My stomach will barely let liquid trickle in. When I take a sip it sits at the end of the esophagus where gurgling and burping start and then it's like a door opens and it filters into my stomach. It's kinda painful and I can take only the smallest sip. I can feel it trickle in and it makes me nauseated. So I'm thinking the lower esophagus sphincter is swollen of sluggish from the trama. If you have had this happen how long does it last? Don't know how I can get in all my liquids under these circumstances. Appreciate feed back.

Hi i'm sorry you are feeling this way. I felt like this too. It was still hard for me to get all of my liquids in for a week or so. My experience as well as what others have told me here is to just constantly sip. Chew ice and swallow to help the swelling. I was directed to have cold drinks the first few days because that does help with the swelling. However...this didn't feel great going down. Are you still in the hospital or at the hotel? Take advantage of the ice bins to keep your drinks cold....and sip all day. It's ssssooo annoying to focus on sipping all day but your energy and hydration will deplete if you don't. I am on day 13 and still having problems getting all of my fluids...BUT it has gotten 100 percent better to drink as compared to day 1 and 2. Hang in there~

Blessings!

Im 12 days post op and I had the same feeling you have, just sip when you can and remember that you have still have alot of Fluid in you from the IV but each day gets better. I can now consume more liquids but I still get the hic ups when my sleeve is full so I so by that....... that sensation may be a sign of fullness. It really does get better

Ann

Mine was really swollen, too, at the top like that for about 4-5 days and just slowly released over time. It wasn't like one morning I got up and it was gone, it was so gradual I hardly noticed it. Now I can drink just fine....not quite gulping, but can get down four or five big swallows! Your new tummy is really tight, especially at the top, and each day it will lessen a bit more....the burping will continue, though, but will also get better. I still burp....I think it's because when the food/liquid goes down, it has to displace the air, and since our tummies are long and skinny, the air has to come up the same little tunnel the food/liquid goes down, so sometimes there is a little battle in there until they sort out who gets to go first and/or take turns!! Hang in there....it SO gets better and you'll look back and go "Wow, that wasn't so bad".

I was told at the hospital to drink warm drinks first thing in the morning. I still start my day with tea at 3 wks out. I was purposely not given ice chips. Cold drinks still hurt. So I say, try them both and whatever hurts less, so you can consume more, go for it. OR ask your surgeon, of course. I hope you feel better!

Things are a little better today. Still can only take the smallest sips and then have to wait for a few minutes for them to go all the way into my stomach. Lot's of burping sometimes painful burping. So much time to take in the smallest amount of things. When everything you're doing is liquid. The pain med burns going down so I deluted it with juice, but it takes me 15 minutes to drink it all. I walk between sips to try to help it along. I think this JP drain is causing most of my pain. I can feel it going across my body from my lower right side up to my upper left side. The suction hurts and I don't milk the line because that pain is so bad I think I'm gonna pass out. It comes out on Tuesday and I bet it's gonna hurt like crazy.

I wish it was a month from now and all this was behind me.

I was told at the hospital to drink warm drinks first thing in the morning. I still start my day with tea at 3 wks out. I was purposely not given ice chips. Cold drinks still hurt. So I say, try them both and whatever hurts less, so you can consume more, go for it. OR ask your surgeon, of course. I hope you feel better!

I am trying that. Horrible heartburn this morning from ice Water and pressure like it was just sitting there. Now trying sugar free hot chocolate.

I had my drain line for 8 days and it never hurt unless I accidently caught the stitch that held it in place on something. I was told specifically NOT to milk the line as well. I emptied the bulb morning and night by just turning it upside down over the sink, squeezing the contents out, then rolled the bulb up (to keep air out) and closed the stopper.

I agree that a call to your doctor is in order. There could be something seriously wrong since you are having pain. I couldn't feel the tubing inside me, either.

When my doc took the drain out, he had me take a deep breath and then he pulled it quickly. The sensation was kind of like the tummy drop you get on a roller coaster, but it wasn't painful at all. I did have a bandage over the opening for several days after the drain came out, but that's it. It is my slowest healing incision, but the opening is completely healed over with pink skin where the drain was at.

Please call your doctor right away! This could be serious.