Hi, I had my surgery done on Monday 19th May and since then have been in so much pain. My incisions feel like they are on fire, my belly is full of gas and I am so so thirsty. I want to down a glass of iced water but can only manage little sips before the gas starts to hurt. Please tell me this gets easier - I realize I am only 4 days post surgery and things are bound to get easier but just need reassurance it won't always be like this. Thank you in advance

I know that fire burning feeling. It was awful the first 10 days. I also wanted to chug a lug the Water but DON"T!! You have got to sip it and don't use a straw. Have you tried GasX strips? You can't take pills but this dissolves in your mouth.

Thanks for your reply- the burning is getting less, the thirst is not. So thirsty and now have almost constant hiccups. I realize everyone is different, but when am I likely to start feeling better please?

Thanks for your reply- the burning is getting less, the thirst is not. So thirsty and now have almost constant hiccups. I realize everyone is different, but when am I likely to start feeling better please?

The thirst is an issue for me too... I just want to chug ice water... I'm finding I can take a little more at a time ... Thank god!

My absolute lifesavers are sugar free fruit ice pops.. They really help with the thirst!!!

Make sure you are walking. The gas pain will subside faster the more you move. As to incision pain, everybody has a different pain tolerance, so I can't say much about that except every day will be a little better than the day before.

Thank you for replying- I guess I just wasn't prepared for how I would now feel, the nausea, the gas, then pain, the hiccups- I honestly feel like I have made a huge mistake. Tried to eat two mouthfuls of scrambled egg this morning and just felt awful. Am worried I am not drinking enough- one sip and I get gassy and as for the protein- not going to happen. I keep reading about how wonderful everyone else feels and wish I was there with you all. For the moment I can't stop crying and think I have ruined my life.

Is scrambled eggs on your post op diet? I would be careful eating any solid foods this early after your surgery. Your body needs time to heal. I had my sleeve on the 14th and I'm on liquids for 3 weeks, then I go to pureed for another 3 weeks before I can even attempt to eat solid food. Please be careful and follow your doctors instructions. I know all doctors post op instructions are different, I just think eating eggs less than a week after surgery may be pushing it a bit. The thirst does get easier, but you have to be diligent in drinking every 15 mins. Per my doctors instructions, I am to have 1 ounce of liquids (whether it be Soup, Water, sf pudding or sf popsicles etc) every 15 mins. I hope this helps. Hang in there. It does get better and you did not make a mistake

Hi, yes soft solid food like scrambled eggs, tuna salad and baked fish is allowed from day 3 onwards but I think I will just stop that and just have liquids as per your suggestion. What type of foods are you eating if you don't mind me asking? And are you able to drink the 64oz of fluid required yet? Thank you- I appreciate your reply- just feeling sorry for myself and hoping I feel great soon

IMO,

At this point you shouldn't be eating anything. Hydration is your first priority. Many people don't even add protein drinks for the first couple weeks. Sip sip sip till you reach your first goal (usually 1/2 gal in a day), then add some protein shakes. Your not going to put yourself at risk of malnutrition anytime soon. But dehydration will land you in the hospital

Edited May 25, 201412 yr by O.T.R. sleever

I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I'm pre-op so I don't have any personal advice about vsg. It does seem to me you are having more than is "average." If I were in your shoes I would be on the phone with my doc. I have had a lot of medical problems and I've found that they often can do more for pain, nausea etc...but they can't help if we don't let them know what's happening. I've got a lot of personal stories to illustrate this but I'm typing on my phone, so too hard to get it down. Anyway, that's just my pre-op 2 cents. Let us know how it goes. Sending you love and healing energy.

I'm drinking Protein drinks, lots of Water - mostly flavored with crystal light; I also like the Propel Zero flavored waters. I'm eating a lot of Soups, nothing with solid food in them though. Creamy potato, tomato, cream of chicken, broths, etc. I can have sugar free Jello, sugar free pudding,sugar free popsicles, low fat yogurt. I basically eat a little of all of those mentioned throughout the day to change things up, but I concentrate mostly on my water. I even have a sheet that I use where I check off the number of waters I'm drinking just to be certain I'm getting enough hydration. I'm not up to 64 ounces yet, but I'm working on it. Its difficult when you're only drinking/eating 1 ounce every 15 minutes. Hang in there, you're going to do great. It's tough in the beginning, but you'll get through it and it will so be worth it!

My surgery was May 5th. I was on Clear liquids for a week post-op and now am on full liquids for 4 weeks until June 9th. All doctors are different. I can't have anything even close to a solid. My creamed soups have to be liquefied and mixed with skim milk. I can have CarbMaster Yogurt and that is as "solid" as I can have.

Thank you all- seems like even though I was following my surgeons instructions I was doing it wrong:(

Just so I can get it straight in my head: were most of you doing clear liquids for 4 weeks, then puréed food for 4 and then starting on soft foods. I have been trying to do as you have suggested and only had clear fluids today and feel slightly better already so any suggestions on diet for the next few weeks would be great.

Appreciate all your help and kind words

I was on fluids for 3 weeks then pureed foods for 3 weeks before going onto soft foods for 2 weeks before starting to add more everyday foods.

I don't think anyone manages their fluid goals in the first week or 2 but try to get as much in as you possibly can. I was in a lot of pain for the first week but it does get easier with time.

I was only on clear liquids for 2 days. Now I'm on full liquids for 3 weeks, then pureed for 3 weeks, then soft foods for 1 - 2 weeks, then regular/solid foods after that.

Here is a list of the full liquids my doctor gave me to choose from. Remember, everything is in 1 ounce increments every fifteen minutes, alternating full liquid with Water. In other words, have 1 ounce Soup, wait 15 minutes, have 1 ounce water and so on.

1. Skim Milk

2. Cream Soups, strained

3. sugar free Instant Breakfast (blue box)

4. Low-sugar Protein shake

5. Custard, sugar free, made with skim milk

6. Yogurt, sugar free (light), without fruit or nuts

7. puddings, sugar free

8. Cream of wheat or rice, farina, grits

Goal is to hit 30 grams of protein by 2 weeks out.

You got this! Just hang in there.