Dehydration at 5 weeks out...

[Daydra 345]

Sleeved 7/23. Recovery was totally fine, no complications, etc. However, I knew I wasn't getting enough fluids. Prior to surgery, I typically ran at some level of chronic dehydration, it would show up in my labs. So after surgery, I wasn't having any problems that I was aware of, and just kept chugging along, trying to sip fluids, but not tracking them meticulously. I figure I wasn't ever getting more than 40oz/day, likely less more often than not.

Over about the last 10 days, I started feeling pretty tired, but didn't really think much of it. Then, this weekend, I slept waaay in, feeling too tired to get out of bed and get moving (despite being on 2 different stimulants for a sleeping disorder, and I had taken my meds), so it was probably 12 or 1 by the time I got showered and got something to drink/eat. By then, I was feeling mildly nauseous and had even less appetite than normal since surgery. Tried to get in some fluids, but I'm not sure how much I managed. Certainly not enough at any rate. Sunday same story except add orthostatic hypotension (bp went from 124/77 to 109/71 upon standing (Normally my bp runs around 135/84) and I got dizzy and felt like I had to hold onto something), rapid heart rate (went from 69 to 109), and fast breathing. Again, tried to push fluids. Managed to get about 26oz. That's it.

Figured I would have a chat with our clinic nurses at work before deciding when it was time to throw in the towel and ask for iv fluids. This morning, I was feeling a little better, the dizziness didn't seem to be an issue, but I knew that fluids were still a big issue. Talked to the nurses and they thought that it was probably better to get some iv fluids in because it's hard to get on top of dehydration once it hits, particularly with surgery, so they told me to call the surgeon.

My surgeon had me go get some labwork done and wants to do a swallow test tomorrow and have me evaluated. Kinda feeling like this is a bit overkill. (Especially since getting there and back takes an entire day off work) I have no sense that there is really anything seriously wrong. No pain, no problem with foods, nausea only started over the weekend after a prolonged period of no fluids, etc. I just haven't been able to get much in. I don't like the way it feels when food or liquid hits the sleeve, but it's not painful or uncomfortable exactly. I feel like I can only get about an ounce in at a time. It was taking me hours to eat any reasonable amount of food. 2-3 hours for an 11oz Protein shake, or meats, or really anything. About an hour or so for a yogurt cup or some cottage cheese, or Soup or something. I did a calorie check on a dinner a few days ago. I figured I was full after I'd eaten about 40 calories... That struggle led me to either eat for a long time, taking whatever time I needed to finish my meal, or to drink with my meals, which of course flushed the food through a little quicker.

Anyway... way too much information. I'm not really worried about it. I'm seeing the surgeon tomorrow, so we'll get it worked out, but I was just wondering if anyone else was still struggling with dehydration over a month out.

Here's a thought... does anyone else have food/fluids get blocked if they slouch while eating drinking? I find that if I'm not sitting up straight, pressure starts to build until I straighten up so things can continue on down. Also, any more than a bite or two (maybe 3) and food or thick liquids start to push back into my esophagus, particularly if anything goes in on top of an air bubble. This amount of food would be maybe 1/8 cup or a couple tablespoons. No pain, no nausea when that happens. I don't get a full or pressure sensation before this happens. Is this consistent with others?

Thanks for taking the time to read this ridiculously long post containing more information than you ever wanted to know about me and any responses provided!

Hope everyone is having a good evening!

[Richard Foor 655]

My guess is that they probably want to do the swallow test to check for a stricture, since that would explain why you are having so much trouble getting enough in, and your slouching issue kind of fits with that also. I don't have any personal experience with strictures but I believe I read they can pass an n.g. and dilate a stricture to attempt to open it up. Good Luck.

[Daydra 345]

Thanks. The slouching thing was an afterthought, but yeah, it would fit. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

[gamergirl 4,609]

I agree, sounds like they want to check for a stricture. I am only 3 weeks out but I can eat and drink reasonly well, but if lie down after eating, it doesn't work so well. Not so much If I crouch per se but no more reclining like a Roman on her eating couch for me!

Sorry about the day off work but better safe than sorry

[Daydra 345]

Yeah, I kinda miss that eating couch :-)

Thanks!

[kailie 238]

I was sleeved 7/15 and I can drink a reasonable amount of Water in a short time. I can't gulp like I want to but decent swallows. Hope they find some insight for you!

