5 days post-op - intense cramping when I drink anything

[jesswls 17]

Hold on everyone! It gets better! I am 3.5 months out and have experienced almost all of the above. After about the first 4 weeks you will really start to feel normal again. Especially after you start eating regular food. (For me about 6-8 weeks) the cramping and spasms first days out are normal happened to me and my surgeon kept assuring me it would get better and it did. The "hard" spot under your incision is most likely the sutures they use underneath I had the same thing as well. And they dissolve. I doubted myself in those first couple if weeks but boy am I glad I did it. I am 70 lbs lighter now and fit into a size 10. All my weight related issues have gone away and life is great. Hang in there!!!! ❤️

[NuMe2014 1]

Hold on everyone! It gets better! I am 3.5 months out and have experienced almost all of the above. After about the first 4 weeks you will really start to feel normal again. Especially after you start eating regular food. (For me about 6-8 weeks) the cramping and spasms first days out are normal happened to me and my surgeon kept assuring me it would get better and it did. The "hard" spot under your incision is most likely the sutures they use underneath I had the same thing as well. And they dissolve. I doubted myself in those first couple if weeks but boy am I glad I did it. I am 70 lbs lighter now and fit into a size 10. All my weight related issues have gone away and life is great. Hang in there!!!! ❤️

Thanks for the encouraging words! I've been doubting myself a bit

[wiightlosshippie 1]

jesswls -Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I'm literally in tears because I was starting to feel a little hopeless... I was thinking, this was supposed to help me, not hurt me. Of course, there's nothing I can do but continue on... I'm just praying I (we all) start to feel better soon. Thank you all for your input - I never got a hold of the dr, but I didn't try very hard. I have little patience these days. lol

Tomorrow I'm really going to try and follow the intake schedule I was given and hope and pray it gets better FAST! I'm truly not a good patient.

[wiightlosshippie 1]

And... my plan was to go back to work after 2 weeks... I hope that happens too.

[jesswls 17]

I am so glad to help. I was soooo in your shoes 3 months ago. Can't wait to hear how you are doing in the near future.

[Jz0917 21]

Then that must be what I have as well. That incision is deeper and it pulls something fierce when I move. It feels like I'm being stabbed with a hot poker. If I didn't have this pain I would be doing great. It feels better if I walk around the house a little bit but the first 20 steps or so are excruciating.

Omg GenaH, I have the same thing happening with me. I was sleeved 8/26 and find it difficult to walk and get in exercise with that pain. I didn't know if a little twist or the wrong step will bring that pain back. I put ice on it. That seemed to help a little. I didn't want to still be on my pain meds but I am realizing that I might have to take them daily for the me t week just so I can get through. Good luck everyone and thank you for sharing. It is really helpful.

[NuMe2014 1]

Omg GenaH, I have the same thing happening with me. I was sleeved 8/26 and find it difficult to walk and get in exercise with that pain. I didn't know if a little twist or the wrong step will bring that pain back. I put ice on it. That seemed to help a little. I didn't want to still be on my pain meds but I am realizing that I might have to take them daily for the me t week just so I can get through. Good luck everyone and thank you for sharing. It is really helpful.

I was sleeved 8/25/14 & I too have been in great pain & my breathing has been off too. I try to walk around the house & @ times it work but other times it does not! I also had my gallbladder removed & a hernia repair! So I'm thinking it will take me a lil longer to heal..... My pain is ok for the most part except The area where they pulled the extra stomach out of- that hurt beyond words!! Reading others experiences have been helpful

[Thinkingthinner1109 485]

Nume2014. Good luck to you, it sounds like you definelty had some work done. You are very brave. You can do this. I feel your pain. I am hoping each day gets better! Keep us posted on how all is going and I will be praying for us all. It is a rough road. And I am hoping to go back to work next Monday also. Well at least I am hoping so.

[starspring 30]

Hang in there...it gets so much better!

[DaisyOwl 1]

I was sleeved 8/25/14 & I too have been in great pain & my breathing has been off too. I try to walk around the house & @ times it work but other times it does not! I also had my gallbladder removed & a hernia repair! So I'm thinking it will take me a lil longer to heal..... My pain is ok for the most part except The area where they pulled the extra stomach out of- that hurt beyond words!! Reading others experiences have been helpful

I had the same thing done. I was sleeved on July 29, along with hernia fixed & gallbladder removal. It was rough for about 2 solid weeks. But it's gotten much better since then. Where my old stomach was hurt the most!! I swore I thought I'd never get any better!!

[wiightlosshippie 1]

The cramping is still there - but it seems to be getting better! I really appreciate all of the comments and encouragement.

[NICU-RN 31]

Hi all,

I am 8 months out and I hear what you are saying. One thing you can do for Fluid intake is to take micro-sips. That means literally just a tiny drop on your tongue of water/liquid and then swallow. You will be doing this almost all day, but it does help avoid the pain/cramping. Or you can use ice chips and put 1 ice chip in your mouth and let it melt, slowly swallowing whenever you feel a bit of liquid.

The "indenture" is just a dent - it will smooth out as scar tissue stretch and weight comes off. That incision was/is the most painful because it was stretched the most of all of the little incisions they make. The lump is just inflamation and scar tissue forming. The purpose of rubbing it is two fold. One: to "distract" your brain from the pain sensation and give it another sensation to focus on (rubbing.) Second: to stretch or break-up the scar tissue. At first, the "rubbing" is just lightly touching the area - no pressure. As pain receeds you can apply more pressure. The "lump" takes several months to heal and fade, but it does. Another thing you can do for the pain in that area is to appy an ice pack to that area for 20 minutes several times per day. Do not put the ice pack on bare skin, use a thin towel or washcloth to protect the skin from frostbite. The ice will numb the area making the pain lessen and will also help reduce the swelling and inflamation. Inflamation is NOT the same thing as infection. Inflamation is normal after surgery of any kind - infection is not. While I have experienced all that you have described, I would encourage you that it does get better with time. Also, it NEVER hurts to call your surgeon if you have concerns/questions. That is why he earns the "big bucks." I have been told that it helps to keep liquids at room temperature for the first few weeks, I liked mine ice cold and never had any different experience regardless of the temperature of the liquids, but thought I'd pass that along as it might help some of you. Good luck and stay the course.

[Beckyj1023 11]

Same with me. I had spasms in my esophagus for the first week every time I drank something. I called the doctor and they assured me it would go away and it did. I'm 3 weeks post op. It will be ok. I also have those hard bumps under my incisions. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I thought something was wrong with me. Hope you start to feel better. It gets easier.