Help! Two Days Post Op And I Think I'm Stuck.

[Jellyfish 17]

I had surgery on the 2nd, I have a 10cc band with no fill in it at all right now. I have been following their post-op instructions to a T. All I've had to drink was Water, beef and chicken broth, my clear liquid pain medicine, a sugar free popsicle and half of a Protein Shake. Per the doctor's orders, I didn't try the Protein shake until I was 24 hours post op. That's it, nothing even remotely resembling a solid, I've even been staying away from Jello.< /p>

I guess this started around yesterday morning, suddenly the liquids were a little painful going down, like I could feel them slipping past the band. Sometimes I can also feel my stomach contracting, like it's trying to make me throw up, and that also causes a little spike of pain. I've been burping a lot (I guess I'm just one of those people who takes in too much air drinking), but sometimes when I burp I bring a little bit of my stomach contents back up. Usually it tastes like the pain meds. I had to sleep sitting up last night because it was the only thing that helped. I thought that if I was somehow stuck on liquids with no fill, it would have passed by now but it hasn't.

I woke up with a mean sore throat, so I had a cough drop this morning. It was the clear kind that shouldn't have been a problem, and I did not swallow it, I just let it dissolve in my mouth. Well, I made it about half way through and felt like I was going to throw up. I did a lot of sliming, but managed to keep myself from bringing anything else up. My band feels really tight right now, and I'm afraid to drink anything in case it won't go down. I don't really feel nauseous, but I did start taking my nausea meds late last night. They are helping a little, but I still feel stuck.

Did anyone else go through this? I wouldn't be so worried but I'm only two days post op and I'm terrified of messing up my new band, I know this stage is critical. Is there anything I can try to make the stuck feeling go away? Any idea how in the heck I got stuck on pure liquids in the first place?

[Cazzy 725]

It sounds like u are just very swollen and that should go down in a few days, if u cannot keep liquids down u must contact your surgeon about it. Make sure what u drink is warm and not too thick, some Protein Shakes can be very thick .. It is essentiaal that u keep up with your liquids even if u cant take the broth etc, Water is a must ..

Burping is all part of the this process ..

the band feels tight because your tummy is swollen .. think of the band like wearing a tight belt, it can take up to 6 weeks for you to heal properly but normally a few days should ease the problem for you .. being stuck even on liquids will make u swell more so keep to Clear Liquids for a few days till it settles down.

Main thing is just to contact your surgeon if u are very worried or liquids are still getting stuck ..

[Sojourner 2,446]

I agree with Cazzy...however what you are describing is not normal for a newly placed band. I would immediately notify your surgeon, and let them advise you as to what you should do.

It's very important to stay properly hydrated to avoid any additional medical complications.

[Jellyfish 17]

My actual surgeon's office is closed on weekends, but they did refer me to a local ER who sees a lot of their patients, so they know about the lap band. The lady over there told me to stop the Protein shake and call her back if I still felt stuck after 6 hours. She said that since I have no fill, it's probably a combination of being swollen and getting clogged up with mucus. Is it normal to feel a little pain when liquids slide past the band the first few days post op? Are there any home remedies at all that I could try? I heard pineapple juice helps, but I'm not sure if that applies to getting stuck on liquids.

*sigh* I'm off to a great start here.

[98113 7]

Your ok. Went through all of this stuff & then some. I'm 10 days post op & each day I feel a Lil. Better. Good luck

[mybestself 0]

Banded on Tuesday, 31st... have had two awful days...yesterday and today. No problems swallowing, tho I can't seem to burp, and I feel like there is a huge one stuck in there! lots of bloating, trying to pass gas but not having consistent success there either!

When can I expect to feel even close to normal?

Incisions are healing fine, just itching like crazy.

So praying I will soon be back to my normal self - and interacting with my family!

[98113 7]

Jellyfish,

How are you feeling? Did the no shake work? Let us know.

[Jellyfish 17]

Thanks for asking I got my husband to burp me (he picked on me for it too, the jerk!), and then I had a nice long nap. I'm feeling a good bit better now, not 100% but that's to be expected. I'm going to stay away from the Protein shakes for today and just Water it down a lot when I have one tomorrow. Water is going down fine now, and I'm able to take bigger sips of it.

I forgot to mention I also had a hiatal hernia repaired when I went in for the surgery, so that pain that I'm feeling might be the repair rather than the band. It's hard to tell. If I have another episode where I try to throw up, I will go to the ER. But as long as I'm keeping down the water and broths without much trouble, I'm going to wait and call my surgeon on Monday.

[Whitney78 7]

I was going to mention that I felt very very tight around my chest area ( and band) but as I was able to get rid of the gas (gas x, walking, burping, farting, and generally just moving around...all helped) it seemed to go away.

[Angelizz10 76]

Does anyone know if food is actually digested in the pouch, or just a holder until it passes?

[Angelizz10 76]

I was going to mention that I felt very very tight around my chest area ( and band) but as I was able to get rid of the gas (gas x' date=' walking, burping, farting, and generally just moving around...all helped) it seemed to go away.[/quote']

Has anyone seemed to lose weight first week on liquid then starting purée not losing weight for 5 days? I don't see doctor until next Thus. for first time since surgery. I'm hugary all time now but trying to drink lots of Water and hold down on mushy stuff.

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

When nothing else would pass, slowly sipping warm tea usually worked for me....when that didn't work I knew. Was in trouble. Best of luck!!!

[Cazzy 725]

Does anyone know if food is actually digested in the pouch, or just a holder until it passes?

Food gets digested in the main stomach not the pouch