I am getting sleeved tomorrow. I'm getting antsy now and going through the "I wonder if i had" and the " did I try everything" stage. The one thing that has been a big question for me is the constant talk about swallowing difficulty immediately after surgery. Pleae explain that. Is it because your throat is sore, throat muscles weak. Won't go down? What is it that makes it so difficult for you and how long does it last? I am not just worried about dehydration but also can't imagine how to swallow my meds if a small sip of water won't go down. I already choke on them fairly often.

I didn't have that problem, so while I'm sure some do, just thought you'd want to know not everyone does. However, after being intubated and having a bougie put down your throat, a sore throat is a real possibility, and it might make swallowing difficult for a day or two. Good luck on your surgery!

Everyone has those "am I doing the right thing?" moments. It's completely normal. This is a life altering surgery, but I kept looking at it as if I don't do this now, years down the line I will be suffering greatly and wish I had done it.

As for difficulty swallowing, the first 24 hours post op they don't give you anything by mouth, and you shouldn't be drinking or swallowing any pills. In fact I couldn't take any pills at all for a week. Yes your throat is sore from being intubated during surgery but you'll also be on pain meds so for most people it's manageable. After your barium swallow you can ask if they'd allow you to take any lozenges if you are in pain.

Good luck and smooth recovery!

What about my bp meds and my reflux capsule? They told me to bring them so I wouln't have to buy from their pharmacy. One is for my Meniere's disease and if I miss it i will cycle into a severe vertigo/vomiting pattern that will take days of taking meds on time to correct. Geez!

I was NPO for 24 hrs immediately after surgery, so I only had these little spongie stars on a stick to hydrate my mouth. I only missed one days of pills bc of it. (sleeved on wed am, took my pill before surg, missed thurs & doubled up Friday)

As for "trouble swallowing", I still have trouble & for me it is -& always was- as if it just doesn't want to go down. I think it's just the change in space/size of the stomach. You get used to it. At first it messed with my head a bit but now it's no big deal.

Did not have this difficulty. The hospital will help you deal with your meds and your med concerns, NO WORRIES!

I didn't have any problem swallowing- my throat was sore from being intubated, and my mouth was SO dry, but once I was allowed to start sipping water, I had no problem swallowing, I just had to go slow because my stomach was so swollen and they did not want me to throw up, which I didn't, but some people struggle with nausea and vomiting after surgery due to the anesthesia.

The swallowing problems come primarily from the swelling which is caused by the intubation as well as the surgery. They will find a way to make sure you can take your medicine if you can't swallow the pills right away they will find an iv version of the med to give you. Good Luck.

No problems swallowing Post-op either, I did only take 1oz sips for the first few days (nerves more than anything else). If your doctors were aware of your current meds, they will instruct you what to do. There are a bunch of folks here that have had to take meds in pill form right after surgery. They work with you accordingly. Best of luck to you!!

Thank you all for you responses. I was mostly afraid pills would stick in my throat and gag me. If they can go past that point i will survive. I was told my surgeon does a leak test in the OR and that we can have ice chips right away when we wake up. My meds for the Meniers is a small pill. Its maxcide, a BP-Diuretic med. weight loss won't help Meniers and skipping my pills isn't an option.

A lot of meds come in liquid form as well...I took my meds that way while in the hospital...When I came home it was 2 weeks before I was allowed to take any Vitamins and when I did I looked for pills that were as small as I could get them....or chewables..

As far as dehydration goes....get some G2 Gatorade and mix it 1/2 and 1/2 with Water and drink that instead of just plain water...It will keep you hydrated....

9 months out and I am still doing that....I never worry about that issue at all..

Best to you on the sleeve!

I bought a case of asst g2 yesterday. Thanks for the suggestion of mixing it.

Some surgeons don't allow anything by mouth till after the leak test. I'm lucky, and my surgeon allowed ice chips starting in the recovery room! It felt sooo good because my mouth was so super dry! Not sore, not weak, just really really dry.

Good luck! You'll do great!

Thank you. I've been NPO for 12-24 hrs a few times preparing for surgery and i know ow very dry you can get.

I had no trouble with swallowing either. Like the others have said, right after I woke up from surgery and the rest of that night my mouth was pretty dry so I would get ice chips or suck on those glycerin swabs. Day one post op at the hospital I was sipping water and they gave me my thyroid medication in pill form. I was told by my team prior to surgery that you could still take pills but they had to be at most the size of a tic tac. I bought a pill splitter for my pain meds. I've been swallowing pills since day one post op with no problems. Everyone is different. I would say don't worry too much about it until you see how you feel after surgery. Good luck!