Sleeve - Pain every time I swallow food or water. If I swallow food, I get two hours of pain that something is stuck in food tube to stomic and spitt up thick mucus?

Question
I have pain when I swallow food like it is stuck in my throat. I start spitting up a thick mucus. The pain last around 0.5 - 2 hours depending. I always make sure that I chew up food until liguid in my mouth. I had this pain the day after surgery when swallowing water. I asked doctor that day he said he didn't know why I had that pain. I asked it again at 2 wk followup appointment, and he said it is common with the sleeve surgery. I'm have still to find anyone saying anything about this issue and the sleeve??? I was thinking that at the surgery that some how my tube to my stomic has gotton pinched by another organ before they closed me up or something? Any ideas on how to reduce this pain of having something stuck in my tube and spitting up thick mucus? I try taking small sips of water hoping that it will wash it down, but always have to endure the pain for an hour or so and hope it goes down. I eventually burp a little and slowly feel it go down and after two hours come back to normal. I'm generating a fear of eating.

Answer
Jay,
You did not write when you had your sleeve operation, but I'm guessing it was within the last month.  I have also seen this type of problem with some of my Sleeve patients.  My understanding is that it comes from swelling of the gastric tube.  Since the swollen tube is narrow and stiff, liquids and food have a hard time getting through.  Usually this resolves at around 6 weeks from the surgery, and in the meantime you will feel a bit better if you stick with liquids only and don't try food no matter how well you chew.

If the symptoms go on longer than 6 weeks, then it may be helpful for you to have an upper scope done to stretch out a narrowed area that is particularly swollen.

Best of luck,
Dr JP

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