Ok, yeah, I'm a n00b. But I'm only 9 days post-op, with zero fill. I'm not expecting to feel any restriction, other then possibly swelling.

I've been buzzing along, doing great, up to mashed potatoes, everything's peachie keen. Then yesterday I had THE WORST gas pain yet... could not talk it hurt so bad. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest, compressing my heart. I've been having the left-shoulder pain off & on & random bouts of "moving gas", but this whole chest thing was new.

I walked some, but literally couldn't breathe, so laid down with my handy heating pad (and the inevitable Gas-X) again. It passed after a while... not sure how long (I went to sleep).

Today the same thing happened, so I started looking for a trend. The pain **seems** to come about 15 min after I start drinking Water.

On to the questions:

1. Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?
   
2. Is it possible that I'm swallowing air while drinking? (I've been monitoring my drinking and am now so paranoid that I spill more then I drink, lol.)
   
3. Any ideas of how to drink without adding air?
   
4. Is this what restriction feels like?
   
5. When restricted, do you have to limit the amount of a liquid per sitting?
   
6. If this is just gas from the operation... um... I'm not sure what I'm asking, but will this get better???? I'm game to modify my life (I signed up for this, after all), but it's WATER!!

To be honest, I'm freaking out a bit. I mean, it's just water! I'm fine with mashed potatoes, for goodness sake! It's gotta be something I'm doing when drinking. **Sigh**

I guess I'm basically looking for a pat on the back & a "it'll be ok"... 'cuz at the moment I'm not so sure.

Thanks!

It'll be ok! I promise! You're still healing, and there's a lot going on inside you that could be causing pain. I can't explain the mechanics of it, but what you're feeling now is way worse because you're not yet healed.

Restriction does not feel like pain, unless you overdo it. In the best case, you can't swallow because you can tell something just isn't going down. Since that doesn't hurt, the thing to do is stop eating or drinking until it does go down--that's the behavior modification in action.

As far as drinking without adding air, some people say straws are good. Others say straws are bad because they add air, :confused: so I don't know which is better. Try to pay close attention to how exactly you're drinking, and just be careful.

You're doing great, just take it slow and don't do anything that hurts. You'll be fine!! :biggrin1:

Thanks Alex!

I've stopped the eating & drinking, lol. I think I can honestly say that this is the first time in my life that I've been too scared to eat or drink, lol. It HURT!

But my stomach's growling... **sigh**

I've always been a straw user (sensitive teeth)... maybe I'll ignore my doc's hatred of 'em & give it a try!

Thanks for the kind words! :confused:

Janet,

Have you tried drinking your Water in sips and at room temp. I just got my first fill and felt like water was sitting right in my throat. But if I drink it room temp it is much easier.

Not restriction, but just healing. What your going through sounds typical for what I did as well. Don't use a straw for drinking to eliminate air.

PAT PAT PAT... "It'll be okay".

LOL, thanks for the pats. :confused:

Ok, I'll hang in there, hehe. After analyzing my drinking with Mikey last night (aren't husbands great!), we've decided that I "gulp" rather then "sip". So I got a smaller glass & am working on it.

I also dropped myself back to liquids... our post-op diet plan got us to mushies really fast, perhaps I wasn't ready. We'll see if that doesn't clear it up.

Thanks for all the help! Surgeons should really pay the folks on LBT! Ya'll kept me from calling him in tears! :confused: