Help! Dry Heaves!! Any advice?

[wey2bz 0]

Hello all,

I was banded 6 days ago (01/15/08) and here is a synopsis of my journey this far:

01/15/08 - Home from surgery at 5:00pm, no problems - urinating okay.

01/16/08 - No problems, taking it easy.

01/17/08 - Gas pains from surgery! OMG - I was warned about these ...

01/18/08 - Still gas pains, Gas-X and heating pad provides comfort

01/19/08 - Gas pains gone - dry heaves at 7:30 pm, first bowel movements

01/20/08 - Nauseous all day, dry heaves from 10:00 pm to 10:30 pm

01/21/08 - Nauseous all night, dry heaves at 6:00 am and 11:00 am

My liquid phase consisted of chicken broth, apple juice, crystal lite, SF Jello liquid and SF popcicles but I was so hungry that on day #3 I added Carnation Instant Breakfast with 1% milk and diluted Tomato Soup to the menu. I cannot find a Protein Powder that I can even barely tolerate.

Aside from the gas pains (that have now resolved) all was fine with the new additions. I was feeling so good after the gas pains resolved that I discontinued my Loratab elixer on 01/19 but continued to used the heating pad on my back because it had become my new found relaxation method.

The dry heaves started almost immediately after I discontinued the pain meds. I called my MD last night and he advised me that he was not that concerned because (1) I am still able to take in liquids after the dry heaves, (2) my incisions are healing great, (3) I am not running a fever, (4) I am urintaing frequently (almost clear yellow so I am not that dehydrated) and (5) I am having bowel movements.

I advised him that these are hellish dry heaves and that my chest, throat and ears burn but he said there was little they could do for me other than give me IV liquids for temporary relief.

He said these dry heaves are from my stomach swelling at the band site and that I may continue to have these problems until after the liquid phase when my stomach at the band site heals. He advised me to go back to Step 1 and take only minimal sips of Clear Liquids every 15 mins.

I need advice ...

(1) Why am I just now having these problems when the first 4 days were

practically bliss?

(2) Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so, how did you cope?

(3) Do you think the heating pad for my gas pains triggered (or increased) the swelling around my band site?

(4) Should I have quit the pain meds cold turkey? Do the pain meds prevent me from feeling the affects of the band swelling and thus prevent me from dry heaving?

I am lost here. I cannot imagine sipping my way through the rest of the liquid phase!!! I will go insane or starve to death! Even now I get nauseous after every little sip. I am back on the pain meds, sipping away, without my heating pad

I appreciate any and all advice that you can give me.

Thanks so much!!

[lachica39 0]

I'm sorry to hear your having a bad time. the only thing I can advise is to follow your Dr.s plan. stick to the clear liquids.

Although I did not go through anything like you decribe, when I did start my protien liquid phrase, I felt bloated and uncomfortable and chose to go back on clear liquids. give it a try.you will do great

[Big As Life 0]

Did your doctor give you anything to take for nausea? I had a prescription for Phenergran and I even had to wear a patch behind the ear for three days...day one being the night before surgery and then two more days...I had no problems...call your doctor and see if they can give you a prescription for Phenergran...

[julieh 1]

I had my surgery on 12/17/07.

I had the same problem with the dry heaves. Mine started on day 3 and lasted until day 8. I felt like I was in hell and wished I would have never had the surgery. My Dr. told me the same thing your Dr. did. When the stomach swelled from the surgery, it made my band tighter, which in turn made it so hardly anything was going down. I started drinking my liquids a tablespoon at a time. It would take ma 1/2 to drink 8 oz. of broth. Once I started drinking from the Tablespoon, i quit dry heaving.

I quit taking my medicines because I always through them up. Now, I can take them and they don't bother me.

It seems like time is what made everything better. Time for my stomach to heal and time to drink everything by Tablespoons.

Good Luck!!!!!

[TracyinKS 7]

Try not to heave........ I know this is easier to say than do, but stick with the liquids.. even it it means that you are constantly LIVING with a sf popsicle... the swelling needs to go down, and the more you heave the more you will be irritating it...

I was so sick of chicken broth that I don't care if I EVER see it again. However I did pretty much live on tomatoe Soup made with milk.. it seemed to sooth me and keep me fuller longer...... also SF pudding held in my mouth til it disloved gave me the taste fill of more consistancy.

I tried to eat refried Beans too early and it knocked me out.. too much, too fast... it was a BANDLESSON LEARNED..... (do a search for BANDLESSON LEARNED and you will get my complete post.... LOL!

Just know this will pass!

[wey2bz 0]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. Keep the advice coming!

[SJK 0]

Wey,

I was banded on the 17th and have had a similar experience, was feeling almost back to normal two days ago and now I feel like Im going backwards. I am nauseus and have dry heaves. went back to liquids today but has not helped. I feel like my chest is sore now. I am getting pain around the port and on my right side!!!! I have no advice because nothing is helping me at the moment but I'm just letting you know its not only you!!!

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I doubt if the heating pad or quitting the pain meds have anything to do

with the heaves. Your stomach needs to rest. Try to take liquids in very slowly. I find warm cammomile tea with spenda helps me when I feel

nauseous. Getting a prescription for nausea meds is a good idea too.

If you can't get them down, you'll have to do a supository.

[texancowgirlali 0]

Although I haven't been banded yet (2 more weeks). My doctor says ginger tea will help with nausea. Hope this helps.

[wey2bz 0]

Hello All,

My dry heaves started on 01/19/08 and did not quit until 01/25/08 -- yesterday morning! OMG -- it was 6 days of pure hell. I could not even have a conversation (a complete sentence) with my husband without having to pause to avoid the dry heaves.

I have been tablespooning myself apple juice, tea, broth and ice chips the entire week. I had NO energy. I would sit and stare off into space for minutes at a time knowing that I should be doing something (like walking to check the mail or taking my cup to the kitchen sink) but my body and brain were not communicating together. I have basically been a zombie.

Yesterday morning at 5am I had dry heaves so bad that I could not even make it out of bed fast enough. I had almost given up. When I got up only 10 minutes later to start my day (looking for my tablespoon) it was like I was my old self again!

I did 4 loads of laundry (all bedding, lol), vacuumed my living area, sorted my mail, worked 4 hours at work (from home) and even helped my husband with his business. I kept thinking I should do all I can do why my brain is intact and while I had a tad bit of energy. I kept thinking 30 more mins and I will have the dry heaves again.

Well 10pm came and went and the dry heaves never happened. I slept well last night and still have energy this morning although I am taking it easy today.

I lost 20 lbs in the first 7 days and now am only losing maybe 1/2 pound a day. I understand that is completely normal but I can tell my body has switched to starvation mode and it SUCKS.

I want my protein!

[skinny2B 0]

I too had the dry heaves and OMG they were horriable. I lived off of ice chips for two days. I also had a script for nausea, I would call your doc and see if he could give you one. I never had to take the pains meds prior to the dry heaving but I was so sore after that I took it that night. I had my surgery on 10/26/07 which was a Friday and I did not start dry heaving till that Monday and did everyday until that Sat. I was afraid to drink anything or even do the ice chips at first. So I think I made mine worse and got dehydrated.

Well just try to keep you spirts up and you will get through it, I promise. My brother keep telling my no pain no gain. Well this Saturday will be 3 mths and I have lost 35 lbs. I feel like a new person. You to will get to that point. I know it seems like now there is no end but there is and afterwards you will be so happy you are a BANDSTER.

Kristie Rutherford

Banded 10/26/07

256/221/150

Dr. Speigel, Houston, Texas