BTW a nutritionist is a great idea I am surprised the surgeon doesn't have one or recommend one. If you ever learn anything new we would love to hear about it.
Christina
Have they checked him for dehydration? Cause once you become severly dehydrated I heard you just keep throwing up - I would insist someone else see him. I've seen where a few people had to be admitted for a few days to go on a IV to try and reset their system. I wish the best for your husband - Hugs & God Bless you both!
~Bren~
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Not all pain medications, but definitely Vicodin, in my case, makes me hurl. Unless he is in severe pain, I would not ever recommend taking Vicodin as it is an addictive substance and is known to cause mood swings which is not what your husband needs right now. The least amount of chemicals in his system at this point the more accurately you all can get a baseline of what is going on.
Has your husband had a CBC done within the last week - specifically testing his B12, Vit. D and Iron levels? If not, I would highly recommend he have that done to see if a deficiency is contributing to his tiredness. Our bodies are magnificent but when there is a shock to our systems - like surgery - sometimes key levels that help us in healing and coping get thrown out of whack.
You are doing the right thing by being supportive but it is essential in your caregiver role to not accept guilt or responsibility for your husband's choice of surgery. Be supportive but do not feel guilty about eating a meal - he will eat again but his meals will be more regulated and portion-controlled than before.
As for the nausea, you mentioned anti-nausea medication was given to him but you did not mention which one. My "sweet spot" anti-nausea medication is Zofran. I know for me that Phenegran gives me headaches and makes me very sleepy and does not really help with my nausea. Perhaps your husband needs to try another anti-nausea medication.
I was VERY surprised to see that your husband drinks orange juice - even low acid! He would be one of the first that I've heard about that could handle that in the first couple of months and not have horrible issues with nausea and heartburn or indigestion. Most people opt for grape juice, apple juice or something else.
"Sitting down to eat a meal" doesn't seem to be something he should be ready for at four weeks out? Did his doctor clear him for a solid food diet and not just a soft solid diet? Nausea is a defense mechanism of the body to protect the body from harm. Perhaps in his eagerness to eat a "real meal" he is skipping some healing stages his body needs and the nausea is a distinct signal for him to slow down and switch back to a lighter fare.
I sure hope this gets resolved soon for him and I'm sorry that his post was overlooked.
I am 4 weeks out also. I do still have alot of nausea. I stocked up on pepto-bismol and dramamine and I take an antacid daily. I also eat very little, wait a good 10 seconds between bites to see how it goes down, but I try to eat every 2 hours so I don't get undernourished. I also chew very, very well and never swallow large bites, only a tiny bit at a time. Some days, my stomach is very sensitive and so I stick to gatoraide and plain oatmeal or cream of wheat. Soups- liquid- generally feel ok. Protein shakes are no good for me, but the clear liquid protein drink Isopure ( at Rite- aid) on ice is fine and actually tastes good when its nice and cold.
I'm so sorry your hubby is having a rough time!! It must be really hard.
When I was in hospital they were giving me pain killer which seemed to help the nausea and control pain. When it was wearing off I felt really nauseous and started vomiting again. It wasn't until I got the pain killers out of my system completely that i felt normal again. Vicadin can cause nausea and vomiting. If he can manage staying off that for a few days (as horrible as that will probably sound to him) that might do the trick. He might feel worse before he feels better though. I am 4 days post op and just taking dispersable Lansoprazole (sorry drug names are probably different as I'm english). I was given Co-codamol for pain but I haven't used it and (touch wood) am not in any real pain and have had no nausea. I really hope he feels better. If he still feels bad please do keep going back to your medical team because he shouldn't have to suffer like that. Maybe they need to change his medication around as some things are not effective for some people. He might need a stronger anti emetic for a few days so his stomch can rest and heal. Please keep me updated and let him know my thoughts are with him. xx
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He had his surgery through a doctor at O'Band in Tustin. The surgery was at Chapman Medical Center. I don't want to bad mouth his surgeon specifically. The surgery went fine, but the follow ups have been lacking and the direction for what to do post-op is almost non-existent. Nothing was written down as far as post-op instructions. He was just told, "Liquids two week. Soft food 2 more weeks. You be fine." (grammatical errors intentional).
I have alot of the same issues...I am 90 days out and still can get sick if I eat just one bite too many (according to the nutritionist at my Dr.'s office...foamy discharge occurs when the bite is to large and your stomach is trying to disolve it). I have found that I have more issues with spicy foods and high fat items. It can just have a high fat texture and I will be sick. I have started a list of foods not to eat and it gets longer each day. Foods I really enjoy I will not try since I don't want to get sick on them and realize I might not be able to eat them.
I would say that fluids are what he needs to focus on, I still call soup my best friend. When I have issues eating I can always have a 1/2 or sometimes a cup of soup.
[QUOTE=concernedwife;22278 He was just told, "Liquids two week. Soft food 2 more weeks. You be fine." (grammatical errors intentional).[/QUOTE]
If you lived in Texas I would think this was one of my student's parents...ends emails...sig gray, rather than: sign gary...yes he types sign, sig, sing before his name...
