Hello, I'm new to the site and I was sleeved on 12/22. I'm having difficulty drinking fluids, when I take a drink of water or protein shake I can feel it in my chest, a bubbly gurgling pain. This only lasts for a few seconds, but I am getting this sensation with pretty much every sip I take and I feel like I can feel the liquids going down into my stomach. It also is painful in my chest when I burp. Could this still be gas? I've been walking periodically throughout the day, and yesterday started taking gas x, but was just wondering if this is normal? Hoping this is not something I will be dealing with long term, because it makes it difficult to want to sip all day. I also am curious if it may have to do with the fact that I haven't had a bowel movement in 5 days (I took colace last night and milk of magnesia today). Any advice one can give would be much appreciated!

It gets better. Your new sleeve is having to learn how to handle fluids (and later food). If you think about it, the stomach used to be a big balloon... once past the opening, there was plenty of space for it to just go wherever. Now think about pouring Fluid down a beaker in the science lab, or in a funnel... it's going down a narrow tube. Early on, I found that any sip I took, it was like there was a huge bubble trapped, and it was VERY uncomfortable right in the center of my chest, until the liquid kinda seeped down around it, or I was able to burp. But the more I sipped, the smaller the bubble seemed to get, as if the sleeve figured out what to do with it. As days and then weeks passed, I was even able to take larger and larger sips without invoking the same discomfort. I can drink Water almost normally now at a little over 4 months out without discomfort, and thicker fluids like Protein shakes or milk I just have to take a little slower.

It will get better and it will take practice. That pain in your chest is usually caused by either drinking too fast or gulping air. then of course it doesnt go away until you burp which can also be painful.

Try taking slower smaller sips but more frequently. down the road as you heal you will be able to drink more faster with no problem.

Burps however stick cause me pain when they happen which is very rarely.

@@concertchick7 I'm feeling the exact same way, I'm 5 days post op and I dread having to drink...can't even think about eating besides applesauce or pudding or jello...all sugar free of course...the Popsicles are yummy...just got me some protein water...hoping I can make this work...good luck to you...