without the help of a good therapist, you find your power, claim your voice, and nurture a healthy self love. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

One person knows of my first weight loss procedure (assuming that is they didn't tell anyone else), no one knows I had second one and as far as they are concerned I had gall bladder surgery. In hindsight I should have said hernia operation in case my gall bladder does play up and I need it removed. Do what feels comfortable and is best for you, be ready if you are asked about your weight loss, particularly if it is fast weight loss.

I was scheduled for July 23, but my governor just banned elective surgeries again. Now I have no idea when I'll be able to reschedule. I certainly don't want to be in a hospital with a bunch of COVID-19 patients, so I'm not really complaining. We shouldn't have opened as fast as we did. Just got my hopes up prematurely. 😞

I'm just about 6 months post op and am doing fantastic- I'm losing weight steadily (almost 90lbs!!), eating well, and feeling better than I have in ages. However, I live in a very small town, leaving me with very limited options. My partners like to go out to eat with friends normally once a week, but with there only being fast food joints in this town (i.e. unhealthy fried stuff), I have been having to sit at the table while they eat with only a glass of water or just completely forgo going along. It's been really isolating and making me feel super left out. They have started to eat at home more so we can all eat together, but I never realized how social food was until my options became so limited. Besides making them eat at home (I feel bad because then my girlfriend ends up having to cook all the time instead of going out to eat), I just feel like there is no way for me to participate. Does anyone else feel like their social time has been affected with surgery?

Hey, you just had surgery give yourself time to heal. Those issues of nausea and gas are to be expected. And if you are now lactose intolerant pay attention to that. The pain from dairy products is short lived but awful. When drinking your protein take slow sips and hopefully you will avoid those problems. there are all kinds of protein supplements. Some aren't even creamy or don't need milk added. I drank Premier Protein Mango drink (it was like cool aid) and chicken broth. clear liquids all the way. Let me tell you I had such pain. Not from what I ate but from the surgery. there was nothing they could do and oxycodone wouldn't touch the pain. I just lay in bed for a month ( with intermittent bouts of walking to build myself up) and had family do everything for me. when I was in the hospital I even had the nurses lift my legs up on to the bed for me cause I knew I couldn't push past the pain. the nurses called me the screamer cause when I moved the pain was so bad. But now I am past that and it has been six months and I have no pain and no issues. Good luck Bunbun!

Yeah, not eating much at all. I lost the first 10 pounds on my 2-week pre-op diet, and the last 10 pounds in just the week since my surgery. It does not feel good. Fast weight loss is the goal, but I feel like I'm dying. My post-op diet is 2 weeks of full liquid. I'm supposed to aim for 48-64 ounces of water a day, and 70g of protein. I'm lucky if I can get halfway on the protein. I wish I could eat cottage cheese, or scrambled eggs, or SOMETHING, but it's liquids only. So I basically make a protein shake in the morning and drink half of it for breakfast, and the other half for lunch. I supplement with jello or sometimes a sugar-free popsicle as snacks. I also drink water with Nectar protein powder in it, as much as I can stand. For dinner I have broth or miso soup. I just checked my log and I've had 260 calories today, 34 grams of protein, and about 40 oz of water. I could not eat another thing, I'm not hungry. And I'm not dehydrated yet. However, I'm exhausted, and feel light-headed and awful if I try to do more than walk to the mailbox and back. I guess theoretically I should try to force myself to sip on a protein shake during the day, but I can barely get down the one I drink now. I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow and I'll surely be discussing this with them. I also ordered some high-protein soup mixes to try. It just sucks when you're stuck on liquids only. I mean there's only so many things you can consume.

