1 week out

[cindy R 0]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I am one week out from gastric sleeve surgery. During the first 4 days, I had terrible shoulder pain. My surgeon said it happens to some patients and is due to air left in the stomach after surgery. Currently, the pain comes back periodically.

I have a fear of intaking too many ounces per hour. At my post-op discharge, I was told to try to get 4 ounces in per hour. On day 5 I was able to finish 4 oz in 30-45 minutes. My fear is that I will jeopardize the integrity of the stomach sutures.

Has anybody else experienced these issues?

[Arabesque 7,035]

Yes the shoulder pain is from the surgical gas which is pumped into your abdominal cavity. It rises & settles behind your lungs putting pressure on nerves & causing shoulder pain. It takes about a week +/- to be fully absorbed into your lungs & breathed out.

Best advice is always follow your plan. It is in place to protect your healing tummy & support your recovery. I always say: all because you can doesn’t mean you should. It’s not a race. There isn’t a prize for doing more or doing it sooner. You’ll be okay but don’t push your luck by continuing to do more than what is recommended - even though you may get frustrated.

[GMaJen 79]

Water stays in your stomach 10-20 min. I was told to sip slowly and it may take 10 min to drink an ounce at first, and to try to work up until I get 64oz per day, no chugging, and no drinking 30 min before or after a "meal". Fairly loose guideline. I am blessed that I don't have a hard time eating or drinking (yet) and I have a hard time drinking that slow. I am not trying to challenge myself to see how much I can drink before it hurts, so I usually limit myself to 4oz per 30 minutes because that turns out to be evenly spacing my 64 oz out between meals. When I fall behind it's because I'm absorbed in a work project and will sometimes sip 4oz and pause 10 minutes, then sip another 4 oz. Seems to work for me.