Cant get down enough fluids and scared

[Kat619 2]

Hi. I had my sleeve done on June 10th and felt pretty good about it for the most part except I was spitting up blood every time I tried to drink anything. A contrast X-ray test showed I had a blood clot blocking 95% of anything from entering my stomach. I then had an endoscopy on June 12 that also showed the upper part of my stomach was also twisted and too narrow for anything to pass through. I had another surgery that morning where the doctor removed my blood clot and fixed my stomach by doing something that's never been done before. That was the first thing that freaked me out. Also my bladder almost burst that day as well, but that's another story. I was saved from yet another surgery just in the nick of time!

Now I've been home from the hospital for 2 days and going on 5 days post op and still can't get more that 25 oz of Fluid in. I feel like I'm going to burst. You know that "OMG my baby is going to pop out of my stomach Alien style" feeling you get when you're 9 months pregnant? That's how I feel when I sip anything more than an ounce in an hour. I am having melt downs feeling like I did the wrong thing by having the surgery and that I'm going to die of dehydration. I've also got a slight fever from an infection where the IV was that I started antibiotics for today. That's 10 more ml's of Fluid I have to get down 4 times a day. I'm stressing so bad! Has anyone else had a horrible time drinking and staying hydrated? I'm not even getting half of what I am supposed to. I don't know what to do =(

[mulletsleeve 1]

Relax--it gets so much better. I'm now 70yrs old and I had the sleeve done about 12 months ago in Brisbane. I was just over 110kg (not seriously obese) but very unhappy with myself. I had reached 115kg in 2008 and had a lap banding done around 2010 and lost 20kg BUT slowly put back 20kgs and felt bad always that I had to run off every so often to vomit after a meal and that I always felt bloated. I has the band removed, waited 3 months and then had the sleeve. I am now around 83kgs, sometimes up to 85kgs, but never beyond. I am fitter than I have ever been, going to the gym 6/7 days per week and happier than I have been in many a year. The sleeve is serious!! You will NOT put the weight back on BUT you will gave to alter your lifestyle significantly. You can NEVER again eat a big meal!! So what? Just tell your friends that you had a hiatus hernia repair and that the repair is very tight, so tight in fact that you can eat only 6 small meals per day. They will accept that and not enquire further. You will learn to drink first (sure, alcohol if you want) but you will have problems drinking after you eat. You will have initial difficulties getting sufficient drinks into yourself but just stay calm. It will take about 12 months before you can drink (say) 100mls in one gulp. Everything from now on will be in small increments BUT the feed back from friends when you are down around 82kgs instead of around 112kgs will put a permanent smile on your face. I am now a gym "junkie" and have had to spend several thousand dollars having my clothes taken in or buying new suits, etc---it is a very happy problem to have. Keep going-- the end result is worth all the effort. I am a Doctor myself, in fact a Specialist Surgeon, and I can say that the sleeve has transformed (given back actually) my life. To know that I will NEVER be fat again is worth every penny spent and every little inconvenient regurgitation---oh yes, you will still have the occasional spew when no one is watching. Name withheld.

[mulletsleeve 1]

Who did your op? Sounds as if there are some problems. If you live in the vicinity of Brisbane the absolute best Surgeon (and the most experienced) is John Copp who works mainly out of St Andrew's Private Hospital in Ipswich.

[#9grammy 274]

Hi. I had my sleeve done on June 10th and felt pretty good about it for the most part except I was spitting up blood every time I tried to drink anything. A contrast X-ray test showed I had a blood clot blocking 95% of anything from entering my stomach. I then had an endoscopy on June 12 that also showed the upper part of my stomach was also twisted and too narrow for anything to pass through. I had another surgery that morning where the doctor removed my blood clot and fixed my stomach by doing something that's never been done before. That was the first thing that freaked me out. Also my bladder almost burst that day as well, but that's another story. I was saved from yet another surgery just in the nick of time!

Now I've been home from the hospital for 2 days and going on 5 days post op and still can't get more that 25 oz of Fluid in. I feel like I'm going to burst. You know that "OMG my baby is going to pop out of my stomach Alien style" feeling you get when you're 9 months pregnant? That's how I feel when I sip anything more than an ounce in an hour. I am having melt downs feeling like I did the wrong thing by having the surgery and that I'm going to die of dehydration. I've also got a slight fever from an infection where the IV was that I started antibiotics for today. That's 10 more ml's of Fluid I have to get down 4 times a day. I'm stressing so bad! Has anyone else had a horrible time drinking and staying hydrated? I'm not even getting half of what I am supposed to. I don't know what to do =(

Kat619, have u tried unsweetened Popsicles ? Ice chips, try that and see if it helps somewhat. If sucking on Popsicles work then freeze Gatorade see if u can suck on that. If not you will have to go back to hospital for IV's.