Food and liquid timing, pyloric sphincter function, and how it pertains to VSG function and GERD: The pyloric sphincter (PS) is located at the bottom of your stomach/sleeve, and connects the sleeve and duodenum. When open, this valve is roughly the diameter of a dime. When closed, it’s roughly the diameter of the tip of a ballpoint pen. In terms of VSG function, dense proteins and foods that take longer to digest (i.e. fibrous foods) cause the PS to close and hold food in the stomach for pre-digestion, allowing acids begin to break down these foods. This is why we’re instructed to eat protein first: to close the PS so that food stays in the sleeve longer, providing a sense of satiety. It takes ca. 30-60 minutes for food to clear the PS. This is also why we’re instructed not to drink liquids for 30-60 minutes after eating. Incidentally, "slider" foods do not close the PS: instead, these foods "slide" directly through the open PS into the duodenum. In terms of GERD, after you consume a protein-dense meal, the PS closes, holding the contents of the meal in the sleeve for pre-digestion. If you drink liquids within 30-60 minutes after a meal, the liquid has nowhere to go but up, where it hits the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and above that, a flapper valve. The function of both of these valves is to prevent food, bile, and acids in the stomach from backing up into the esophagus. This is an exceptionally high pressure system, and is the reason why it hurts when you eat to much or too fast, or drink too soon, after eating when the PS is still closed. Vomiting and/or foamies is the only available pressure release. Even in a full-size stomach, the addition of liquids to food speeds gastric emptying by roughly 15%-20%, and some studies indicate that the transit time is anywhere between 25%-35% after VSG. *It’s also interesting to note that after VSG, simple carbs passing through the PS are less liquified due to fewer digestive enzymes being available than with a complete stomach, which is also what causes dumping and reactive hypoglycemia. These unhealthy simple sugars pass directly through the pylorus, causing pancreatic enzymes to flood the bowels in order to be able to digest them. The pancreas then reacts by “dumping” large amounts of insulin into the common bile duct, causing a massive reduction in sugar absorption and feelings of weakness and other diabetic symptoms. It’s very similar to dumping syndrome in RNY patients.

Everyone heals at a different rate, so your partner needs to check in with her surgeon to find out when she'll be cleared for weight training. I'm a fast healer and was cleared at 8 weeks after VSG. I'd already been doing total body weight training for 15 months prior to surgery, and basically returned to the same program after surgery *except* for core training. For the first few months after surgery, I went a lot easier on core training by using weights that were not too challenging even on the last few reps; this is because it takes 4-5 months for the staple line to fully heal. During the first six months, I was more concerned with preserving lean muscle mass throughout the rapid weight loss phase, and my program reflected that. Now at just over 8 months out, my focus is once again on improving strength, increasing bone density, preventing disease, reducing stress, and increasing my metabolic rate, so my program is a combination of circuits, complexing/super-setting, pyramid, drop sets, high volume, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). If someone is deconditioned and/or extremely MO, it's important to start out with a light program for the first several months after surgery, basically maybe 2 - 3 times per week, doing 1 to 2 sets of each exercise and resting for 1 to 2 minutes after each exercise. Maybe even split into upper body one day and lower body another.

I’m here. Tad crazy. Left Tijuana 2:30am to cross the border to the San Diego airport and had a layover in Atlanta when we arrived in Florida the sun was setting. Got home is was so late ... I didn’t sleep at all before we departed aside from passing out briefly from my last massage at 1pm and a shower. ❤️ Thank you. The flight was a challenge. I’m resting a bit so I’ll try to make this quick. Thank goodness the bathroom stalls had doors with no gaps. It was a challenge to pee and empty my drain and record output for the doctor. I had a light shopping bag with a few necessities and borrowed my mom’s walker to get around the airport if I needed to walk a little. Honestly my knees were already crazy swollen. And my piggy feet. But the flight wasn’t helping so I tried to move when I could. In Atlanta I made the mistake of walking a little too far. Had a bathroom Issue but made sure to keep my incisions dry. had help with a wheelchair For most of it except waiting for the plane if I needed the restroom or wanted to look at a shop. There is no real food traveling because of Covid so much is closed. well not to post tmi but we got home and all of a sudden I had to rush (Which I can’t) into my bedroom shut the door (my bathroom is in there) and figure out how to get the Faja off at least down fast enough 🤣 lets just say ten days worth of something finally said ok I’m gettin outa here ... Ready or not. I could see the difference right away. What a relief. My right leg is still more swollen than my left but that’s always been a size difference. My left leg incision was dripping fluids last night so I changed the gauze. Made sure everything was dry and pulled up the Faja the best I could, threw on my nightgown and accidentally went to bed without emptying the drain first. Kind of fell into a weird sleep where I’m thinking things that make no sense so I’m asleep but not enough. Woke up and 1:30am maybe and realized the thing was full and I was in a weird position on the bed and got up to fix things ... its hard trying to get into routine at home and not clash with my mom over things. I set up my bed with prop up pillows the best I could. Oh fudge I’m probably writing tmi. I have my own challenges with my chronic illness and disability. I try to set simple routine. I planned my meals for the week and will add basic medical notes. I ordered some things from amazon a shower seat, gauze, paper tape, wound care spray, some pads to protect the bed in case any incision leaks ... gauze wash cloths for the shower for the sensitive areas. ordered protein bars I buy Built Bars I love them a lot of flavors are 110 calories (mint brownie is soooo good) but right now they have 50% off everything and then even more of limited flavors. Use my link you get $10 extra off. http://i.refs.cc/cz4s4C3c?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo0MTA4MjMzMDd9 of course now I’m totally broke, literally. ah well. where was I havent weighed myself yet ... Not brave enough and still swollen. edit: I think my incisions are doing surprisingly well. My surgeon thought so too at my last visit before leaving. Of course is main concern is that 2-3 week mark. I think I’m standing a little straighter. Albeit now I’m trying to sort out my new normal. Separating my chronic issues from my recovery. And trying not to push too hard.

