fear of vomiting

[christina353 1]

Hi, I have a surgery date of october 21 but I am thinking about backing out...I have a deep fear of vomiting..Please help. Is this very likely? I am terrified of getting sick!!!

[123crod 170]

I hate vomiting too. I have suffered many nights over the years when my stomach hurt instead of vomiting and getting it over with.

I have been banded for 14 months down 80 lbs and for some reason I have vomited on and off since I was first banded. Not from being too tight but from my own mistakes. First year of being banded when I would get stuck it NEVER went down it always came up. Some of it was my fault not chewing good, eating too big of bites, etc. , but I think some of it is just my body, my gag reflex. Now finally in the last few months when I get stuck it takes a few minutes but it does go down feels so funny to me for it to go down.

Do not let your fear stop you from getting Banded, you might vomit some or you may never vomit at all, I have Banded friends banded longer than me and have never vomited at all. Everyone is different and everyone's body is different. But I think you should know it might happen, but you will live through it I have. I love my band even when it does not do just what I want it to.

Cheri

Edited October 5, 2010 by 123crod

[BetsyB 9]

It used to be that nausea and vomiting were an expected part of the immediate postop experience. Now, most surgeons administer meds preoperatively that remove this problem. I experienced NONE after my surgery.

If you're worried more about the stories you hear about stuck incidents, or throwing up when you eat too much---again, probably not something that should deter you from surgery.

Vomiting postop is NOTHING like vomiting now. It doesn't involve heaving/retching. It doesn't involve gross partially-digested food and bile/stomach acids. It's simple regurgitation of a clump of food, enveloped in mucus. It isn't preceded by nausea. Instead, it's preceded by the discomfort of being stuck (or having taken one bite too many), and it is a HUGE RELIEF. No retching, no heaving---just relief.

It's hard to describe this to someone whose sole experience with vomiting is the preop kind...but it really is very, very different---and while I know it's daunting to think of (especially because you read so, so much about how much it happens), you have to realize that it isn't a regular occurrence. Once you master taking small bites, eating slowly, chewing....well, yeah--you'll still have an occasional stealth food that causes you trouble. But by and large, you will live your life without complication.

[tallgirl 2]

This is also something that I have been thinking about. I also have a total phobia of puking. I just won't do it. I will lay on my bed "deep breathing" for HOURS....just so I won't have to go and throw up. I have always been like that.

And now, I am scheduled for the Lap Band on the 12th, and I am freaking out that I will be sick when I wake up. I will let them know in the hospital that I am VERY scared of this...and hopefully I will get the medication necessary to help with that.

But I guess I am wondering more about what happens when you get the stomach flu. It might be a stupid question....but I was just wondering if that can make the band move or something? I don't know....all I know is...that I am scared of puking...and hopefully I won't ever ever ever have to do it again....EVER!

Good luck to all of you!

[Bigchangeforme 0]

I'm having surgery on 10/21 also. Are you in California?

[christina353 1]

I am in connecticut. I have heard so many stories about people not being able to keep down and vomiting that I am totally freaked out.

[BetsyB 9]

When you get stomach flu, quite often, you have diarrhea instead of vomiting. If you do heave/retch, doctors often ask that you notify them so that they can prescribe antiemetic (antinausea/vomiting) meds so that you don't risk band slippage.

The anatomy is such that stuff from the lower portion of the stomach can't really get back up--so the heaving is dry (unless you have a little bit in your pouch at the beginning). So, the idea is to stop that heaving so that your band stays right where it belongs.

[Sun Rae 7]

I am being banded on Oct 19th and have also been worried about this. I keep trying to push this thought to the back of my mind and looked at this thread for several minutes before being brave enough to open it up and start reading. I feel so much better now that I have read it. Thanks everybody!

[Esorami 2]

The vomiting is nothing like how we would vomit now from gagging or being sick, according to my banded sister, she says it is just food backing up and not the dreaded vomit.

[rkwilliams1013 0]

Betsy, you are right on the money! Your posts are always so insightful!

I had a fear of vomiting too! My surgeon was super understanding and gave me plenty of meds to make sure that it didn't happen.

I experienced NO NAUSEA whatsoever after surgery. Today, I'm very mindful of what & how I eat to make sure that never happens. So far the strategy has worked!

[emsbugbug 7]

To help with any nausea/vomiting right after your surgery, ask you dr., if he doesn't already prescribe one, for a relief band. It is a band you wear on your wrist that sends little pulses to your pressure point on your wrist. It helps ALOT!!! I used mine for several days after my surgery. It is just a little extra help on top of everything else they give you. :biggrin:

[alilbittyna 0]

I was banded on Aug 25, 2010. I have not yet vomitted once. I have gotten stuck about 4 times, but remained calm. When and if you do get stuck the first thing you need to do is NOT panic. I have learned a lot from this forum and two of those things were that if you get stuck, DONT DRINK ANYTHING to try and get it to go down (this will just make you want to throw up worse)stand up and flap your left arm like a chicken (yes I did just say that) it has worked every time I have gotten stuck. The other one I heard was to keep papaya enzyme chewables at your reach at all times (purse, desk, home, car). It is a digestive aid. I got stuck last night and I just stood up kind of walking around my house breathing, flapping, took two enzyme pills and after about 10 min it all went down.

The reason I got stuck was because I was eating too fast, didnt cut it small enough and did not chew long enough. You do need to pay attention.

I refuse to throw up and I have not done it once yet. Not everyone throws up and it is not going to make you a belemic if you get this surgery. You just need to pay attention to what and how you are eating and you wont get stuck and you wont throw up!