Help! I am 3 days post op and miserable. I knew there would be adjustments but this is terrible. I am severely constipated and cannot get down anything. Even taking a sip of Water with a pill causes me pain and hiccups.

How do I distinguish heartburn from gas? I have Prevacid and gas-x but they don't seem to be helping.

lovechunks,

I had my banding done on Nov. 19th and I suffered from severe heartburn for about 4 days. I had never had heartburn before surgery even though I was very overweight. It felt like a lump was in my throat that was burning. Gas makes you feel bloaty and sometimes burns in the top part of your chest. Also gas can settle in your shoulders and upper back. On the 4th night my husband had to call my doctor because I had thrown up due to the heartburn. He told be to take maalox liquid and pepcid ac religiously. I also had to take milk of mag 2-3xs a day for the constipation. It sounds like you are really tight like I was. Just be sure to get your liquids in because you do not want to get dehydrated. Your doing the right thing by sipping on your liquids constantly. They told me to drink through a straw, but my friend said they told her that using a straw causes my gas.

My best friend was banded 7 weeks ago and she is doing great too. Just remember that this is all going to be worth it. I've lost 62lbs since Nov. and I want to lose 38lbs more. If you do not get any better, please call your doctor. Also, like you I was taking Gas X and it made my symptoms worse. Get you some pepcid ac and take it 2xs a day along with the maalox that's my recommendation. Be sure to call your surgeon to see what he recommends. You shouldn't have to suffer like that.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

At 3 days post op, you're gonna have a lot of swelling. How big are the pills you're taking and how big of drinks are you taking to get them down? Because even the smallest pills in a newly post-op can cause you pain depending on your swelling (and it sounds like you got a bit). If you can, crush them and put them in something like apple juice to get them down. If, God forbid, they're capsules.....I'd probably open them up and put them in apple juice. But YUCK! be prepared. A third option for the medication would be to call your doc and ask for a liquid form. Most meds come in a liquid form.

Also, remember to sip, sip, sip. As long as you're getting enough or even more than enough Water.........the constipation should resolve. Remember, liquids in=liquids out and you could very easily go from constipation to diarrhea. If the constipation is REALLY bad, meaning painful and it's been more than 3 days.......I'd take something like Milk of Magnesia. It's liquid, gentle and should get things going.

Good Luck to you.

Thank you both. I am a little better this morning. I know I am dehydrated. That is why I keep trying to drink anything I can get down. The pills I am taking are either very tiny or being crushed. The most frustrating thing is having pain with every teeny tiny swallow and then the hiccups start. I have been taking the M of M already.

Today will be better!

Once you get through the first 5 days things steadily improve. Force yourself to walk, bend at the waste, and SIP fluids constantly. I hope you're feeling better.

Lovechunks, my recovery the first few weeks were rough like that too. I had no idea how people drank their water. Take a look at my threads in this forum. People posted a lot of great advice and that is what pulled me through.

Today, I finally had to call the doc becuase the pain had become unbearable. They said it is spasms in my esophagus and put me on pherergan. Now, I can get the liquids down without screaming in pain but there is constant air and belching. Any suggestions?

You probably have already heard this, but for me the ONLY way I could get rid of the gas was to WALK!! And I walked a lot. 2 days post-op I walked the entire Super Target, slowly of course and steading myself with the shopping cart and the help of my mom. But it really does help the gas and the pain go away.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

:second: Kristin

I think I posted this on another thread. After the pain became unbearable I went to the doc and he found fluid in my band! Wasn't supposed to be any in there.

Immediate relief. I should not have let myself suffer for so long.

I feel your pain! Literally, I too am newly banded and have huge amounts of gas, burps that hurt, pain in my chest. Oh, let's not forget constipation. "This too shall pass!" I increased my water intake (sips), slow down on my eating (soup or jello), walk more, and have patience. We'll get thru this, after reading everyone elses stories, we are in the same boat as they were, thanks for all the ideas and advice. Soon we can say "Been there, done that!"