Hello,

I am 1.5 months outside of VSG and I'm wondering if it is common for people to have difficulty swallowing following surgery?

This seems to come and go; no matter how much I chew my food, etc... it's like my throat has constricted and is trying to restrict the food I intake after surgery, even on the first bite - I don't have to be full at all for it to kick in. It is also accompanied by chest pains - I have to beat on my chest to get it to stop and dial it all back and wait until it subsides.

More often than not though; once it's set off - it's hard to reign back in and I have to put the food away and try later.

Is this a common 'thing', if so - is it persistent or just a post-surgery thing?

Thanks, oh web-o-wisdom!

What are you eating when this happens?

It can be anything really -- solid food, I try to avoid spicy and things like coffee or that are harsh like onions, peppers, etc...

Part of me things: I just need to slow down and that it is psychosomatic. I haven't been able to find what I'm doing wrong.

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by levinme

I was..oh gosh..3 weeks out or less...when I started feeling what felt like an abnormal 'restriction kick in'. Now I had RNY but I'm going to share my situation in case it helps.

I could have drank NOTHING at all and sipped on 2 oz's of water and my chest would hurt and my pouch or whatever I was feeling felt like it went on lock down. I had periods of almost agonizing discomfort. I ended up getting dehydrated and got sent to the hospital just for the day to get hydrated with an IV. Felt so much better.

A week later..maybe more..same thing. Couldn't get water in. Tried protein shake and 2 oz's made me feel like I had filled my pouch with a gallon or more (hyperbole). Finally dr. sent me to hospital and made me drink this awful soapy crud..and they scanned my esophagus, pouch and lower intestines. Appeared everything was ok but I was so uncomfortable..to the point of pain.

Happened again and was admitted to hospital this time but during the scan the dr did catch my esophagus spasming - not every time but often enough, but they figure this was contributing to my situation. I was miserable at this hospital as I was in horrific pain and they felt IV tramadol was the solution. I couldn't wait to go back home.

I don't have this situation happen as often as it did back then, but when it happens, I stay home and curl into a ball and just try to live through it. Most people that have spasms aren't in this much pain but since I've been looked at twice and scanned twice, I've given up on going to hospital/ER for answers (and that includes my dr too - he is a good surgeon but at last hospital I was told "I've done over 1000 (maybe he said 10K) of these and never had a person have this issue." I didn't know what to say except "well, guess I'm your 1st as I'm not making my own esophagus spasm". Sheesh.

If it becomes bothersome enough or interferes enough with you being able to take in what you need..maybe ask for a scan? Lord knows I haven't reached the ideal answer but I'm hoping you'll have better luck than I did.

Oh, I did forget one thing, the dr that did the scan sent me home with a RX for Hyoscyamine? I have taken it when extreme distress but am not quite sure how much it does for my 'gut' vs esophagus....

Wow - that sounds super painful.

I think I'm going to start back on the Omeprazole and see if that helps any and try and slow down more when eating.

My throat seems to be revolting against taking food to my stomach, like it's got a mind of it's own and it's saying "look dummy, you can't eat -- you don't have the stomach you used to anymore, cut it out".

Yes, I had that. The answer was in 40mg omeprazole.

You can also try taking the 20mg omeprazole with the capsule opened up onto a spoon of applesauce.

Sorry you are having this problem!!

7 hours ago, levinme said:

Wow - that sounds super painful.

I think I'm going to start back on the Omeprazole and see if that helps any and try and slow down more when eating.

My throat seems to be revolting against taking food to my stomach, like it's got a mind of it's own and it's saying "look dummy, you can't eat -- you don't have the stomach you used to anymore, cut it out".

I totally understand! I'd definitely go back on he Omeprazole. Ironically this past week I completely forgot to take it and yesterday I had a different kind of abdominal pain, not horrid, but not happy. I wanted to smack myself in the head when I realized I had slacked off on taking my Omeprazole. Took it when I remembered yesterday and today.

So far, so good.

I also did notice that I was still eating way too fast when I did eat/drink. Especially if I was once again eating with the TV on or do anything else that led me to mindlessly eat. I was so focused on 'well, I know I can get 2-3 oz's in with no problem'..and went back to old habits...not eating as fast as I used to but eating WAY too fast for a relatively new pouch.

I too wondered if my mind was psyching my body out.....I finally went with as many small baby steps as I could. If that meant only taking in 1 bite of something soft and putting it back in the fridge...then trying again 15 to 30 mins later. It was a bit tedious but my pouch and esophagus seemed a bit happier.