Belching, nausea & midriff feeling of fullness started immediately post tummy tuck. Now day 11 still very bothersome.

Question

11 days post op Tummy Tuck. Nausea was severe from day 1. I thought it was anesthesia and pain meds and it has improved. Now it's moderate but constant with frequent belching and epigrams trick fullness. I get SOB while talking. I feel awful! I had a small hiatal hernia pre-op with occasional indigestion. If the plication caused this will I need a hiatal hernia repair to resolve these symptoms ? Please tell me I won't have to suffer like this always!!!!

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

while those symptoms are normal early on, 11 days postop is something to investigate because of your hiatal hernia history.  Consult your plastic surgeon and a GI doc, as he may be able to treat the symptoms with medications until they subside

Aramis Vega, MD · Answer

It is my pleasure to answer your question. I recommend you to put in contact with your plastic surgeon and tell him all about your symptoms. He will orientate you.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

Although it is not unusual to have the symptoms of belching, nausea and midriff fullness immediately following a tummy tuck, these symptoms should be subsiding by post op day 11.  If you have a history of a hiatal hernia, a tummy tuck can aggravate these symptoms.  Check back with both your plastic surgeon and your GI doctor.  They should be able to offer you options to get through the recovery period more easily.

Belching, nausea & midriff feeling of fullness started immediately post tummy tuck. Now day 11 still very bothersome.

Answers (3)