Veteran Sleevers Speakup Plz

[loser 0]

I am almost 4 weeks out. Even when I sip on Water, etc., eat my two ounces very slowly, my stomach growls & aches. I would love to take a good drink of water, not kill a whole glass but a good decent swallow. I dread every sip and bite as I know my tummy is going to let me know it just doesn't like it. I know this is temporary and will get better. :crying: But...

How far out before a VSG patient can take a bite of food rather than a nibble. How about a good swallow of liquid instead of just sips?:ohmy:

Thanks in advance... :wink0:

[thinoneday 445]

It's depressing isn't it? That was my exact question when I was 4 weeks out like you. . Tiffy encouraged me telling me it was only temporary and after a while it does get better. . . I'm 8 weeks out today and still experience that problem. . .i can only take 4 swallows of Water before i get that knot feeling and i can only eat 2-3 oz of food and if i push 1 more piece in, I get that sliming thing. . . but i look at it this way, it's better then obesity any day. . . we wanted to be thin, did the drastic thing and now we need to accept what we've done cause there ain't any turning back. . . hang in there, hopefully soon things will get better. . . once your cleared for foods hopefully you'll do better.

[LAN2k 18]

I'm 5.5 months out. The sipping gets better in time so does the eating but you must be patient and not let it get to you...I know it's easier said than done.

I needed to get on some anti-anxiety medication, (Klonopin) to help ease my fears. It took around 2 months before I was able to drink more fluidly and 4 months to eat a bit more. I still need to be careful, take it slow and not drink too fast or eat too much. But it's much better now than it was in the initial stages. Not every one's experience is identical. Try to stay calm and realize that in time you will have more capacity for intake and skill in accepting the limitations.

[Tiffykins 672]

Your tummy is still super swollen hun. It does get better for it's gonna take more time.

Some people don't experience it at all, and I don't know why. I dealt with it for a good solid 2 months if I can remember correctly.

When it comes to taking bites, I didn't start normal bites for a long, long time, and even to this day, I take small bites of steak, chicken, rib meat, and other dense food. Now, with yogurt, or mashed potatoes, I can and do take a normal bite.

The one thing that really helped me was sipping on hot tea. It seems to relax my sleeve, and made drinking and eating much easier. Even when I go out with friends and family to eat, I often order a glass of Water, and a hot tea or coffee. I drink the tea/coffee before my meal arrives, and it really helps.

[Timetofly 0]

thats why I love this site, as I sit here almost 3 weeks out trying to get a few bits of pulverised chili in and my chest starts to hurt, I feel better knowing its not just me!

Thanks for your asking your question, it helps all of us!

[Shontel 3]

I'm a little over 3 months out and I can tell you that my first 2 months were the hardest. Somehow when I hit about 2 1/2 months things started to change. I wasn't necessarily able to eat much more, but I felt I had a little more room...I can eat a normal bite, but I don't, because I end up eating 3 bites and I'm done...lol I like to savor my food, so I take smaller bites. For me too switching from Prilosec to Prevacid made a hudge difference in my 'sick' stomach feeling. I take 1 per day, first thing in the a.m. It DOES get better, trust me. Also, when I hit about 2 1/2 months, hunger disappeared. Literally. Everyone is different, I can remember being constantly hungry/sick the first few months...now never, EVER hungry. I have to remind myself to eat. Better days are coming...just hang in there!

[Stacie 1]

How tiny are your sips? Apparently I was taking the tiniest sips ever. At about 4 weeks out, my doctor said I could drink a little more than I was at one time. He suggested about an ounce at a time, but then to wait about 15 minutes to take another drink. It made all the difference for me.

[mb20mom 9]

I can remember being constantly hungry/sick the first few months...now never, EVER hungry. I have to remind myself to eat. Better days are coming...just hang in there!

That's good to hear..I'm almost 6 weeks out and I'm always hungry! And lately I seem to feel a little sick to my stomach. Not quite nauseous, just icky/sour. Yesterday had my first sliming episode from taking my Vitamin. I just switched from Pepcid to Prilosec so I'm hoping that helps. And solid food might help. I'm so sick of yogurt and scrambled eggs, but I have one more week of mushies. I can't wait to try chicken and try a normal meal with my family. I keep cooking great stuff for them and it looks so good.

[Stacie 1]

Yes Shontel, that is the best thing to hear ever. I am starving. Some head hunger and some real hunger. I am glad there is still hope for some of the hunger to subside.

[Lee 19]

Hiya everyone,

I'm only on day 8 so I can't comment on food, but I can comment on fluids. I can drink about 4 oz in one or two minutes. I can drink pretty much as I did pre-op. Sometimes I have to remember to burp. I can down 8 oz in just a few minutes. I'm easily getting in 64 oz by afternoon. In the morning I'm drinking 32 oz of hot herbal tea in less than 2 hours.