Good luck

[maxcimax 220]

I'm not good at getting in all of my liquids either but I haven't had any issues except Constipation. I took the Wild Cherry flavor Milk of Magnesia & that worked very well. I do use the sugar free popsicles too. I really hate Water & these help a lot. My stomach revolted at the Crystal lite at the beginning but I need to see if I can now tolerate it. Remember that Fluid intake includes your Protein Drinks & Soups. Good luck. You will be happy you did this. I am & I'm only 5 weeks post op.

[Kat619 2]

Thank you so much for your response! I live in the USA. I too was not extremely obese. I was 230 pounds when I had the surgery, but I have been on a weight roller coaster for the last 20 years and had just gained 60 pounds in 8 months and was still gaining. I was afraid that maybe that was causing the problem. Since I posted this last night I have read hundreds of other posts and realize most patients have a difficult time getting down fluids in the beginning. I do have sf popcicles, but they are too sweet for me for some reason and they make me nauseous. I do good with ice chips though. I do count everything I drink when counting my fl ounces of the day. All I can seem to get down though is maybe 1 or 2 small Protein drinks and maybe a cup of ice chips. I also have sf Jello, but again it tastes too sweet. I tried the broth again last night, but I just couldn't get more that a teaspoon down. Anything with much flavor makes me feel nauseous right now. Smells on the other hand are a different story. My family cooked yesterday and omg it smelled amazing and I felt like I was starving! I did not like that at all!! I hope that goes away soon as well. Today is a new day, and after reading all the stories here I am going to try much harder to get in my 64 oz of Fluid and my 60 grams of protein! 9grammy thank you so much for suggesting freezing Gatorade! I am going to try that today. That's a great idea!

Edited June 17, 2014 by Kat619

[BSU 61]

Don't worry about the Protein right now. Whatever you get in is fine.

You had such a rough time it may take a while to get comfortable with fluids. I started out timing my 1 oz drinks, but eventually was able to take 3-4 oz at a time.

[knitlil09 91]

Thank you so much for your response! I live in the USA. I too was not extremely obese. I was 230 pounds when I had the surgery, but I have been on a weight roller coaster for the last 20 years and had just gained 60 pounds in 8 months and was still gaining. I was afraid that maybe that was causing the problem. Since I posted this last night I have read hundreds of other posts and realize most patients have a difficult time getting down fluids in the beginning. I do have sf popcicles, but they are too sweet for me for some reason and they make me nauseous. I do good with ice chips though. I do count everything I drink when counting my fl ounces of the day. All I can seem to get down though is maybe 1 or 2 small Protein drinks and maybe a cup of ice chips. I also have sf Jello, but again it tastes too sweet. I tried the broth again last night, but I just couldn't get more that a teaspoon down. Anything with much flavor makes me feel nauseous right now. Smells on the other hand are a different story. My family cooked yesterday and omg it smelled amazing and I felt like I was starving! I did not like that at all!! I hope that goes away soon as well. Today is a new day, and after reading all the stories here I am going to try much harder to get in my 64 oz of Fluid and my 60 grams of protein! 9grammy thank you so much for suggesting freezing Gatorade! I am going to try that today. That's a great idea!

I see you said you have nausea. Did your doctor not send you home with anti nausea meds? If not, you should ask for them. I really didn't have any nausea after I got out of the hospital, but I had meds just in case.

I also agree, don't worry about protein right now, that will come in time.

[Kat619 2]

I do have anti-nausea medication, but I didn't need it until I tried a sweet fruity flavored Protein Drink from Health-Wise. Yuck! I don't have much nausea normally since wls, just an extremely full feeling even when I'm starving and my stomach is growling. Today was another bad day also. It was worse than yesterday! I barely got anything in at all. My stomach feels so full all of the time and I feel so weak and emotional. Finally around 6pm after slowly nursing only 4oz of my Protein drink throughout the entire day, I tried warm beef broth with added protein in it. This I was finally able to drink. I actually managed a full 10 oz! Unfortunately that was all I was able to take in for the day. I was really hoping things would get better each day, but so far they are not.