Painful Air Bubble with Every Drink

ducky2u · September 7, 2010

I Had my surgery on the 20th of Aug (also had a ventral hernia and hiatal hernia repaired), was kept in the hospital for 9 days 5 of which was NPO due to an ileus, I've been home for 9 days.

I feel great for the most part, dizzy a LOT. My only problem seems to be this air bubble that is very painful every time I take a drink or have my Soup. With every bite I have to wait for this painful bubble to work it's way up my esophagus and sometimes twice. I have to wait up to a minute or longer to wait for the pain to stop!

Can anyone tell me if they had this problem, sure hope it's not permanent!

I can't burp much either and if I do manage to get a little one out I get VIOLENT hiccups almost immediately! In fact I get hiccups about every 15 minutes regardless of food intake.

Ducky2u

thegeek · September 7, 2010

My only problem seems to be this air bubble that is very painful every time I take a drink or have my Soup. With every bite I have to wait for this painful bubble to work it's way up my esophagus and sometimes twice. I have to wait up to a minute or longer to wait for the pain to stop!

I had something similar but it really only lasted for the first 3 or 4 days after surgery. Since then things have started moving back to "normal". The pain has subsided, but there are still bubbles that work their way up after I take a sip of something. You were sleeved about 10 days before me, though - so I would have expected that you'd be feeling better by now. What does your Dr. say?

pcindy · September 7, 2010

I had the same thing. It helped to have my husband "burp" me (patting me on the back, just like a baby!). It definately hurts and it is definately temporary. It will get better. Try tinier sips, NO STRAWS, and to get as little air in as possible. Someone else said sippy cups helped her. Give it a try, and hang in there- it really will get better. I'm 3 weeks post-op and the difference is night and day.