I had my surgery 6/8 as well and everything went well I spent two days in the hospital because I wasn’t taking in enough liquid. The first week out the weight was falling off I was down 17.5lbs fast forward to last week and I gain two pounds. What is going on? I feel like did my surgery not work? Why am I gaining weight? On top of that here’s a list of things I’ve experienced after surgery. Burning in my lower abdomen from the blood thinner shot, gas and burping, weird stomach noises, itchy incisions😩, a yeast infection from the meds they gave me in the hospital😫oh and did I mention WEIGHT GAIN. The struggles are real. Can someone shed some light on the weight gain?

I had my surgery five years ago, lost 235 lbs, have gained back 20. Since most people do gain about 10% of their lost weight back the second or third year post-op (and unfortunately, some gain much more than that), I was expecting that. But I can tell you it is a CONSTANT battle to keep from gaining more. It's all a head game. I can maintain my weight as long as I stay at or under 1700 calories/day. But I can definitely eat MUCH more than that at this point. As I said, it's a constant, daily battle. The surgery only gives you a strong tail wind as well as a much better chance of taking - and keeping - the weight off (I'm sure you've heard that without surgery, fewer than 5% of people can lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off. The odds are much higher for those of us who've had surgery, but not 100%). But you still have to work at it every day for the rest of your life. Ugh - but - that's the way it is, it seems. I still weigh/measure and track my food. If I don't monitor it closely most of the time, my weight starts heading north again really fast.

@MaybeMeow - im so glad you’re feeling better and finding what works for you. You’re so strong, I know you’ll find your routine very soon. For me, this is day 3. I’ve been able to get water down fine - 40 oz so far today, plus 1.5 shakes and some broth. A jello cup - I use them as chasers to the aweful meds. So about 48g protein today. My after care says we have walk 2 miles a day. Does anyone else have that? Seems like a lot to me so soon. I got 1.25 in in two walks (0.5 & 0.75) but man after that second I was beat. Just stone cold out of it. The on-q ball is for nerve pain around the incision I guess. There’s another med for sharp nerve pain too. What does everyone’s restriction feel like? Do you feel like you’ve hit it yet? I felt pretty bloated after that broth (miso) but I probably drank it too fast. Is that bloated or the restriction? I have no idea...

