abbybeep

Congratulations!

Don't get discouraged! I had complications and I did not have any nutrition for 2 weeks after surgery, even when I was at the hospital. Although it isn't the way to go- it ended up being okay. I would focus on keeping yourself hydrated. I know a lot of people on here don't like Isopure for a protein drink, but I get the grape kind (already mixed) and then I put it in a regular water bottle. This way I don't smell it before it hits my mouth, because I cannot stand the smell of the powders! Hang in there & good luck!

I just have to say, this is ridiculous! I see answers to questions like this one and it makes me really angry and disappointed. It is a simple question that does NOT ask for judgement like so many are dishing out. Sometimes we want a certain food- we are human! All I want right now is a pickle. It has no nutritional value but I don't care! If I could have 2 pickles right now, I would eat them, for breakfast! Not every day, just today- just right now! Anyway, to answer your question, I am 3.5 weeks since surgery and my surgeon and dietician cleared me for "tacos" made with mini tortilla chips. Just make sure you chew chew chew!!!

I found out after my second stricture stretch today that I may have a kink right in the middle of my sleeve too. How did your procedure end up turning out? I am only 3 weeks out from surgery and I'm worrying I will never eat food of any kind again

Lulugirl- I have been feeling so down and so upset over this whole thing. I mean, what else could go wrong!!?? But you know what? We are going to get better. Why? Because that's the only thing that can happen!! If you have been dealing with complications since July 9th- you can seriously deal with ANYTHING! The woman next to me in the hospital is 88. She is "not all there" and she can't hear well. She has a bad gallbladder and needs to go to rehab to build strength before she can go back home, where she lives alone. Today, she dressed herself completely and she said to the nurse, "I know I can do anything I set my mind to!" She is such an inspiration. She told me, "God doesn't give you anything you can't handle, honey." and I'm not really the type who relies a lot on my faith, but I thought- damn! She is RIGHT! She is 88 and determined as anything I have seen and if she can go through all she is at 88 and to think of all the years she has lived... Well then you know what? I can get through it too- and SO CAN YOU!! Good luck. You're not alone. Stay strong!

I have posted a few times about this topic, but I'm still looking for some sort of similarity between someone else, because I am losing hope that I will ever ingest food again (I am not exaggerating). Surgery on Monday, 8/6. By Friday, I can't keep any liquids down, so I go to surgeon's office. We find out through a barium swallow that I have a stricture. They think it is due to swelling so they send me home, hoping I can hydrate myself through the weekend. Monday morning, I'm admitted to the hospital for dehydration. All weekend it was a constant pattern: 1 sip every 10 minutes, then 30ish minutes later, liquid would come up. No pain. Monday, I rested and hydrated, minimal Fluid loss, as I was not allowed to drink. Tuesday, rest and hydrate, no plan of attack by the surgeon. Wednesday, Upper GI/ Barium Swallow - indicates that there is still a stricture, same size. Now, the surgeon says he is not sure what we should do because he believes it is too early to stretch it with a balloon because my stomach could rupture. I have been through hell here. They can't keep an IV in me, so I have to have a "pick line" through my arm and across my chest... I am trying so hard to stay positive, but I feel like I have no options. Can't go home without being able to keep liquids down (Currently 2 TBSP every hour), and it can take 3 months for the stomach heal... SO??!! Anyone have anything like this? Any words of advice? I'm getting zero nutrition. The past 10 days I have taken in NO calories of any kind. I'm worried I am losing weight too fast and in an unhealthy way. :/

Not silly at all! I know I asked about polish and my surgeon said not even that on my finger nails because of that awesome (haha not) thing you wear on your finger to monitor your blood oxygen level. Good luck with your surgery!!!

I has my surgery on 8/6 (Monday). Even though I wasn't keeping much of any liquid down, I was discharged on Thursday. Saw the surgeon Friday. I found out I have a stricture about 2/3 the way down. Minimal Fluid getting through. Dispite my greatest efforts, I was dehydrated by Sunday evening. So Monday morning I went back to surgeon's office. Another surgeon in the practice set me up to be admitted and he fluids to rehydrate. It is now Tuesday. I am not allowed to drink ANYTHING, even ice chips. The plan is MAYBE an upper GI tomorrow to see if the stricture is getting better, but probably Thursday. After that, they dont have a plan. I am losing the ability to stay positive really quickly. I am so depressed. I don't know why I did this and I wonder if I will ever be able to drink again. Does any know anyone who had this happen this early on??? What was the outcome for them?? Am I doomed??

That is good news!!!! Were you on medicine to specifically help the stricture?

Hi all. I found out today, 5 days after surgery, that I have a stricture in my sleeve. I went to the doctor today because I have not been able to keep any type of liquid down, and something I drank 2.5 hours earlier would come up before I drank anything else! (This clued me in that things were not moving the way they were supposed to.) Upper GI showed that a very small amount of liquid is able to pass through. The doctor is hoping it is just a lot of swelling and it will work itself out. I don't appear to be very dehydrated so I am home, sipping away!! Has anyone else had a stricture this soon after surgery? I'm really worried that it won't be easy to fix and I'll end up having to have another surgery to bypass my sleeve

rybecca20- so I was thinking that Water would be good and I love water, but I decided to go with my "gut" (haha) and think about what would feel good. Some people suggested hot tea. 4 sips stayed down a whopping 1 hr 20 mins!!! That's a record for today!! I'm going to do crystal light and tea from now on! Feels good going down too! Wish I could get more than like 2 oz down! alwayseating2012- I've been having a lot of those moments- "what did I do?!" I honestly did not think I would. I thought I was mentally ready; I had read a lot about people thinking negatively after surgery and I had just been thinking- no not me! But it's tougher on our minds than we realize I think. As long as we surround ourselves with positive and supportive people, I think we will be okay through this early adjustment period! We did the right thing for us!!!

Let me know how your procedure to fix the stricture went! I notice that it's today! I just found out today (5 days since my surgery) that I have a stricture. The doctor said it could be inflammation since it is so early after surgery, and I haven't been able to find too much info on what happens if you have a stricture this early on, seems like it is something that comes later. I hope yours goes well!

I have a structure about 2/3 of the way down my sleeve. liquid is barely making it through, I guess the good news is that SOME is getting through. So I'm just going to keep drinking. Doctor said to wait til early next week and see if it's just swelling. Anyone have any experience with strictures?!? I know we can try dilating and a stent if need be. But the doctor did mention the "rare" possibility that we will need to reoperate and do bypass- something I really don't want to happen!

I am at the hospital right now waiting to get an upper GI series, see of anything is getting through. The doctor thinks that either I'm really swollen and nothing can get through or maybe there is a kink in my sleeve somewhere and liquid can't make it through. I have to say, I have the single best dietician in the world. I emailed her some questions yesterday and she called me this morning to check on me. When I told her it had been an hour and I had not heard back from the doctors office, she called them personally for me and told me I would have an appointment, no matter what. I know my surgeon is very busy, so I am so thankful! Last night got pretty bad- I kept throwing up in my sleep! It was tough, and I really can't keep anything down for very long any more. If blood work shows I am really dehydrated, my doctor said that maybe we could just pump me full of fluids here and then send me home. I guess it's a waiting game- an all day waiting game! Thank you for all the support!!