Newbie Sleever Needs Help!

[GoldenSleeve55 0]

Hello everyone!

I reached my six week post-surgery this past Friday ( Dec. 2). I have been having trouble with my foods/liquids pooling in the upper portion of my stomach and can eat very little or drink very little. I have heartburn and burp constantly.

My pre-surgery weight was 350; as of this past Monday I was at 318 for a total of 32 pounds. At first, I could get down the Protein Shakes and reach my goal for 50 plus grams of Protein but something happened and now I can barely get in 20 grams. Have an appointment this coming Wednesday to get another pic of my tummy after drinking the yuck drink.... I have been trying not to freak out about this but getting really concerned. :banghead: I hope someone at this site can offer some comfort to my situation. Has anyone experienced this? How did you or your doctor correct it? Thanks

GoldenSleeve55

[Lissa 2,631]

I'm lost at the "upper portion of my stomach" comment. Our sleeves are shaped more like a banana than anything else. Are you not able to swallow, so liquids and foods are sitting in your throat/esophagus? If that is the case, are you having slimies? If you are, you'll definitely know.

I didn't have surgery complications, but I did/do have some difficulty swallowing. It happens when I either drink/eat too fast, or when I'm already full and try to put more into my sleeve. Are you taking an acid reducer? That might help with the heartburn and burping.

But, burping is how I know that I'm full. I will be going right along, enjoying my meal and I'll have the urge to burp, or it will actually slip out. I immediately put my fork down and get rid of anything that's in my mouth, because it's not going to fit into my sleeve.

I'm assuming you're on solid foods since you are six weeks post-op. Are you chewing well enough? I still have to chew everything to applesauce consistency or it isn't comfortable once it hits my tummy. Also, if I don't chew very well, I can't eat as much, maybe 1 oz of meat versus 3 or 4 oz of meat. Since my goal is to get my Protein, I chew and chew and chew.

I see that you have an appt with your doc to have this issue addressed, which is good. Hopefully, he'll tell you it's something very simple that does not require any follow up. Personally, I'm wondering if you are having some swelling there since you're still pretty early in recovery. I hope it's minor and it's all cleared up very soon.

So, in short, take your acid reducer and chew very well when you eat solids. Maybe switch to easier liquids for a little while.

Good luck!

[GoldenSleeve55 0]

Hello Sleeve Evangelist!

Thanks for the reply. Sorry that I did not choose better words to express myself about the stomach. The upper portion of the banana is what it looked like on the stomach images when they had me to drink this liquid. It just look as those the liquid did not flow in a smooth pattern. It appeared to pool at the top of the banana shape and then slowly drain into the lower section..

15 minutes later they took another look and some of the liquid was still there. I figured this is why I was getting the burps and heartburn.

Yes, I can swallow okay...I usually fill up after just a tablespoon of food or liquid. I am drinking as much as I can...but just fill up much much to fast. I have been eating some solids...but no matter how soft the food or slow I chew I still find myself burping and feeling full hours after I eat or drink.

The doc put me on steroids in case their was tissue swelling...it has helped some but not greatly. Thanks so very much for your comments and best wishes! I just want to feel better...

[Thomas CPA 496]

Sounds like you having swelling as your doctor indicated. Wish I could tell you something you don't already know, but until they get what appears to be a blockage fixed you may just be on straight liquids that will flow smoothly. Do they think it is swelling from the surgery or did you have this problem before.

Where did you get the surgery?

[GoldenSleeve55 0]

Hello again sleeved friend!

I am so appreciative for your time and responses! Got up this morning sick and upchucking... lots of acid. I think that there was a problem right after surgery because the next day when sent down to get a stomach image there was a blockage then...the liquid went down very slowly. They thought it was swelling <sigh>

I have dropped another 8 pounds since Wednesday.... and my urine is very very concentrated. I will give the doc a call in the morning to see what to do... I got the surgery at Rex Medical Hospital in Raleigh, NC. Thanks again for your support...I really need it now

[Beth323 13]

Try different temperatures cold and hot do not go down good for me but room temp does. The consistency of your shakes, thin them down. take a couple sips of warm Water first to see if it will relax your stomach. have you tried different shakes? whey based would not go down for me. Hope all gets better for you soon.