Good luck Eric. I had the same problem - sleeve 3 years ago, lost 100 pounds in 8 months, gained back 60 over the next 2.5 years. I tried resetting my pouch and going back to pre-op diet mode, but nothing really worked for me. In the end I decided to have a revision to bypass earlier this year. I've been losing weight consistently (but slowly) since then. However, it hasn't affected any real change - I can eat just about anything (pizza, bread, pasta, whatever - serving sizes are normal portions, not bariatric portions). For the most part I DON'T eat these things (still doing shakes and fish and salad, etc.), but every now and then I've just been pushing to see if there is anything that my body does not like/can't handle. There's nothing. I'm really disappointed because I thought the even smaller stomach would help with portion control (it doesn't), that having bypass would make me not like sugar (it doesn't), or that I would have other food issues (like lactose intolerance - I don't). So it's a good wake-up call for me that portion control and what I eat is the key - I can't depend on the surgery to help me out, other than initial weight loss. For whatever reason, my body has reacted to these surgeries really well. In both cases I was up and walking and feeling great within a day after surgery, I never had food restrictions like so many others (I could eat at 3 months what many patients could at 2 years post-op), and I never had any food issues after surgery either. I'm saying all this in that the second surgery didn't fix any of my food/body issues, it's all a mind game, really. In a way I wish I hadn't had the second surgery (money-wise), but if I hadn't done it, I don't know if I would have learned these lessons as well. FWIW, I think the best plan for me going forward is a mix of protein-prioritized keto (or maybe paleo) mixed with intermittent fasting (I'll start with 12 hours and work my way down to 8 hours, maybe to 6 eventually), plus adding some weight training to my regimen. I'm working on weaning myself off of all my bad habits over the next week or so and will be starting fresh on July 1st. Hopefully others can chime in with what they've done to deal with weight regain after surgery. Unfortunately I think a lot of people who do tend to leave these forums (as I did), so I'm hoping that sticking around here on a regular basis will keep me more motivated.

Thank you guys for responding! I was thinking about the broth and popsicles. Went out yesterday and bought the popsicle moulds and some Chrystal Light lime. Cleaning out the fridge today! Tuesday start a two week fast. Thanks!

@BrandiRB Hi, and congrats! We’re sleeve twins! I also had my VSG on 6/10/20. For everyone else, congrats as well. I had the lapband back in 2014 and lost about 90lbs in less than a year. I did really well. I got pregnant in 2015, gave birth in 2016. I lost all of my pregnancy weight and got back on track but wasn’t losing weight. By 2017, I had gained about 30lbs or so. I had to find a different doctor because my surgeon’s practice had closed down. I had an EGD done which revealed that my lapband had corroded causing a hole in my stomach. I had the lapband removed in January 2018. My surgeon said it would take 6 months to a year before considering a revision because the hole needed to heal properly. So fast forward to November 2019: I found a surgeon with an affordable cash pay option. I had another EGD done to make sure the hole healed properly and that the scar tissue was minimal. Once I got the okay, we scheduled my procedure. Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed it. So, I started my liquid diet on 6/1/20. It was supposed to be for 2 weeks where I’d have surgery on 6/15/20 but my surgeon pushed me up to 6/10/20 because he said he had a family emergency and would be traveling out of town. So, my liquid preop diet was for 10 days instead of 14 days. My preop weight was 337 on 6/1/20. On the day of surgery (6/10/20), I weighed 322. Today (6/21/20), I weigh 315. The incision site is still a little tender but they are healing well. It didn’t help that one of my kids accidentally ran into it (twice 😩). I still can’t sleep on my side yet. I’m having a hard time getting in regular water. I HAVE to have a Crystal Light to drink it smoothly. Protein Shakes are okay but I have to pace myself. I also noticed that I have to start early in the day to get it all in. There are some days that I have not gotten it all in. I don’t always have a desire to “eat.” It’s weird but I don’t want to force myself. I did this on yesterday and got nauseous. First (and last) time I do that. I do have a desire to chew - not because I’m hungry - just because chewing is what I’ve been accustomed to and can’t do just yet. So, my diet setup is like this: 10 days - preop full liquids Weeks 1 & 2 - post op full liquids Week 3 - post op purée foods Week 4 - post op soft foods Week 5 - post op regular texture/low carb/high protein My surgeon’s Nurse Practitioner met with me for my 1 week follow up and said that I should lose about 20lbs by the time of my 1 month post op appointment. I was like YIKES but okay. As far as exercise goes, I’ve walked in my home mostly. I did go on a walk with my husband and kids one day last week as well. It wasn’t bad but I was a bit anxious. I plan to amp it up as I can tolerate it. I still have some trapped gas and my back is very painful when I yawn, stretch or sit/lay a certain way. I believe it’ll go away in due time, though. I have an abdominal binder that I’m supposed to wear at all times when I’m awake. I’ve worn it daily but not for the entire day. I usually tolerate it for about 7/8 hours. My surgeon said it’s supposed to help my stomach and other organs as it heals to sort of “snap back.” They suggested I wear it for the first month. Bad breath - yep, I have it. I’m brushing and rinsing often to help deal with it. I look forward to changing up my diet because this, my friends, is not cute! I drove at 1 week/1day post op and did fine. I cannot drive my SUV just yet because it’s hard for me to get up and done. So I’m driving my husband’s car for now. Other than that, I’m gradually getting back into the swing of my normal routine. I’ve meal prepped for my family, done laundry and housework as well. I take my time and listen to my body. If I feel winded, I rest. I’m excited about this journey. I honestly don’t know what my end goal is.

