How can you tell?

nilklynn

hi all,
I'm just a week out and trying to navigate this crazy thing I did for myself!
I guess my question is, how do you decipher the gurgles, noises and discomforts? Hunger? Reflux? Milk intolerance? Gas pain? I'm starting to think I'm having milk issues. My sleeve starts growling and bubbling and belching hurts something fierce whenever I have dairy (shake or yogurt)!

Also, how long did your right side hurt? I've had a pile of other surgeries over the years, but this is one of the most painful. Which I was not expecting! I can't move without the intense debilitating burn.

Ok, enough self pity. Time to go chase some more protein!

Thaeda

I don't recall how long my side pain lasted- but I would say listen to your bod and go easy as long as you need to. Dairy- I do not have a problem with it, but I have heard plenty of others who did. If dairy hurts, don't eat it. Gonna make doing soft foods interesting for awhile, but I am sure there is plenty of advice out there on how to navigate-- you could always call your nutritionist, too-- I am sure you would not be their first patient in this situation. Hope you heal up soon.

joysie1970

Hey girl, best advice is everyone is different, I used to hate to hear it, but it's so true - I am 3 months out eat tons of dairy and hear lots of gurgling and noises LOL! I think the recommendation to listen to your body and consult your nutritionist is best - if it hurts to eat it don't. Also is the burn reflux, do they have you on an acid reducer if not maybe it's something that would help...if they do maybe a new one, but a call nonetheless is going to help get the bottom and ease your mind

blairmundy

My side felt perfect at 2 weeks out. At 2 weeks and 1 day, I did something and tore internal stitches and then had 2 more weeks of intense and sharp pain. All I can say is really take it easy. I've had both vertical and horizontal c-sections and both those incision sites were bigger but less painful than the sleeve incision. I think the placement is just difficult to heal.

authorwriter

I was six weeks before I started feeling more normal. six weeks is like a magic number. Consider using an acid reducer before giving up on dairy. GERD is an unfortunate side effect of the surgery.

pawoodhull

I don't remember side pain at all. But then I had gall bladder removal before they could do it laproscopically and it was horrible compared to every other surgery including my sleeve. As for the noises and gurgles, that's normal and most likely nothing to worry about. I had no dairy issues, but I would get pain if I ate too fast or too much. Best advice I can give you is eat with a baby spoon (makes it really slow) and if you feel like you need to burp, be done eating. Chances you don't need to burp, that is just your tummy saying it's full. I am 4 years out and this is still my full cue. Anything consumed after that feeling will come right back up. Hang in there. It all gets easier.

loriloftness

I definitely had pain, but mine was on my L side. That was where they cut through some muscle or muscle sheath for the surgery. I know from this board that some have it on their R side, some on their L side. I think it took me about 4-5 weeks before the pain really subsided- though there were some movements that bothered it more than others.

janet0513

I had very little pain and by week 2 I was starting some cardio. Most of the pain I did have was in the center of my chest, probably from the large hiatal hernia repair. Hopefully, another week and your pain will be better. As for gurgling, it is what it is. My tummy makes all sorts of noises but it has improved dramatically over time. You are pretty early out so that may be the issue with dairy. Some people do have lactose intolerance issues after so maybe switch to that and make sure you are drinking protein isolate (it doesn't have the lactose that the concentrate does). Keep walking, that will be best for getting gas out. Does your doctor have you on an acid reducer or PPI? (Zantac, prilosec etc). Those will help with any reflux. Mine had me on them for 4 weeks post surgery. Give yourself time to heal. You will find your cues and figure out what your body is telling you. Best of luck. There will be bumps, but it will keep getting better.

Athollass

I am 5 weeks out tomorrow. My pain was on the left but it subsided by sometime during the 3rd week. It wasn't constant nor did I require pain medication but if I moved a certain way it hurt, so I stopped what I was doing.
No issues with dairy here, in fact, I tolerate it better than soy milk which was recommended at our center. I too am trying to get a handle the tummy sensations/noises. Occasionally, it starts growling making me want to interpret it as a hunger signal. But when I stop and think about it I don't really feel hungry. Some times I walk and find out it was gas. My biggest issue is making sure I eat slowly and chew thoroughly. After years of trying to gulp down my lunch before returning to work this is a real challenge. But if I consciously make myself slow down there is a lot less discomfort when I've eaten enough to feel satisfied as opposed to full.

gardendoc

Are you drinking too fast? I had my sleeve on March 9th and it took me about 30 minutes to drink my 8 oz protein shakes