4 days after surgery?'s and advice please....

OK friends, here's my delima. I had LapRNY Tuesday Morning and was able to come home wedensday afternoon. The procedure went perfect according to the DR, but asof this evening I am still very sore, slightly shaky and kind of hungry. I have been taking 2-3 15 minute walks each day and sucking on the stupid popscicles and liquid broth, but my body seems to be craving food. I get kind of shaky at times. Pre-op I was on anti depresents for years and I haven't taken any since the surgery. I have read that some people at four days out are living a completly normatl life like nothing has changed and now I am scared that soemthing is wrong. The incisions don;t hurt too bad, but there is still some pulling sensations and acute soreness on my stomach. Please, anyone tell me what you were feeling like on days 4 and 5 so I don't call the Dr in a complete panic. I'll read everyones responses, so please tell me anything that you think would be helpful. Thank you so much kosmo1966@s... 259lbs LAPrny January 20, 2004

First off, congrats on your surgery......being post op, i know what you are going through....the soreness will go away, just remember there was alot of rearranging that went on in there and it does take awhile to heal..............Ugh eating..that was hard...i had that same problem when I came home, but I found out it was mostly head hunger, I really didnt want it..just was hungry if i thought about it ......i know its hard, just hang in there....after sometime, and learning to eat again, you will find out we need the food we think we do, just to survive, and its such a wonderful feeling!!!...Keep your chin up....and as always, we are here if you need us...............Michelle Chapman Open RNY 1-10-2003 295/178/150.....

I'm not sure what to tell you since my experience was different. I had lap wsl & gallbladder removal on Tuesday and felt like someone used me for a boxing bag on Tuesday & Wednesday. Thursday I began to feel better and by Friday I felt like I hadn't had surgery as long as I was sitting up. The stitches still pull 6 days after surgery when I get out of bed. I came back to work on Monday following my surgery last Tuesday and worked all day with no problem. I feel great at this time, no tiredness, nausea, etc. Hope all is going well for you now. Good luck in the coming months on your weight loss. At least we can focus on the end now instead of perpetually waiting for wls.

Hello Patricia, Had my LapRNY done on 1/22/03. Your post surgical symptoms are very normal for just four days after surgery. Please don't be scared that something is wrong, but do keep in touch with your doctor. You'll probably see your doctor soon right?! This tenderness, pulling, or burning is completely normal. Just rest, drink tha****er, eat what you're supposed to and follow your doctor's directions completely. Your body needs time to heal and you will be fine. Your mind is anxious to heal very quickly, but there is normal inflammation going on from your surgery and that will calm down. You will loose your weight and each new day brings you closer to doing so! I'd love to hear from you Patricia. Sincerely, Bonnie Harris

Patricia, The only thing I can say is it will get BETTER. It has been 1 month for me and the first couple of days I thought I made a big mistake. As the first week passed it became much much easier to swallow all liquids and all I had was some minor cramping in my stomach. By the third week it was like I never had the surgery. I can eat pureed stuff easily and enough so that I'm never hungry. Trust me it gets easier. Good Luck Diane

Everybody doesn't heal the same so I'm not sure the answers will really do anything for you. On day 4 I was moving carefully to protect the sterri strips on my incisions, but all soreness was gone. I had been walking a long city block and back again every daylight hour from the first day out of the hospital. I drove home 250 miles (stopping every hour to walk) even though I had a friend with me that would have driven if I had not felt like it. Once I got home I unpacked my suitcases, washed clothes, prepared my meals, etc. The only pain pills I took after leaving the hospital were the first two nights I was out of the hospital. I took one pill each night before retiring as a precaution against turning wrong in my sleep and pulling on the incisions. My incisions were still pulling a bit at this stage. The hunger part is probably more in your head because after surgery you should not be experiencing real hunger. Can you eat Cream of Wheat or SF pudding at this stage? My doctor allowed them on the liquid diet but some doctors don't allow them until later. I think they would help with the shaky feeling if it's a blood sugar problem due to low carbs. I really don't think you have anything to worry about from what you said in your message. Try to move around more and the soreness will probably disappear quicker. Relax and enjoy the ride.