Hi! My name is Ashley and I just had my sleeve procedure done December 17th, 2010. I researched the sleeve since March, but now I am having a few issues that I do not remember reading about and I want to know if they are normal.

First, HEARTBURN! I have never had chronic heartburn, but this almost constant burning in the back of my throat is so annoying! I have been taking Zantac and it relieves it for a couple of hours but it returns. I guess I need to try Prilosec, but I'm just wondering if anyone had this issue and if it gets better.

Secondly, I cannot get any meat down. No matter how much I chew it, it will not go all the way down and I end up throwing it right back up. I'm scared I will never be able to eat normal foods again or that maybe my opening to my stomach is not big enough. Any advice?

Thanks!

I would check into maybe another PPI for the heartburn. As far as the meat goes, are you allowed to have meat at only 2 weeks out??? I didn't have meat until 6 weeks. And I still have a bit of a problem with meat (as in beef). It just sits too heavy and doesn't feel like it goes all the way down.

I agree with Pamela...2 weeks is way too soon (in my opinion) to be trying to eat meat. I was still on "mushies" at 2 weeks and when I did start to eat meat, it was to be supersoft, like the consistency of tuna (actually tuna is a great first meat to try if you like it.) But again, I think you are trying the meat way too soon. You need to let your stomach heal and the subsequent vomiting isn't a good thing to be doing either. I do realize that every surgeon is different and yours may allow meat this early but I would take the vomiting as a sign that you physically are not ready for it yet.

I have not suffered from heartburn before or after surgery, so no advice there, but from reading this board, I know a lot of people suffer from it and there are a variety of ways to deal with it. You are definitely not alone.