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What Causes Dizziness And Nausea After A Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

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Posted on Tue, 22 Aug 2017
Question: I HAD A GASTRIC SLEEVE PERFORMED IN mARCH OF THIS YEAR. I HAD AN EPISODE IN THE HOESPITAL WHERE I FELT FAINT AND THE HEART MONITOR SENT OUT A SIGNAL TO THE NURSE MONITORING ME AND SHE CAME RUNNING INTO THE ROOM. tHIS PASSED BUT I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SUCH EPISODES SINCE NORMALLY RIGHT AFTER Eating even a small meal. I feel pressure in my thoracic area, at the base of my esophagus, then nausea, then dizziness and then faintness. I am a 65 year od female. I have had three other abdominal surgeries in the past, one of which was a hernia repair near the upper stomach area.I take my BP after or during these episodes and usually it is in a normal range as is my pulse. Would you have any idea what might be causing this. My surgeon has never explained to me whT HAPPENED THAT FIRST DAY AFTER SURGERY WHEN I HAD THE FIRST EPISODE.I also meant to add that the hernia repair involved a mesh implant. Might this be causing a problem? I have not vomited or had any indication of bleeding since the surgery but have had diarrhea a few times. Could the pressure of the full stomach press against my lungs and heart causing a feeling that I am going to black out? It seems like I am having the problem more frequently as time goes by. Could my esophagus be stretching out because I am maybe eating to fast or too much?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (47 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
As detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your elucidate history.
Noted the history and understood the concerns.
The most probable causes can be as follows:
The feeling of pressure in the thorax, at the base of an esophagus, nausea, dizziness and fainting right after eating in a patient who as undergone three abdominal surgeries in past and now sleeve gastrectomy can be because of the following:
In sleeve gastrectomy a part of the Vagus nerve which is one of the main parasympathetic supply also gets cut and disrupted thereby causing imbalance between the two parts of autonomous nervous systems namely parasympathetic and sympathetic giving a series of events causing the symptoms that you have noted. This is difficult to demonstrate but may be one of the causes.
There can be built up of pressure in the stomach tube made after sleeve gastrectomy which in turn may be transmitted to the lower esophagus as you have correctly mentioned causing a cascade of events that you have explained.

This can not be due to full stomach pressing against the lungs and heart.
Nor can this be related to the hernia mesh repair in upper abdomen.
Diarrhea can be due to the disturbed autonomous nervous system post surgery.
Esophagus and in particular the stomach tube may be stretched if you eat more than recommended.
Stress and/ or anxiety can add up to the problems.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Get an upper GI Endoscopy and barium swallow and meal under fluoroscopic control for real-time visualization as to what may be causing the symptoms.

I hope this answers your query.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19778 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness And Nausea After A Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Brief Answer: As detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your elucidate history. Noted the history and understood the concerns. The most probable causes can be as follows: The feeling of pressure in the thorax, at the base of an esophagus, nausea, dizziness and fainting right after eating in a patient who as undergone three abdominal surgeries in past and now sleeve gastrectomy can be because of the following: In sleeve gastrectomy a part of the Vagus nerve which is one of the main parasympathetic supply also gets cut and disrupted thereby causing imbalance between the two parts of autonomous nervous systems namely parasympathetic and sympathetic giving a series of events causing the symptoms that you have noted. This is difficult to demonstrate but may be one of the causes. There can be built up of pressure in the stomach tube made after sleeve gastrectomy which in turn may be transmitted to the lower esophagus as you have correctly mentioned causing a cascade of events that you have explained. This can not be due to full stomach pressing against the lungs and heart. Nor can this be related to the hernia mesh repair in upper abdomen. Diarrhea can be due to the disturbed autonomous nervous system post surgery. Esophagus and in particular the stomach tube may be stretched if you eat more than recommended. Stress and/ or anxiety can add up to the problems. I would advise you the following in such a situation: Get an upper GI Endoscopy and barium swallow and meal under fluoroscopic control for real-time visualization as to what may be causing the symptoms. I hope this answers your query. Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.