JennyBeth

I had the same experience. It didn't help that I had some complications from the surgery and had a PICC line in my arm and was so pale and pasty looking from dehydration/malnutrition! I think everyone I saw regularly thought I was suffering from some terminal illness, but only a few actually were brave enough to ask! They really thought I was nuts when I told them I had weight loss surgery. I had people actually say to me, "you CHOSE to do this to yourself?" or "I bet if you could do it all over again you'd have made a different choice, huh?" Now that I've gotten over my rough patch, can eat again and have lost 80 pounds people's negative comments have become much less frequent! Some people are just ignorant and have no filter on what is appropriate to say to someone. Don't let it get you down!

I also couldn't handle the protein drinks. I've told my surgeon I'm done even trying and just always try to eat protein. My surgeon said he'd rather you get protein from food vs. shakes anyways. My protein is lower than what it should be each day, but I'm losing weight pretty steadily. I'm not too worried about it and my surgeon doesn't seem to be either.

I went through this but my stricture was at the end of my stomach. My surgeon did the dilation, but 2 days later it twisted closed again. So after that he put a metal stent in and that stayed in for almost 7 weeks which was awful. Even with the stent I couldn't get anything down and survived on plain water until I finally had a PICC line inserted in order to get IV nutrition at night. I finally had the stent removed on 7-1 and after 10 long weeks of no food I can eat again and have started to feel human again. I didn't believe it when people told me I'd get better and move past the regret I was filled with during my long ordeal, but I did. I love the sleeve now. I hope you're better soon. I wouldn't wish what you're going through on anyone! Take care!

I also get achy pains in my hips. I assume it's my body adjusting to not carrying around as much weight.

The stent was just very uncomfortable from day one. I had a lot of pressure in my chest and it radiated down my back. I thought it would help with being able to eat/drink, but it really didn't and I still threw up all the time. I also suffered really bad nausea all the time and always had a bloody-tingy taste in my mouth. The surgeon said the main purpose of the stent was to hold the stomach open long enough that the scar tissue heals around it and once the stent is removed it can remain open. He said most patients can last 2-6 weeks before they can't take it any longer. Although I couldn't wait to get it out my surgeon wanted me to make it to the 6 weeks so he was sure it would correct the stricture. It ended up being almost 7 long weeks, and I felt like it would never end, but thankfully it did the trick! They don't cut you open they put the stent in and take it out by endoscopy. You just have a sore throat for a few days. It was rough having it in, but well worth it since it fixed the issue.

My stent was just removed on 7-1-13 so it has just been within the last week or two that I started to feel better and not be so scared to try eating. (The vomiting was extremely painful!) But up until then I felt the same way you do. I was filled with regret, sadness and depression. Again, it will get better!!

What finally did the trick for me was when they placed a metal stent in my stomach. It was awful and I couldn't wait to get it removed from the minute it was put in. I still continued to vomit EVERY time I ate something! That's when they did the PICC line and I started doing IV nutrition. But after 7 VERY LONG weeks I was finally able to get the stent removed and that worked! My stomach remained open!! Very slowly I was able to eat again and although I'm still eating very small amounts-I AM eating again! (Going for 10 weeks not eating really messes with your head!) I understand the frustration you are going through and the feelings of regret. I felt the same way and felt like I would've been better off remaining fat but able to eat! Maybe your insurance would cover the stent. My dilation closed back up after only 2 days so my surgeon didn't even waste the time to try it a second time. I've heard that some people need multiple dilations so try to not be too discouraged. I will tell you that now that I can eat again I am realizing just how sick/malnourished I really was. Doing the IVs wasn't enjoyable at all and I was nauseous all the time from the stent in my stomach, but now that it is (hopefully) all behind me I will tell you that it gets better once you get well. I'm 4 months out from my surgery (3-20-13) and I don't have feelings of regret and constant sadness all of the time. My energy is still somewhat low because I've just been able to eat for a few weeks and my meals are still quite small, however after living off just some sips of Water I will take whatever I can get! I hope your husband gets better soon and you both start to enjoy the benefits of the sleeve! It DOES get better!

Sounds like a stricture to me. I had one and that's how mine progressed. Get it checked out ASAP! Good luck!

I had same thing. It's an allergic reaction to the skin glue. My doctor said the same as everyone else-hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl every 6 hours. They make Benadryl in liquid form, but the pills are very small and I had no issues swallowing them. I applied the cream and took the Benadryl for about 4-5 days and it completely cleared up. It felt like my skin was on fire!!

I'm very excited that after not eating for 10 weeks I am slowly starting to tolerate some food. My stent was removed on Monday 7/1 and I'm praying my stomach fully cooperates! Hopefully when I see my surgeon on Tuesday he will remove this annoying PICC line from my arm! I still feel a little pressure in my chest, but I'm hoping it's from swelling from the stent removal.

Thanks. I see my surgeon on Tuesday and will ask him about this!

This may be a strange question, but if anyone suffered from restless leg syndrome Pre-op did it get worse post-op? It has gotten bad for me and it makes it almost impossible to sleep!

Ask your doctor for a prescription of Gabapentin. It is specifically for nerve pain. It really helped me.