Is vomiting going to be the new normal?

[takingbackcontrol 137]

It seems like I read more and more about people that are a few weeks to months out vomiting stuff they eat. I know right after surgery this might be expected, but is it the new normal for people having this surgery?

I hate to vomit and would be miserable with a life that includes it as a regular event... Am I just reading the wrong posts or is this something that I'm going to have to get used to as a new kind of normal?

[nsquared 232]

I am 3 months post op and vomited quite a bit through about week 8. This does not have to happen to you though. I believe much of my issues were related to bites that were too big, not chewing enough and eating faster than I should. The sleeve takes some time to adjust to. The sooner you adjust the way you eat (specifically, the things I didn't do well above) the better off you will be. Now that I have gotten a good rhythm, I am able to keep all my food down and have not had a problem in about a month. There is an adjustment period though...at least there was for me.

[mokee 588]

Am 5 months out and never vomited until last week when I ate so much (don't ask me why) that I was glad I threw up. Felt so much better. Lesson learned.

[TES 858]

I think the most important thing is that when you add in a new food or type of food (like fibrous cooked veggies or raw vegetables), make sure you try it at home first and make a conscious effort to chew well and eat slowly. Eat a few times at home successfully before you order the same type of thing eating out or when with someone else. I had a little trouble with cauliflower when I first started eating it, but now I'm fine with it.

[Vicki0618 123]

I am 8 weeks out and haven't thrown up at all. Had some dry heaves in the hospital right after surgery, but after that I've been all good!!

[MichiganChic 3,262]

I threw up once in the hospital when a nurse pushed some IV pain meds too fast. Other than that, I've never vomitted. Incidentally, I usually eat a little faster than I should, and at almost 5 months out, I take normal size bites, too. Everyone has a different experience.

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

Vomiting is for a reason. It means you are doing something wrong. It ould be eating too quickly, too big of bites or overeating. Vomiting is abnormal with the sleeve and if you do vomit you need to adjust the way you are using it and get it under control.

[rdt210 82]

I will be 6 weeks out on Monday and I have not vomited once. I think one thing that helped me immediately post-op was that I continued to take the anti-nausea medicine for almost 2 weeks to prevent getting nauseous and throwing up. I also (and still do) eat really slow (I was always a slow eater anyway) and use a salad fork or teaspoon. Once I started introducing foods back, I would (and still do) chew everything to the consistency of applesauce before swallowing. From what I've read, it seems like people vomit when they eat too fast or too much. when you try a new food, wait a few minutes before taking another bite to see how it goes down and settles. Your microwave will become your new best friend - it takes so long to eat sometimes that you'll need to re-heat your food. A typical meal for me now is about 20 minutes - and that's about 1/2 cup - 1 cup of food, depending on what I'm having. Good luck!!

[Takingcontrol 467]

I was sleeved 12/17 & only vomited once in the hospital when I first woke up, it was from the dye they put in to check for leaks.

[takingbackcontrol 137]

Ok, that reassures me that is in my control. I need to work on slowing down before surgery. I hadn't really seen the correlation to chewing more, going slower, etc so I was just thinking it happened as a result of being sleeved.

Thanks for the reassurance, I like knowing that its mostly a control-able thing.

[Stef 264]

It seems like I read more and more about people that are a few weeks to months out vomiting stuff they eat. I know right after surgery this might be expected, but is it the new normal for people having this surgery?

I hate to vomit and would be miserable with a life that includes it as a regular event... Am I just reading the wrong posts or is this something that I'm going to have to get used to as a new kind of normal?

It's definitely not the new normal for me. I vomited once post-op and it was completely my fault because I ate too fast.

[MommyofFive 243]

I'm 4 months out and vomited A LOT the first month up to 6 weeks. A lot of it was learning how much I could eat and what things I couldn't tolerate. It DOES get better.

[Talee4life 36]

Im over 3 months post surgery and have never threw up! Guess Im blessed!!!!!

[No game 14,437]

Not "normal" I have not vomited once in 6 months

[janarae 93]

I started vomiting at 6 weeks, I found out I have a stricture. If slowing down and eating less doesn't help it could be a problem.

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX