Serious complications of surgery

I am better now, but earlier this afternoon was a new adventure in PAIN!! The meds. I had been taking so freely every 4 hours for pain caused a bowel obstruction! I will NOT go into the details. Suffice to say, I am sitting on a doughnut pillow and trying to think about something else! The pain in my nose was nothing compared to this! The doc fixed me up and took me off the drugs, but OMG! On a scale of 1 to 10, with the first day of WLS being a 9, this was a 10!!!!!!! It came on suddenly; no warning, and I actually passed out from the pain! Thank God for my husband, who has had med. training with family members and used to work in a hospital. He caught me and called 911. Everyone, beware! Medicines that once were o.k. may cause us WLS's big problems, now. I warned my docs prior to surgery, but this was still a surprise to them. Cocaine derivatives such as LorTab, Codeine, etc. cause a major slow down of the stomach and intestines. Very easy for us to get a clog, tear, or twisted intestine. BEWARE!!! Symptoms are: no appetite, no bowel movements for a day or more, urination stops, pain in lower intestines and butt, shakes, shivers, dizziness, and bloated feeling. I thought it was just my monthly visit from Aunt Flo.(Yes, I have HER visiting now, also!) Painfully yours, (Today's pain scale:7) Lou Ann

So very sorry to hear about this complication. I will be sure to keep it in mind should I have to have any surgery. God forbid..anytime soon. I rarely take pain medication, typically only the 1st day while in the hospital, I cannot think of anytime I have taken any pain meds at home. I rarely feel the pain from sugeries for some reason. My pain after my RNY was a 1 on a scale of 1-10. Not even as bad as my Aunt Flo which is around an 8 typically. So I guess I am lucky. Hang in there, hope you feel better very very soon. Kiva.

Hi Lou Ann, If it were a true bowel obstruction, like I just had, you would have been operated on to prevent a tear. It sounds to me like you had constipation, very severely. Trust me, I just got out of the hospital last week because of bowel obstruction and I had to have major surgery. I've got 6 new holes to go with all the others. I was not allowed to eat or drink for days and they kept me in the hospital doing studies and guess what? All of the studies they do don't even tell them everything so they have to operate anyways. Take colace and stay off the pain meds when possible. Take care, Syndi

Syndi, You are correct. I had a very severe constipation. The nurse at the ER was the one who used the term bowel obstruction. I figured it all out after they sewed up the tear(YEOW!)and sent me home with antibiotics, tucks, hemorroidal cream, and stool softener. I am on the mend, but I sent the hubby out to buy me a "donut" and a sitz bath for the potty seat.(sorry everyone reading this; gross, I know.) NO MORE PAIN MEDS FOR ME!!!!!