Having problems with eating and swallowing

[theother_onefoot 122]

I've read enough threads and info to scare myself into wanting to be vigilant with the holy trinity of life after bariatric surgery: Water, Protein, and Vitamins.< /p>

But since I've progressed to solid foods, Protein shakes have become almost unbearable and impossible to get down unless I want to spend two hours at it.

Yesterday marks my 3 months from surgery - I guess I should put that here for reference.

So the shakes aren't my real concern, but I was definitely able to average more protein per day with them. With actual food it seems I hover around the 40-50 range when my goal is 60-80. And I'm only able to get about half of my water in with all of that unless drinking water is the only task I give myself for the day. Some of my vitamins are chewable and some are getting exchanged for capsules because the chewable versions of them were actually making me sick instead. Vitamins include a multi+Iron, Calcium, and B-12.

I've also had really bad acid reflux that gets extreme when I get hungry. Had my 3mo check-in with the surgeon and he said that's probably just because my sleeve is still so tight, and he's fine with me taking Zantac to help it.

Do sleeves feel tighter some days than others? Is it normal for them to feel tighter some weeks than others?

This week even swallowing the Zantac or my daily thyroid pill has been a struggle.. It will go down, but I'll almost immediately start getting nauseous. And every time I try and eat this week it feels like I'm barely able to get anything down before I start feeling like I'm going to be sick. I doubt I'm even making it to 20g of protein right now and it's terribly upsetting.

I've felt lucky with not really throwing anything up since surgery, but this week I've vomited twice which makes it even harder to eat anything with a raw throat.

Is it just a tight tummy week? What can I do when this happens? Would a protein-rich Soup week help me or hurt me (as in prolong a solid food aversion)? Are there liquid alternatives to the multi+iron vitamins and acid reducers?

All advice is appreciated!

[2goldengirl 2,076]

Honestly, I'd contact your surgeon's office. It's one thing to have reflux, and quite another to feel sick when you swallow. And vomiting when you hadn't before is also a new symptom that shouldn't be ignored. Did this start after you saw him for your three-month followup?

[bariatricwife 3]

Drink something warm before you try to eat. It helps me. Also I have to remind myself constantly to slow down when I'm eating.

[theother_onefoot 122]

@@2goldengirl - well the vomiting happened once before I saw him and once after, but it was after eating the exact same thing when I used to have no problem with it before, so I figured it was just that specific thing causing it. Any other nausea or gagging/vomiting is only around drinking or taking any pills/swallowable Vitamins. As gross as it is, throwing up Water is easier on me than throwing up food..

[theother_onefoot 122]

@@bariatricwife - does that mean I need to take up tea drinking? Are there any you recommend?

[bariatricwife 3]

Tea, broth, hot Water with lemon. Anything that tastes good to you. Ginger tea is good for GERD. I had GERD also but it went away thank goodness. It is due to how tight your sleeve was made and how much swelling is there post op. I read a study that 60% of sleeves have GERD and it is almost always resolved by 2 years. yikes!

One more thing that helped me with pain and nausea when I ate and especially drank was getting treated for thrush. Check your tongue.. If there is a white furry like coating on it, this could be the culprit and it's easy to treat. Happy to say I am eating and drinking fine now!!

[Staycee Vanshel 8]

I agree...I am currently battling thrush..I am a week out and got it bad enough to make my throat start hurting. I am on a rinse 4 times a day to get rid of it. The antibiotics after surgery were no doubt the culprit! My surgean has me eating 3 tums a day for Calcium and I believe it helps my reflux as well. Hope it gets better!