Sorry this is kindof long, I’m at a loss and need some advice/encouragement.

Hi all, Im a newb! Was just sleeved on 2/10/21 and have had a horrible recovery. I was in the hospital for 4 days and threw up for 72 hours. That was fun /:

I’m finally home and I am struggling majorly with getting fluids to go down. It sits under my sternum and eventually ends up behind my molars trying to come back up. I first thought it was my sip size. But I have resorted to a very very small dropper where I’m literally dropping less than 10 mls of liquid down the back of my throat and letting it go down. It took me 3 hours to drink 8 oz today.

I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else? It feels like the passage way for the water/broth to go down is the size of a human hair and it just pools in my chest. Leaving me sitting straight up, hardly breathing for 30-45 min because I can’t inflate my lungs from the “fullness.”

I’m worried because I’m only getting 30-40 oz of fluid max, and my calories are less than 50/day. I’m not so much worried about protein at the moment, as I am staying functional. I have already lost almost 12 lbs since the morning of sx.

Any advice is so very appreciated! And Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday from the Bayou State! (First time in 28 years I didn’t have a single piece of king cake )

I have not been sleeved yet but I certainly would call your surgeon and tell him / her what is going on with you. This might be from throwing up so much that you might be swollen but better they know what is going on with you especially since you can't get anything down. I hope you feel better soon.

I agree with LoveSimcha, it sounds like you're extremely swollen and nothing is getting through - totally understandable if you've been vomiting for days. Your team may have some solutions for inflammation and nausea, otherwise you may end up back in the hospital getting IV fluids.

3 hours ago, GreenThumb said:

I agree with LoveSimcha, it sounds like you're extremely swollen and nothing is getting through - totally understandable if you've been vomiting for days. Your team may have some solutions for inflammation and nausea, otherwise you may end up back in the hospital getting IV fluids.

10 hours ago, LoveSimcha said:

I have not been sleeved yet but I certainly would call your surgeon and tell him / her what is going on with you. This might be from throwing up so much that you might be swollen but better they know what is going on with you especially since you can't get anything down. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank y’all so much for responding. My surgical team was not in office today, as it’s Mardi Gras holiday plus severe ice storm here in Louisiana, so the whole surgery center is closed. My mom (who was sleeved one week prior to me, 2/3/21) is having such a smooth sailing recovery, 34 years my senior, and it’s making me feel so discouraged.

I got some popsicles today and that seemed to be the most pleasant way to get the liquids in, until halfway through the first one my pouch started burning like it had been lit on fire. So now I’m back at square 1. With my little medicine dropper and my room temp water/G0 mix! Tomorrow makes a week out, and on our program we can go to protein pudding and creamy soup, and I just don’t even see how that’s in the realm of possibility for me now!

Hopefully Doc and the NUT call me back first thing tomorrow, I really don’t want to end up back in with IV fluids!! They blew 6 stick sites while I was there last week

Thanks again for replying y’all! This misery is tilting me towards buyers remorse mentality and I don’t want to be there, I just want to get over the hump!!!

On 02/16/2021 at 20:06, BayouTiger said:

02/16/2021 08:54 AM, LoveSimcha said:

I have not been sleeved yet but I certainly would call your surgeon and tell him / her what is going on with you. This might be from throwing up so much that you might be swollen but better they know what is going on with you especially since you can't get anything down. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank y’all so much for responding. My surgical team was not in office today, as it’s Mardi Gras holiday plus severe ice storm here in Louisiana, so the whole surgery center is closed. My mom (who was sleeved one week prior to me, 2/3/21) is having such a smooth sailing recovery, 34 years my senior, and it’s making me feel so discouraged.

I got some popsicles today and that seemed to be the most pleasant way to get the liquids in, until halfway through the first one my pouch started burning like it had been lit on fire. So now I’m back at square 1. With my little medicine dropper and my room temp water/G0 mix! Tomorrow makes a week out, and on our program we can go to Protein pudding and creamy Soup, and I just don’t even see how that’s in the realm of possibility for me now!

Hopefully Doc and the NUT call me back first thing tomorrow, I really don’t want to end up back in with IV fluids!! They blew 6 stick sites while I was there last week

Thanks again for replying y’all! This misery is tilting me towards buyers remorse mentality and I don’t want to be there, I just want to get over the hump!!!

Hey ! I was sleeved on the 10th too. My first week I haven’t put more than 8-10 oz of water honestly. Unfortunately you couldn’t handle the pop that’s what I have been replying on and jello. I’m sorry you are having a bad time I hope they answer quick and even if they have to it you better than nothing and dehydrating hopefully it’s better for you. I threw up all first day including not coming out the anesthesia for over 4-5 hours and throwing up blood and then just whatever was in there lol besides being allergic to the glue they put over my incisions and being on Benadryl now cuz it’s a bad bad rash and itching lol. I honestly hope you get better. The popsicle should have been good since you would dissolve it in your mouth first tiny pieces and it goes down smoother than a sip of water but I’m sorry it didn’t work. Hoping you get better and answers tomorrow.

I'm sorry your recovery has been so bad! Have you tried messing with the temperature of your liquids? I can drink tea and broth a million times better than water out the fridge.

14 hours ago, XtinaDoesIt said:

I'm sorry your recovery has been so bad! Have you tried messing with the temperature of your liquids? I can drink tea and broth a million times better than Water out the fridge.

I just wanted to say thanks for this suggestion. I actually tolerated a cup and a few sips of luke warm very bland, strained gumbo juice with a little protein mixed in. I was able to get in touch with my program director/NUT and surgeon today about what’s been going on. He said he doesn’t think it’s a stricture, but he thinks I’m just severely swollen from all the throwing up and foamies I’ve gotten. They moved my fluid goal to 48 oz, and protein to 20g just for the next few days. I was instructed if any muscle cramps, or severe lightheadedness creeps up I need to be seen at urgent care immediately for IV fluids.

Today has been post op day 7 and it’s actually been the best day so far. Looking forward to continuing to heal so I can get this show on the road.

I really appreciate all the help, support, and insight I’ve gotten from this community so far. Thank you all, truly.

On 2/18/2021 at 1:03 AM, BayouTiger said:

Today has been post op day 7 and it’s actually been the best day so far. Looking forward to continuing to heal so I can get this show on the road.

I'm happy to hear this!!! I'm on day 11 today. Yesterday I found that I could drink water "normally." AND (tmi) I took a solid poop! All of a sudden today, I feel so much better! So just hang in there a bit more! I also started on puree/soft foods yesterday and I think it made all the difference for me. I think I can "eat" my food better than I can drink it. Let us know when you get to the "yay, I feel ok" stage.

With all the caveats of don’t do anything you or your doctor don’t feel comfortable with, but for what it’s worth I used one of those hydration IV places that cater to hungover people. They’re a bit expensive (around $80 and up near me) but cheaper than a trip to the ER if you’re getting too dehydrated. Your drs office might also be able to give you an infusion if you need it and insurance might cover it that way (it’s worth asking at least).