Pity Party - WAAAAAAAH!

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

I am in the mood for a grade-A pity party and you're all invited!

Some of you know that I'm 3.5 months post-op and got cleared for solid foods at 6 weeks. My formerly cast-iron stomach is now made of blown glass (thanks for the visual, @Frustr8) and can't tolerate much of anything, especially anything that looks or feels like solid food. I decided a couple of weeks ago to give up on solids for now and stick with mushy foods, like Soups and yogurt. I thought I'd try solids again in July.

About 3 weeks ago my surgeon sent me to get an upper GI done to see if he could figure out why I was having so much trouble with solids. I had a follow-up with him yesterday to discuss the results. My esophogus doesn't work! I've never even heard of that! Apparently, the muscles in your esophogus are supposed to contract in a coordinated, rhythmic pattern to push and guide food down to your stomach. Instead of getting coordinated ballroom dancers, my muscles are more like the lanky guy that looks like a spider on a hot plate. The muscles just randomly contract all over the place and do nothing to help the food get to the stomach. So, when I've felt like the food was backed up to the back of my throat, it really was. That was why I was miserable for 2 hours after eating anything solid. My esophogus "tube" literally got stuffed and didn't empty. I've also got severe acid reflux which he thinks can make the esophogus even worse, besides the possibility of acid erosion and increased chances of esophogeal cancer.

So for now, he told me to stick with mushy foods until I see him again in September. At that point, he'll run some more tests and decide if I need a sleeve-to-bypass conversion. It wouldn't help the esophogus muscle contractions per se, but by lessening the chances of acid erosion it would keep the esophogus from getting any worse. He doesn't know when or if I will ever be able to handle real, solid foods like beef or chicken. Fortunately, I can eat ground meats if they are in a liquid, but absolutely nothing without liquid. Fish is fine since it was always on the mushy-food list, but 1 oz. max. And, absolutely no breads, rice, etc. as they would be easily stuck.

I guess I never noticed the problem because I always drank so much with meals that I would just wash the food down. The doc doesn't want me doing that though, probably because that makes it so much easier to overeat. Anyway, he says he's never seen anything like this in the thousands of surgeries that he's performed. Lucky me! WAAAAAAH!

OK, rant over. Feeling better now Thanks for "listening"!

Edited June 13, 2018 by Orchids&Dragons

[GreenTealael 25,591]

Wow wow wow

It's your party Cry if you want to

I'll attend

Edited June 13, 2018 by Tealael

[YeahOkay31 652]

Oh no! That sounds like torture! You earned your party for sure. I hope the acid at least starts to resolve itself on its on and you avoid a bypass.

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

Just now, YeahOkay31 said:

Oh no! That sounds like torture! You earned your party for sure. I hope the acid at least starts to resolve itself on its on and you avoid a bypass.

I know, I really only wanted to do this once! Thanks!

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

1 hour ago, Tealael said:

Wow wow wow

It's your party Cry if you want to

I'll attend

Thanks! It'll be more fun if you're there

[SleeveinIL 386]

Wow - amazing what you have been living with and didn't know! I wish there was something more that can be done about this. I guess I don't like the part about come back next time and we will do more tests. I would want the tests NOW. Did he say why he wants to wait until Sept? Is there anyway to train your lanky guy to mambo?

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

Just now, SleeveinIL said:

Wow - amazing what you have been living with and didn't know! I wish there was something more that can be done about this. I guess I don't like the part about come back next time and we will do more tests. I would want the tests NOW. Did he say why he wants to wait until Sept? Is there anyway to train your lanky guy to mambo?

He gave me odd instructions. Come back in 2 1/2 months. That made me think there's some kind of insurance requirement that he needs to meet. I wish I were a quick thinker. I came up with all sorts of questions this morning, but was a total blank in his office. UGH! It didn't sound like there was anyway to give my esophogus dance lessons. But, my gosh, it has been darned efficient up to now! Who'd have thought you could get to 272 lbs without a superb intake system!

[SleeveinIL 386]

1 minute ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I came up with all sorts of questions this morning, but was a total blank in his office.

I am like that too. Can you give a call into the surgeon and have another conversation?

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

3 minutes ago, SleeveinIL said:

I am like that too. Can you give a call into the surgeon and have another conversation?

I'll call the office after I get all my questions organized. Probably have to relay them through his nurse.

[Bryn910 519]

Wow! I must say that sounds horrible. I can’t imagaine eating mushy/liquids for a long period of time. I hope your doctor can find a resolution for you

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

3 minutes ago, Bryn910 said:

Wow! I must say that sounds horrible. I can’t imagaine eating mushy/liquids for a long period of time. I hope your doctor can find a resolution for you

Thanks, Bryn. I've been on mushy for about 10 weeks, it has definitely gotten old.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Ain't gravity just wonderful? Sounds like that was working ,better than perstalsis did.
Guess I'll just hunker down and watch for a party game I can play.😛

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

54 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

Ain't gravity just wonderful? Sounds like that was working ,better than perstalsis did.
Guess I'll just hunker down and watch for a party game I can play.😛

It really does explain why I drank so much with every meal. And never, never, never ate lying down.

[Pearldrop 164]

I’m RSVPing to your party. I’m so sorry you are going through this, I hope there is something that can be done to help you.

Wishing you all the very best xxx

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

Just now, Pearldrop said:

I’m RSVPing to your party. I’m so sorry you are going through this, I hope there is something that can be done to help you.

Wishing you all the very best xxx

Thanks, Pearldrop! I'll start preparing my bariatric-friendly appetizers!