Posted 5/14/2017 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it sounded like you did need it. I wish the surgeons and GI docs would discuss how long the recovery process is with NF surgery. Besides needing to retrain yourself to eat a different way (smaller portions and smaller bites), you have to physically take it easy. In addition to that, your stomach is smaller and in a different shape. So you will fill fuller faster and feel bloated sooner. The Fundus part of the stomach used to hold that gas, now it sits in the middle pushing up and out. If you are one of the lucky ones and had a looser wrap, then you can probably still burp. If not, then it can only go out the other way, and that can be uncomfortable and cause those side aches you mentioned. Lastly, be cautious of reactive hyper and hypoglycemia. Anytime you mess with the stomach, there is a chance that your pancreas and digestion get out of whack and it causes blood sugar issues. I have talked to many post NF patients about this issue. You just don't hear it from the docs. A lot of times during recovery I would feel nauseous so I got Zofran from my doctor. Takes care of that very quickly. If you feel shaky, dizzy and your legs feel weird, then you are most likely having a blood sugar issue. You need to discuss those with an endocrinologist. Mine from UCLA put me on these Extend nutrition bars that helps level out the blood sugar for about 9 hours. It is not 100% fool proof but it helped a lot. Please discuss any issues with your doctor so he is aware and can give you his opinion. I find the surgeons just check to see if their job was done right, after that, back to the GI doc. By the way, if you have gas pains, you will need to have some antigas pills handy. Be careful with your diet. Take it slow.
I wish you well on your recovery. Please keep us update. Take care. -JR