@BrandiRB Hi, and congrats! We’re sleeve twins! I also had my VSG on 6/10/20. For everyone else, congrats as well. I had the lapband back in 2014 and lost about 90lbs in less than a year. I did really well. I got pregnant in 2015, gave birth in 2016. I lost all of my pregnancy weight and got back on track but wasn’t losing weight. By 2017, I had gained about 30lbs or so. I had to find a different doctor because my surgeon’s practice had closed down. I had an EGD done which revealed that my lapband had corroded causing a hole in my stomach. I had the lapband removed in January 2018. My surgeon said it would take 6 months to a year before considering a revision because the hole needed to heal properly. So fast forward to November 2019: I found a surgeon with an affordable cash pay option. I had another EGD done to make sure the hole healed properly and that the scar tissue was minimal. Once I got the okay, we scheduled my procedure. Unfortunately, COVID-19 delayed it. So, I started my liquid diet on 6/1/20. It was supposed to be for 2 weeks where I’d have surgery on 6/15/20 but my surgeon pushed me up to 6/10/20 because he said he had a family emergency and would be traveling out of town. So, my liquid preop diet was for 10 days instead of 14 days. My preop weight was 337 on 6/1/20. On the day of surgery (6/10/20), I weighed 322. Today (6/21/20), I weigh 315. The incision site is still a little tender but they are healing well. It didn’t help that one of my kids accidentally ran into it (twice 😩). I still can’t sleep on my side yet. I’m having a hard time getting in regular water. I HAVE to have a Crystal Light to drink it smoothly. Protein Shakes are okay but I have to pace myself. I also noticed that I have to start early in the day to get it all in. There are some days that I have not gotten it all in. I don’t always have a desire to “eat.” It’s weird but I don’t want to force myself. I did this on yesterday and got nauseous. First (and last) time I do that. I do have a desire to chew - not because I’m hungry - just because chewing is what I’ve been accustomed to and can’t do just yet. So, my diet setup is like this: 10 days - preop full liquids Weeks 1 & 2 - post op full liquids Week 3 - post op purée foods Week 4 - post op soft foods Week 5 - post op regular texture/low carb/high protein My surgeon’s Nurse Practitioner met with me for my 1 week follow up and said that I should lose about 20lbs by the time of my 1 month post op appointment. I was like YIKES but okay. As far as exercise goes, I’ve walked in my home mostly. I did go on a walk with my husband and kids one day last week as well. It wasn’t bad but I was a bit anxious. I plan to amp it up as I can tolerate it. I still have some trapped gas and my back is very painful when I yawn, stretch or sit/lay a certain way. I believe it’ll go away in due time, though. I have an abdominal binder that I’m supposed to wear at all times when I’m awake. I’ve worn it daily but not for the entire day. I usually tolerate it for about 7/8 hours. My surgeon said it’s supposed to help my stomach and other organs as it heals to sort of “snap back.” They suggested I wear it for the first month. Bad breath - yep, I have it. I’m brushing and rinsing often to help deal with it. I look forward to changing up my diet because this, my friends, is not cute! I drove at 1 week/1day post op and did fine. I cannot drive my SUV just yet because it’s hard for me to get up and done. So I’m driving my husband’s car for now. Other than that, I’m gradually getting back into the swing of my normal routine. I’ve meal prepped for my family, done laundry and housework as well. I take my time and listen to my body. If I feel winded, I rest. I’m excited about this journey. I honestly don’t know what my end goal is.

