gas pain and dumping

clancy · August 27, 2007

I had my band installed Aug 16 and did not have any pain control. I ended up in the hospital last night and was given a swallow test (drinking some awful tasting stuff and x ray to see if it went past the band). Shortly thereafter I started going to the toilet and after a long night I took some imodium when I got home. The pain disappeared!! But will it come back if I am not having regular bowel movements. I am afraid to eat and afraid not to eat - still supposed to be on liquids. Thanks for your help.

WASaBubbleButt · August 27, 2007

Drinking barium wouldn't be dumping, dumping is something different.

Immodium is wonderful for diarrhea. Do be aware that if you haven't started yet you WILL poop white. It's the barium.

Take Tylenol or whatever your doc suggested for pain and give it time. The surgery tends to irritate a nerve in your diaphragm and it bothers that nerve all the way up your shoulder sometimes.

ShannonRT · August 27, 2007

Do be aware that if you haven't started yet you WILL poop white. It's the barium.

Unless you drank Gastrograffin instead of barium. It is a clear, amber-colored liquid, not chalky white. Still nasty though. This is what I had the day after surgery. If there is a leak somewhere and barium leaks out, that can be bad. But Gastrograffin is water-soluble, which won't cause a problem if leaked out.

Ok, the lesson in radiologic contrast is over for today!

juliegeraci · August 27, 2007

Best to stay on the recommended liquids and move to mushies slowly. If you have trouble going to the bathroom I would recommend a laxative or a stool softner. Your doctor can prescribe the stool softner. Sometimes when we change our diets these things happen. Good luck.

Marimaru · August 28, 2007

There's no dumping syndrome associated with the band. Your intestines aren't altered in any way, it's just a band around the outside of your stomach organ. If you are on liquids, it would make some sense that you have liquid bowel movements, you know? Probably just try to avoid things that give you gas.