What the heck is going on?

[Leannie 0]

I am 10 days post op and have been trying to eat full liquids since Sunday. I've been taking it really slow and even swishing it around in my mouth before I swallow. It goes down ok but I'm keep getting so bloated. Today I had to upzip my pants while I sat at my desk. I get little "pinchy" pains here and there like it could be gas. And even when I'm hungry and my stomach is growling, I feel like I'm full right up to my neck. Sometimes when I drink, I hear gurgling noises in my throat.

I'm not getting nauseated, I haven't vomited. The Clear Liquids went down fine, but I was so hungry and looking so foward to full liquids. I took some gas medication and it has helped.

I'm waiting on a call from my doctor's nurse, but in the meantime, any ideas?

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Leannie,

I remember having some of the same symptoms my first few days on fuller liquids. I figured it was an effect of the funnel that was created in my stomach; thicker substances get backed up a little and take a while to travel through.

Taking things rrrrreeeeaaallllyyyy ssssslllllooooowwwwlllllyyyy seemed to help. As your swelling subsides you'll find that these effects pass.

Another thought is that you might be swalling more air than you realize; it's really easy to do. Swishing things around your mouth pretty much guarantees that you'll take in more air, so try not to do that. Just take very small sips and try to wait a few seconds between them.

So don't worry, these are normal feelings that will pass soon. Welcome to Bandlandia!!

[Leannie 0]

Thanks for your reply Alexandra. The nurse told me pretty much the same thing - that I must still be very swollen and that I should eat everything through a straw. Today is much better.