Post Op of 1 week - difficulty swallowing things - please help...

[gd;dagjlkg 0]

I was banded on the 16th. For the first few days I felt fine (probably because I slept most the day). Now it has been a week and I'm still struggling to drink more than a few sips before I have terrible pressure in my chest, right at my breastbone. I have had some bad gas pain and I'm not sure why, I've done what my Dr told me to do. I have been walking at least 3 times a day for 10 minutes to help the gas from the surgery dissapate, For the first few days I was sipping Clear liquids, mostly Decaf tea and chicken bullion mixed with warm Water, I was also able to have sugarfree popcicles. I had surgery on Monday and by Thursday it seemed as if I was gasping for breath after a few sips of any liquid. I called and spoke with my Dr on Fri, he told me I had probably irritated my esophagus and that I needed to stay away from popcicles and other cold things. It has now been 4 days since then and I am still struggling to get more than a few sips down. I've stayed away from anything cold. At one point I threw up a bit of some watered down Tomato Soup I had eaten. It was as I've read about 'slimed'. It was all covered in slime and was horrible.

In any case, one week after surgery I am STILL struggling to get a few sips down without starting to gag. I feel like there is a balloon right at my breastplate and after a few sips of ANYTHING I tend to have a hard time breathing. At this point in my Dr's post-op instructions I'm supposed to be able to reintroduce things like scrambed eggs and runny oatmeal.

I'm so confused and really looking forward to healing and being able to at least eat small things here and there. Thank you so much for any advice you can provide.

[Sue Magoo 71]

I was banded on the 16th. For the first few days I felt fine (probably because I slept most the day). Now it has been a week and I'm still struggling to drink more than a few sips before I have terrible pressure in my chest, right at my breastbone. I have had some bad gas pain and I'm not sure why, I've done what my Dr told me to do. I have been walking at least 3 times a day for 10 minutes to help the gas from the surgery dissapate, For the first few days I was sipping Clear Liquids, mostly Decaf tea and chicken bullion mixed with warm Water, I was also able to have sugarfree popcicles. I had surgery on Monday and by Thursday it seemed as if I was gasping for breath after a few sips of any liquid. I called and spoke with my Dr on Fri, he told me I had probably irritated my esophagus and that I needed to stay away from popcicles and other cold things. It has now been 4 days since then and I am still struggling to get more than a few sips down. I've stayed away from anything cold. At one point I threw up a bit of some watered down Tomato Soup I had eaten. It was as I've read about 'slimed'. It was all covered in slime and was horrible.

In any case, one week after surgery I am STILL struggling to get a few sips down without starting to gag. I feel like there is a balloon right at my breastplate and after a few sips of ANYTHING I tend to have a hard time breathing. At this point in my Dr's post-op instructions I'm supposed to be able to reintroduce things like scrambed eggs and runny oatmeal.

I'm so confused and really looking forward to healing and being able to at least eat small things here and there. Thank you so much for any advice you can provide.

I think you should go see your doctor. You're probably getting dehydrated and that can be very serious.

Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

[elcee 3,343]

I agree you should see your Dr. Maybe you have some fill in your band which combined with the postop swelling is causing problems. They may need to remove some.

I am really surprised that you got told to stay away from cold things. If you have swelling if any kind ice is what normally helps to reduce the swelling. In fact icechips are normally the first thing they give you in hospital.

I would also not go anywhere near scrambled eggs yet. They can be a difficult food to get down at the best of times and at this stage of your postop recovery they could cause you further problems.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Rachel412 116]

I third that-go see your doctor.

[CheckYes 46]

My guess would be that your doctor placed Fluid in your band during surgery. Ask to have it removed if that is the case.

Man of the people I hear of with trouble swallowing immediately after the band have Fluid in it. I don't know what doctors do that - perhaps to avoid bandster hell - but it seems to be problematic at times.

Best wishes. Keep us posted.

[gd;dagjlkg 0]

Thank you all. I see the Dr tomorrow at 9:45 am. Will provide an update tomorrow, thank you for all your support.

[54Shirley 105]

Glad your going to see the Dr., he should know whats wrong.

About the swelling from a fill. He's wright about the cold. It causes the muscles around the band to cuntract. (HOPE I SPELLED THAT WRIGHT.)

Hot is not good either.

Tap Water Temp, or even lukewarm is fine. But you have to stay on that for about 3 days.

Otherwise if you eat something, you could swell back up.

This is good info for the future.

3days of Liquid, 1 day of Mushies, then you can try food.

Wish you Good Health, Shirley.

[Cocoabean 430]

Did you have a hiatal hernia repair at the time of banding? Sometimes that can cause extra trouble during post-op.

Glad you made the call. Hopefully you had some fill at the time of surgery and they can take it out.

Feel better soon!

[akri 0]

Eeek!

Pain in your breastbone area sounds like it might be reflux. Combine that with gas pains and thats a hellish combination. I had similar pain up until about 8 days post-op, by which time i'd burped up all the surgery gas, but sometimes doing this hurt a fair amount and i could not take a full lungful of air without it hurting my chest and neck.

Hopefully that pain is nothing more than reflux and gas, but I agree with all above-being sick at this stage should not really be happening and calling your dr was definately the right way to go!!

Please update us when you know more and hang in there!

[gd;dagjlkg 0]

Thank you all for your support! This has been a difficult transition for me. With the pain and choking and no one else in my life that has gone thru this, I have felt pretty alone, so I appreciate all of your support.

I just got back from the Dr. I did have hiatal hernia repair when they banded me. That has been part of the problem because it has been irritating and swelling my esophogus. The Dr. had also put in what he thought was 3 cc's into the band. He said with the band being tight around an area swelling along with the swelling from the hernia was causing the choking and throwing up. He removed everything which ended up being 3.8 cc's. I don't know how they almost got an extra cc in there... but he gave me a small bottle of Water to test things after and I was able to sip it without gagging or choking!

I am so excited to be able to get at least fluids! And he said I should be able to transition to soft foods now. I feel so much relief in my stomach, chest and heart! I'm now feeling like this was worth it again.

As I said, thank you to everyone for your support!

[Rachel412 116]

That's great news! I'm glad the unfill made a big difference and you're feeling better. I'm also glad you stuck up for yourself and went in to see him!

[54Shirley 105]

I'm glad you went to your Dr.. It makes the difference !

There's always someone here that has something

to say about all questions.

Shirley.

[Cocoabean 430]

Wow! That was quite a fill with a hernia repair! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better with the unfill.

Thanks for the update.

[hopetolose 192]

Glad you got it taken care of. I found when I went for my fill thst I had some Fluid in there which was why I hsd restriction also. But I only had 1cc. I cant imagine 3cc during recovery. Poor thing.

Good luck!