Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

I’ve just had my surgery on January 23rd and I am struggling. I can barely handle any liquids, I’ve been trying to get my Water and Protein goals in but failing miserably. I’ve only managed to have just 2 bottles of protein since I left the hospital and for the broth I love barely had any and it’s almost been a week. Has anyone else had this problem? My stomach is constantly in pain and of course the gas pains. I can manage some water but it has to be cold and that’s mostly it. I know I have to have Protein Shakes and the broth but I just can’t. I’m just feeling weaker as the days go by and I’m not sure what to do next. Any advice?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey :)

I think one of the best things you could do is just to contact your surgeon/Dr just to see what they would advise in this situation, especially with the pain you are in.

I am still pre-surgery so I am not too sure on how it should be straight afterwards, but I know that most people on here would advise talking to a medical professional if you are struggling :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Big hugs. Contact your team ASAP. Do you have nausea ? vomiting ? You need your teams advice

You may have a stricture. If it is, its nothing major and is a quick fix. Or you could be like I was, really very swollen internally. I struggled for about 3 months and survived. I ate and drank very little but as soon as I could make the goals given, I felt so much better.

Try thinning your shakes, Add milk. just keep trying to do better every day. You will get there in the end.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Also try different temperatures of liquids. Some people can't handle cold and some people can't handle hot. You might have to play with it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My cousin just had the surgery plus the hiatal hernia surgery 2 weeks ago, she still struggles with liquid intake. She still has to set a timer to sip sip sip. Try walking more for the gas pains, it helps get rid of them. Every hour walk for 5-10 minutes. I am 5.5 months post op and the first week was hard to drink anything, cold or hot. Even when I hit the puree stage it was hard enough to get liquid in let alone something with a thicker consistency. It will get better over time. I agree, contact your surgeon, see if they have any other options.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i had a bit of difficulty getting my Protein Shakes the first 2 weeks, i used Protein powders and i had to Water them down ALOT to get it down. i probably only consumed maybe the equivalent 1 cup of a pre-made Protein Shake the entire first 14 days post surgery.

it was a issue of aversion for me...it was just so unappealing and gag-inducing. that and i was just so exhausted that there just wasn't enough awake time to drink.

my water consumption wasn't that great either, probably sipped maybe less than 2 cups a day (warm/hot water cuz it felt better)...and i did this from a 1oz medicine cup all day long...soooo annoying omg.

first two weeks i probably had less than 400 calories each ENTIRE WEEK.

but magically (on day 13 to be exact), i accidentally found out i could could gulp down water...i was so thirsty that i forgot i was supposed to sip...and it was wonderful lol. so much more satisfying than those sad sips from the stupid medicine cup.

after that i was gulping down litres of ice water. and protein shakes cuz i just would water then down alot with ice water and down them.

solid food on the other hand took a little longer master...but that's another story.

now i drink lots and eat lots (avg 1800 cals a day) for a bariatric patient, but not quite like a "regular" person, lol....and im 5+ years out.

long story short: hang in there, it gets better by increments. keep in contact with your doc and team, and there is no need to worry of they aren't.

good luck ❤️

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery on Jan 18th and i can take a little more Water then before but its STILL a pain in the butt because i still have pain (gas?) when im drinking. Im supposed to move on to pureed foods in a few days but how when im not 100 percent with these liquids. Its slow moving and it sucks. It seems like im going to be one of those cases where it takes forever to heal or get on track and it sounds like maybe you will be the same (hopefully not). I go to the doc for my 2 week follow up on the 31st i will let you know what he says about all this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree. Definitely contact your surgeon. It could be just swelling. It could be a stricture. But you really shouldn’t be experiencing strong pain a week out (except from the surgical gas pain but even that should be reducing each day.). Most of us throw away our opioid pain meds by day 3 or 4 & often don’t need any pain meds after then either.

Yes, meeting those Fluid & Protein goals can be difficult in the beginning. I’m another one who struggled at first (one shake & a cup of Soup each day from day 4 & really nothing before then except a few sips of water). As long as you are making an effort & slowly getting closer you’ll be fine. Be aware of possible dehydration though.

All the best. And push to get a response from your surgeon asap.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree with the others, contact your surgeon and let them know. It isn't unusual to have intolerances to Protein Shakes early on. I couldn't stomach them for the first several weeks. I could get in my fluids though, with diligence, but they had to either be very cold or very warm, my stomach didn't like anything in between, and even with fluids I would get this intense twisting pain with every swallow, like my stomach was trying to cartwheel inside me! But after the two week mark this started to ease. I was able to Water down Protein water and get it in. Then I was able to thin out protein shakes with milk and get them in. I was still nauseated daily until the 8 week mark, but meds helped with that.

My surgeon said this whole track wasn't unusual, I was one of those rare patients that got the side effect of stomach spasms post surgery and they usually calm down after a few weeks. He was right! By weeks 3-4 I could drink most things without pain, as long as I kept sipping rather than trying to gulp. I'm 3 months out and still can't gulp... But this is definitely a situation where you want your surgeon's office aware of how you are feeling so they can send you in for Fluid infusions if you start to show signs of dehydration. Dehydration is the number 1 complication of bariatric surgery in the early weeks, plenty of people end up with hydration infusions until the swelling goes down in their tummies enough they can get their water in.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Is there any update on this? The post from OP has me concerned. I hope they contacted their surgeon and got some answers....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×