Hi! I'm a 48 yr old mom of 3. I've been wanting to have GB surgery for almost 25 years!!! I chickened out the first time.....I'm kicking myself because at that time I had insurance with no prereqs and paid for it 100%...but I was scared and not ready. Fast forward to 2013...dying gall bladder, botched gall bladder removal, bile duct repair surgery. I lost 35 lbs in a month because of that...it was inspiring. Decided to 'clean eat' and joined Beachbody and jumped in with both feet. I was doing FANTASTICALLY, losing a total of 78 lbs, not quite to my goal weight but I felt so fantastic!! But then.....the hubs got hurt at work and was off for 3 months. I had to go back to work. My little bubble of getting to be a stay at home mom, with oodles of time to meal prep and exercise burst in a huge way. The only job I could get was at Pizza Hut....I was angry that he got hurt, I was angry that I had to go back to work. So I punished myself, I ate a shitton of pizza. I very quickly gained weight back and fast forward to today, I'm almost back up to where I started. Recently I've done some selfwork and am in a really good mental space right now. And have set the wheels in motion to get the surgery....FOR REAL THIS TIME. I could have had it a couple years ago, but allowed my husband to talk me out of it. I told him, this time, he doesn't get to say. I've tried to do it on my own and I failed. I need this tool to keep me focused and honest. I truly believe that 25 years ago, I wasn't ready to get this done and would have failed. I'm ready to do this now! I'm not the most patient person, but let the 6 months (or hopefully less) begin!!!! I've gone through seminar, I meet with the surgeon in July. My PCP is on board. The hubs is actually on board. I've quit smoking (sooo hard!) and next is quitting Diet Coke. Thanks for letting me share!!!

I am new here. I have never posted anything online before (no social media and no reviews etc) I am writing because I am nervous. My surgery date is July 7th. I have been thinking about having the surgery for years but finally went for a consult this month and everything has moved so fast! If anyone has suggestions on how to prep for the days after surgery please let me know! Thank you! Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

My pre-op lifestyle changes were no more soda and no more eating fast food in the car. These 2 changes I plan to keep for life, as this is what put the pounds on to begin with. Post-op, I'm just following my plan and increasing exercise. It obviously becomes easier to exercise more as I lose more weight. Due to Covid, I don't eat out anymore, but I know that when the restaurants reopen I'll be able to make good choices. And when I'm in maintenance, if I want a couple bites of dessert...no biggie!

Period: I got mine about 2 weeks or so after surgery. It was the first one I had in months. And it was like a deluge, and lasted for over a week (which is really long for me as when I was regular pre-op, it used to only last 3-4 days, and very light, at that). I did have cramps (which I don't normally get), and I took a Midol or two. I think it helped. P.S. since surgery, I have been period-ing like clockwork, every 4 weeks almost to the day, lasting 3-4 days. Pressure in chest: This may or may not be associated with your period. It may just be a normal result of the surgery. I still get pressure in my chest, but I've learned (for me) that it is my new sign of fullness, as I don't feel the same stomach-area fullness anymore. It also means (for me) that I may have eaten too fast. Are you taking an acid reducer? Straws: My surgeon also said to refrain from straws. The reason being that one will end up sucking up a bit of air that is in the straw before the actual liquid. Nursing over a drink, doing this over and over again, results in a large amount of accumulated, sucked up air (which is not your friend). Like you, I also found drinking with a straw much easier, soooooo....I made sure that my straw was always as submerged in the liquid as possible to reduce the amount of air that is initially in the straw before sipping. Sometimes this meant continually re-filling my glass so the liquid level was way up there. Worked for me. Oh, and I also used sport-water bottles with spouts. Made sure to tip it up before I took a sip (again to reduce the amount of air sucked in). With all that said, do have a chat with your team to get some professional guidance. Especially about the chest/esophagus/nausea thing. Good Luck!