We're all so different. Maybe my 40f bougie has something to do with it. Dunno. It certainly hasn't stopped my weight loss of 10.4 pounds in 8 days. I haven't experienced a moments hunger except when a neighbor was grilling a steak and that was definitely head not stomach hunger.

[deedee 5]

I started feeling like I could eat more "normally" around 2 months out (I think) and by 3 months post-op I definitely didn't have the dread/fear before eating.

I remember reading posts from people further out (when I was in the immediate post-op stage) saying that this time was such a small part of the journey and I felt like it would never end, but it really does. And now, it's hard for me to remember the specifics of that time period (and I'm not that far out) because it really is just a temporary part of the journey that does pass. Good luck and hang in there!

[loser 0]

Thank you so much everyone! Today was really bad, I am not sure what I did, but my chest hurt for hours. It has finally calmed down some, but now a nausiated feeling is setting in. Don't think I can eat or drink anything else today. I have been using Prilosec OTC. My doctor wrote a script for Nexium, but not yet approved by insurance company. Think I will go buy 1/2 the prescription tommorow. If it helps it is a small price to pay. I get concerned that I am not getting enough fluids, calories, Protein, carbs. I would hate to get is worse condition.

I was doing so well for a couple weeks, I didn't understand what some were talkiing about with the sick feelings, etc. Now I know, and I apologise for my arrogance in thinking I was beyond paying the real price for begining a new life. I accept it is something I must go through and many thanks to all of you for being so open and sharing.

[pnw218 14]

Today is one week for me. And I can relate to you Loser, after an initial upset stomach the night of surgery and anxiety the next night, I was just sailed thru the next few days. I was getting enough Protein to keep the weakness away also.

Then last night it hit. I must have taken my potato Soup too fast cause I had that first yucky throat feeling and was sure I was going to vomit. I walked, put an ice pack on the back of my neck and stomach, and just waited it out. I was miserable most of the evening. Was strange cause I had stopped sipping 15 mins before and had eaten less than 2 oz in a 3o minute time period. I had potato Soup the day before and it was fine.

Today - I am on the verge of a back attack. I have four bulging disks that flare up. I finally gave in and took a pain med early today and a muscle relaxer this afternoon. I have been sick to my stomach all day. I did have some warm peach tea a couple of hours ago and that seemed to help alot. Now I am trying some mashed potatoes and am taking it very very slow!

I would love a big glass of ice cold Water. Sometimes I am so thirsty it drives me nuts. An ice cube that stays longer in the mouth seems to help.

No more back meds for me tho unless it is absolutely necessary.

[LAN2k 18]

Today is one week for me. And I can relate to you Loser, after an initial upset stomach the night of surgery and anxiety the next night, I was just sailed thru the next few days. I was getting enough Protein to keep the weakness away also.

Then last night it hit. I must have taken my potato Soup too fast cause I had that first yucky throat feeling and was sure I was going to vomit. I walked, put an ice pack on the back of my neck and stomach, and just waited it out. I was miserable most of the evening. Was strange cause I had stopped sipping 15 mins before and had eaten less than 2 oz in a 3o minute time period. I had potato soup the day before and it was fine.

Today - I am on the verge of a back attack. I have four bulging disks that flare up. I finally gave in and took a pain med early today and a muscle relaxer this afternoon. I have been sick to my stomach all day. I did have some warm peach tea a couple of hours ago and that seemed to help alot. Now I am trying some mashed potatoes and am taking it very very slow!

I would love a big glass of ice cold Water. Sometimes I am so thirsty it drives me nuts. An ice cube that stays longer in the mouth seems to help.

No more back meds for me tho unless it is absolutely necessary.

I'd be curious to know what pain/back meds you had taken? My surgeon told me I can not take ibuprofen. I used to take 600 or 800mg precription strength for pain, either headache or back pain. He said it could be dangerous and cause ulcers. He told me to take tylenol instead. Tylenol never helped with my headaches.

[Tiffykins 672]

I'd be curious to know what pain/back meds you had taken? My surgeon told me I can not take ibuprofen. I used to take 600 or 800mg precription strength for pain, either headache or back pain. He said it could be dangerous and cause ulcers. He told me to take tylenol instead. Tylenol never helped with my headaches.

That's so insane because I take Alleve and Advil. When I had my root canal done in October (just 4 months post-op) I used a percocet for a couple days because the tooth was severely infected when I had it done, then switched to 800 mg Ibuprofen without issue. I did make sure to take it after I had eaten something, but my surgeon cleared me to take NSAIDs.

I've never heard of VSG patients not being able to take them, and a lot of appeals with insurance are won on the basis that a patient has to take NSAIDS for another issue. RNY/Lband patients can't take them because they don't dissolve in the little pouch.