I had the VSG (sleeve) done in Mexico on May 5, 2011. Today is June 16th and I have been vomiting ever since about the second week after surgery. The surgeon and the surgeon's nurse have told me that it is the reflux causing nausea, but I find that hard to believe when I feel not one drop of heartburn, and I have tried EVERY option for reflux, from over the counter to prescription and nothing touches it! The Zofran IV for nausea that was given to me in the ER last week didn't even ease the nausea or vomiting at all! I was sent home with Zofran and Phenergan, neither of which help. I mostly vomit after dark, which sounds weird, but true. But I am nauseaous from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning! I was told by the surgeon's nurse to purchase Zegerid OTC, take it twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for 30 days, and it should clear up. Unfortunately, I bought it (not cheap), took it three days, then found out that it is not compatible with the crucial meds that I already have been taking for 20 years. I was angry that the nurse had not confirmed that it was safe to take it with my current meds, but what could I do about it, right? When I voiced my concern with the surgeon, he didn't address it. He then told me to get a prescription from my PCP for Reglan. My PCP would only give me ten days worth, since it causes irreversible involuntary facial movements...GREAT! What now? And what after ten days of the Reglan? Not that it is working, after taking it for two days so far. My PCP says that if I still have N/V after the ten days, I need to see a GI doctor...REALLY?! Just what I wanted after surgery in Mexico, an ER visit of over 13 hours, an emergency surgery for a painful ovarian cyst less than a week ago, and a daily dose of nausea and vomiting! It is getting ridiculous, and you are right...it IS debilitating! Any thing more than sitting perfectly still makes my nausea overbearing! I am not getting anything done and have put off starting my new job ONCE AGAIN! I don't know how long they will keep the offer open (I am an RN and nurses are easy to find)! To add insult to injury, I stopped losing weight two weeks ago. I initially lost 16 pounds, then I stopped! I am stuck at that figure! After all of this!....at least let the misery be worth something! The surgeon just keeps saying the same thing..."Don't worry about that right now...the weight will come off...just focus on getting rid of the nausea." WHAT?! Did you say not to worry about losing weight?!! I have had major surgery (AND paid thousands for it) which is making my life completely and unbearably miserable, without accomplishing what I did all of it for, and you are telling me not to worry about losing weight?! I am sooooo fed up and, concernedwife, I am sorry to hear that your husband is going through the same. Believe me, I know it is terrible to feel this way ALL of the time! I am sick whether I eat, don't eat, only drink, don't drink, eat soft food, or sip water! Meds are not helping and I regret ever having the sleeve done. I apologize for sounding so forward, but I am fed up with this and there's not a thing I can do to change it...if it were reversible, you better believe I would be flying right back, like LAST WEEK!
Hiya Itschellbell -
I feel so very bad for you. My one question is are you taking any antacid? I have a very, very good doctor that started me on Zantac 75 while in the hospital after surgery. I was to have one in the morning and one at night & was told to take it for a year as the new pouch, molds, shapes & reshapes. They didn't want acid building up as it is reshaping as it could cause a stricture or ulcer. (which makes you very ill - like you stated up above)
I noticed that some patients are never given this info. I know you listed alot of diffrent medicines up above and I'm not sure if one of them is an antacid. What I would do if i were you... is find a doctor you trust state side that knows about bariatric surgery. Make a list of all medications you are on and the amounts you take. Tell him/her exactly your problem.
When I went for my education day at Marquette General Weight Loss Center (Bariatric & Metabolic Services) Marquette, MI -they had mentioned that if we heard or knew of anyone having problems with the surgery - no matter where they had it done, or how long ago - that they could contact them for information & help. I urge you to give them a call and see if they can help you. The toll free number is 888-655-7979 explain your situation - Karen Ahonen, RN (Bariatric Coordinator) would be the person to ask for. Maybe you can get her email and explain your condition further. You shouldn't have been operated on and then just "forgotten".
Empower yourself until you find a doctor that knows of all your circumstances, because they can aide you. I sincerely hope your pain stops soon. Have you tracked your temperature and pulse? (I was told to monitor these for 3 weeks post op) for if both are running high - then you could be severly dehydrated, which causes you to throw up, which causes you to be dehydrated. You might have to go back into a hosptial and they would put in an IV for a few days to stop the vicious cycle. I wish I could help you more, I feel your pain thru your writing.. I wish you the very, very best.
Huggles & God Bless
~Bren~
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I usually throw up when I eat something that I don't chew enough or if I eat one bite too many. Last week I threw up 3 days in a row!!!! I really have to be careful about how fast I eat....
Has your hubby called the doctor that did the sleeve? I would try that route until I get some answers! Tell him to be persistant!
Itschellbell:
What a story. It sounds so familiar to my husbands story. Thank you so much for sharing. I don't think he as the point that he regrets doing the surgery. Every week does seem to get a little better.
I keep reminding him that he needs to take the antacid (Zantac) even though he doesn't feel like he has heartburn. He won't listen to me about that one. He hates the liquid Zantac.
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