[Vegasme 30]

I was sleeved 7/22 and have a hard time getting in all my Water too . You may want to take a gas x strip before eating to get rid of the air - that might be your problem .. If you sleeve is full of air it's uncomfortable to eat . You may be someone that unintentionally swallows a lot of air while eating ? Also , don't drink out of straws - gives you a lot of air as well

[VSGJourneyGrandma 19]

Kind of interesting that comment you made about having to sit up straight. I live alone and because of that usually sit in the living room to eat while watching TV. I know - not recommended - but, that is what I do. Anyway - when I put my little plate on the stool infront of my chair and I bend over to eat - it does feel like it gets stuck. I need to sit up in order for it to move through. At least that is what it feels like. I also am having problems getting my liquids and food in right now. This is a new problem for me. Please let me know what you find out at the doctors' office. I am also worried about a stricture.

[Daydra 345]

Thanks everybody! I have an answer to the mystery... Not a stricture, fortunately. I have a kink. Fluoroscope showed kink causing me to reflux and empty more slowly than I should. Certainly answers why I felt like it was impossible to get enough Fluid throughout the day despite always having a bottle of something with me. Doc said that usually just doing an endoscopy and passing the scope into the stomach straightens it out and solves the problem so I can continue on my merry way. Sooo... we scheduled my endoscopy for tomorrow morning and with any luck, my kink will not be a pain in the arse! They gave me a couple liters of IV fluids. I've peed a lot, have less of a headache, and feel slightly less fatigued, but am still having some nausea. Seems to flare when Fluid or food hits my sleeve or I'm slumped for a few minutes, so it's probably just sensation from my kinked sleeve. At any rate, hopefully starting tomorrow, I can start getting consistent fluids on board and can start having regular meals again!

Thanks again, all!

VSGJourneyGrandma,

If you are newly having trouble getting things down, definitely call your doc. They want to hear from you and want to make sure that it gets figured out. My doc said if I ever feel worse about something as time goes on instead of better, that is definitely the time to call. Even if it were to be a stricture, they can usually do a balloon dilation or something to stretch it out. If you are struggling with fluids in particular, you'll eventually hit a point of dehydration that you'll need treatment, so better to check it out early rather than late. I probably waited longer than I should have, but I didn't really realize anything was wrong until I got hit with the dehydration symptoms.

Good luck!

[gamergirl 4,609]

Glad to hear the mystery is solved!

[Richard Foor 655]

Glad they figured it out and good luck with getting it straightened out,

[Daydra 345]

Update: Endoscopy went fine. Doc was able to straighten tissue out mostly, but I have some torsion as well that he wasn't able to fix with the scope. Despite that, I feel loads better. Nausea seems to be gone and I feel like I can drink. I was just asked to pay close attention to how I feel and call right away if I start feeling worse again. I have a followup with my surgeon on the 9th if I don't need to be seen earlier. Even if it does get worse, it is not a horror story type of complication. Still could possibly do a balloon dilation if necessary or a pretty simple laparoscopic procedure to address. Healing/scar tissue caused the issue. Hopeful that I will maintain relief and this will be the end of it.

Thanks for reading!

[AmericanWoman 5]

I am so glad things are better! I was worried about you!

[Daydra 345]

I am so glad things are better! I was worried about you!

Thank you! I'm all good. It really is a fairly minor thing. I never had pain and only realized something was off when I called doc about dehydration and they were way more concerned that something was going on than I was. Sure glad the doctors know more than I do... Who'da thunk?! :-) I probably would have had increasing symptoms in the coming days if it hadn't been addressed (at least that was what I was feeling like last night). But even so, I hadn't thrown up because of it (came pretty close while brushing my teeth the last few days, though...), swallowing would just create this mildly nauseous, feeling that I was starting to do my best to avoid. I probably only got in about 300 cal/day for the last 4 days. Certainly not ideal, but I really wasn't in a ton of distress. Now I have a couple more liters of Fluid on board and feel like I have a good platform to go from. I truly was far more worried about the dehydration than anything going on with my sleeve. The only thing about that that truly scares me is a leak, and my symptoms didn't give me any reason to think it might be that.

Thanks so much for the caring and support!

[Daydra 345]

Interesting update: Turns out my labs showed that I was never dehydrated. Surgeon thinks nausea is caused my me taking too large of sips and my stomach refluxing because of that. I am flabbergasted that my labs didn't show dehydration. I've had significant thirst and dry, sticky cesspool mouth since the surgery, but whatever, I guess. She recommended I go back on the anti-nausea med, go back to using a sippy cup, and focus more on food. This week, I started experiencing some of the worst fatigue I've ever had, very similar to when I became anemic several years ago. She said that kind of fatigue wasn't normal at 6 weeks and it's likely happening because I'm not eating enough (have been eating very little in an effort to spend more time/effort getting fluid) once I told her that over the last 10 - 14 days, I probably only averaged about 400 cal/day at the most, usually, more like 300. So, basically, I'm starving. Good thing I know what to do for that! I gotta say, though... I would make a horrible anorexic!

So... my marching orders are eat, sip, and take my zofran! Marching on...