Re: I'm post op 7/9 and having a hard time

July 28, 2001

DUSTY!!

I'd wondered who you eventually chose as your surgeon (we talked in

the ObesityHelp chat room months ago), & you'd been on my mind for the

past few days. Yes, it will pass.. the first 3 weeks will be the

worst, but it DEFINITELY gets better after that! Just keep on

sipping- get in as much protein as you can handle.. try a medicine cup

full of scrambled eggs every hour, or 2 medicine cups full of a

protein shake every hour. I know you're wondering if he gave you an

RnY right now, but remember, you're still swollen from surgery, & that

takes up room! Sip your water, nibble protein, & hang in there.. it

will get better really soon, I swear it!!

Keep me updated, OK?

Hugs,

Liane (LiliNTx in obesityhelp chat)

8 weeks postop

lap DS, Dr. Warden

Ocean Springs, MS

-43 lbs as of 7/20

> My stomach feels crappy, as do my intestines, and whole system. I

>feel hungry, but can't eat. Liquids go down a little to a time, but

>things just kind of sit there. I'm burping a lot, having gas, cramps,

>the whole thing.

July 28, 2001

At 7:56 AM +0000 7/28/01, dustytrails1@... wrote:

>Hi everyone. I had my surgery 7/9 with Dr. Hess, ...

>here's where I'm having problems. My stomach feels crappy, as do my

>intestines, and whole system. I feel hungry, but can't eat. Liquids

>go down a little to a time, but things just kind of sit there. I'm

>burping a lot, having gas, cramps, the whole thing.

If you have not taken acidophilus (dried bacterial cultures of " good "

bacteria to replace the stuff that the antibiotics killed off in your

gut), get some and try it. Worked wonders for many of us. Also, try

yoghurt if you have not already done so. Then, there's Gas-X,

Phazyme, or just the drug store's own generic brand of simethicone

(fights intestinal gas)--they're all the same. And, some find relief

in charcoal tablets. You might also try Lactade (lactase enzyme) if

dairy is giving you problems at this point. Or soy substitutes like

" Silk " (brand of plain and flavored soy milk--I especially like the

Mocha,and others on the iist are partial to the Chai flavor).

>Dr. Hess says this is normal and will pass eventually.

This is not abnormal. This will pass--eventually.

>Funny, for all the

>reasearch I did in advance, all I read, people I talked to, I didn't

>hear all that much about this post op phase.

This was MAJOR surgery; remember? (But, if you read my posts, you

would have seen a lot of belly-aching about belly aches and the like,

mush as you are experiencing.)

> I gather this get's better??

This gets better.

>Alot better and maybe like normal I hope??? I'd really

A LOT better. Almost like normal in week 6 for me--though my stamina

is still limited. YMMV.

>appreciate hearing from those of you who've been there. I need some

>help with this, because had I known it would have been like this, I

>think I'd have said forget it ...

Naw, this is just the self-pity talking. Think of your old path

toward an early death with limited mobility and other sufferings

compared to your new future of life that is as close to " normal " as

it can get.

> to me this part really stinks, like

>I've got this never ending case of the flu symptoms stuff ...

No pain, no gain. Sorry to be brutal, and I do not underestimate

your discomfort, but you are recovering from major surgery. You can

breathe without assist, walk, talk, read, write, ingest small amounts

of food, have BMs, recognize loved ones, etc. You are not on life

support systems or having to live off I.V. drips. That is

remarkable for not quite three weeks out from having your insides

sliced, diced and spliced.

>

>rationally I figure this will improve, but it feels awful right now.

Sorry, really. The recovery period can really drag you down in

spirits. But it WILL GET BETTER in a few weeks. It really will.

Try sitting in the sun for a few minutes each day. Better yet, walk

in the sunlight. It can also do wonders. And, you SHOULD be walking

every day--among other things, it helps you clear the lungs, and it

shakes up the gas in your gut.

>

>I will truly appreciate your thoughts, comments, prayers, and support

>with this.

You got it. And, no need to stop bringing your aches and pains to

the list. Even if my responses above may have seemed harsh. I was

just trying to be real.

Best of luck for an upswing real soon,

Steve

--

Steve Goldstein, age 61

Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001

Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia

Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51

BMI on 07/26 = 43

July 28, 2001

Hi, I am at six weeks out and have just gotten over your symptoms.

It seems to take forever, but the one thing that helped me most was

Maalox Max (it's antacid and antigas). The good thing about it is it

works fast. I also take Peptobismal sometimes and that makes me feel

better as well. It WILL pass. Good luck!

Donna

6/13

Rabkin

-47lbs!

> Hi everyone. I had my surgery 7/9 with Dr. Hess, I'm told I

breezed

July 28, 2001

Hi...I am sorry you are feeling yucky. I too felt that way after surgery and

found that most of the nausea was due to medication I was taking...depakote.

You may want to check to see what the common side effects are of any meds

you are taking. As for the full feeling...that passed for me. I felt as if I

had a big rock in my stomach all the time. I am now 14 weeks out and am

really starting to feel more normal. Good luck.

I'm post op 7/9 and having a hard time

> Hi everyone. I had my surgery 7/9 with Dr. Hess, I'm told I breezed

> through, and while I'm thankful I didn't have a leak, complications,

> or worse, the breeze was plenty for me. I'm up, active, no pain

> meds, incision healing, that parts fine and I'm thankful for it, but

> here's where I'm having problems. My stomach feels crappy, as do my

> intestines, and whole system. I feel hungry, but can't eat. Liquids

> go down a little to a time, but things just kind of sit there. I'm

> burping a lot, having gas, cramps, the whole thing. Dr. Hess says

> this is normal and will pass eventually. Funny, for all the

> reasearch I did in advance, all I read, people I talked to, I didn't

> hear all that much about this post op phase. I gather this get's

> better?? Alot better and maybe like normal I hope??? I'd really

> appreciate hearing from those of you who've been there. I need some

> help with this, because had I known it would have been like this, I

> think I'd have said forget it ... to me this part really stinks, like

> I've got this never ending case of the flu symptoms stuff ...

> rationally I figure this will improve, but it feels awful right now.

>

> I will truly appreciate your thoughts, comments, prayers, and support

> with this.

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

July 28, 2001

I think that there is definitely a lack of info immediately

post-op. But I think that it is becuase it hurts to sit at the

computer for the first couple of weeks post-op.

Now as to the gas part. I find that if I walk about 1/2 an hour a

day it really helps move the gas out the other end. Makes me feel

much better. On the days that I walk 15 minutes 4 times a day the

gas is almost non-existent. I also had to remove fruit from diet

completely although it is the most appetitizing thing at the

moment. I also have cut dairy our of my diet with the exception of

cheese.

Liquids are still a problem. I have started by mixing up a 1.5 litre

of Nestea each morning. This way I can monitor how much I am getting

in and I can cheer for myself when I get close to the bottom of the

bottle. I find that I can sip about 2 ounces each time. Which means

that atleast twice and hour I need to sip.

My surgeon says the same thing that it will pass at about 6 weeks

post-op. So I am holding out for the 6 week mark.

> Hi everyone. I had my surgery 7/9 with Dr. Hess, I'm told I breezed

> through, and while I'm thankful I didn't have a leak, complications,

> or worse, the breeze was plenty for me. I'm up, active, no pain

> meds, incision healing, that parts fine and I'm thankful for it, but

> here's where I'm having problems. My stomach feels crappy, as do my

> intestines, and whole system. I feel hungry, but can't eat.

Liquids