6 days post op and it has not been fun!!!

I have to say that with all the millions of posts I have read I never in my wildest dreams thought it could be this way!!!! When I came home I just had that really bad gas, and a little pain, since then I went to the hospital on Friday for a leak test that showed everything was great, although I felt like I had a rock in my sternum, doc said sometimes people have a hard time with water!!! GREAT. So anyways for the most part I have NOOOOOOO energy, feel like crap, miss food horribly, started dry heaving this morning, feeel like I got ran over by a MAC truck. I know, I know, I just had major surgery..... I just never imagined all this, and where I know in a couple of months I will be glad I did this, I have been crying up a storm, with regrets and the mourning of my best friend "FOOD"!!! I hate liquids and barely can get them down, and they just get tiresome. I have however lost 12 lbs but is not very easy to get excited about it when I feel awful!!!! Well i hope that things get better really soon, and would love to hear the honesty of the people that just really felt like poop after the surgery. Thanks for replying and sharing! Christi

Christi, I felt like complete poop after surgery. I thought I must have been insane to agree to this. The pain was so much more than I expected, and I am still on pain meds almost 2 weeks later. People (aka my dad) have tried to tell me that I must never eat anything sweet again and that seems horrible. I want to be able to take a bite of something if I want it! That's what makes me mad most. The only thing I could stomach in the beginning was apple juice. I'm doing a lot better now, but still have pain and gas, etc. It really does help in some sick and twisted way to hear that someone else wasn't ready to run a marathon the day after surgery. Everyone is different, that's for sure. Best wishes, Cara W.

Christi, I'm only six days post op also. Felt pretty great at first, cause everyone keeps saying how great I'm doing, but I am beginning to doubt because I still have terrible gas pains and the liquids went right through me at first. Now it seems like everything has shut down on that end if you know what I mean. My diet at this point is supposed to consist of pureed foods, but I don't think I'm tolerating them well, cause they seem stuck in my sternum! I wonder should I go back to full liquids (broth, jello, etc.) for now. I know what you mean about foods being your best friend. When we will be able to enjoy just being able to digest something again?

Hi Christi, Believe me... been there, done that! I cried and cried wondering what I did to myself and boy did I want to turn back time. Head hunger hit me almost immediately and it sucked big time. Almost 2 weeks out now and things are progressively getting better. I have less pain everyday and I have more energy everyday. Not sure how long it will take before I can go a day without a nap, but I'm sure I'll get there. Now that I can have pureed food, I have that bit of energy. It helped me to get out this weekend for a while and walk (no matter how slow!!) around. When I was told that I lost 20 pounds in 10 days, it helped a little. Granted I didn't jump through hoops, but it was nice to hear!! Give yourself another week or so and I'm sure you'll feel a little better. It still isn't easy, but it has gotten better. Take care and keep us posted. Hugs, Kelly

ahhhh, call me sick and twisted, so nice to know that I am not just a whiner and that there are fellow sufferers, lol. love you girls for replying, lets hope this passes and we feel like a million bucks soon. Love ya Christi

Well Christi this is also my 6th day post op and I am wondering to myself if I truely made the right decesion. I still have problems with the water and I also miss food. Last night I chills right down to the bone and this morning I feel very weak. I just keep thinking that this has got to get better. I can't wait until I can start solids this week. Although I am not hungry I do have to urge to chew. Hopefully when I return to work this week my mind won't be so focused on food. It's ashamed that they could'nt have erase that memory from our brains while we were in surgery!

I AM 20 DAYS POST OP AND FELT THE SAME WAY YOU FELT IF NOT WORST. TRUST ME IT GETS BETTER. JUST WAIT IT OUT . YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

also 6 days post op and I have been blessed I guess the pain has been minimal but that's thanks to a great surgeon. I am although having the missing food thing I cheated and had some cottage cheese with manderin oranges last night (so far so good) I chewed it very well so maybe that helped. i do love my naps but if you make yourself move and walk it will fool your mind and body into thinking you have more energy. Try Isopure shakes they will help with the energy and hunger this is all short term pain for long term gain I'm sorry so many of you feel bad but I'll keep you all in my prayers Take care God Bless TCB Todd

It's so good to here others say they miss food!! I'm 5 days out and I remember being told by friends of mine that "oh, you won't want food, the smell of food will make you sick". BS, I think about food and smell food cooking and want it bad. I guess everyone's surgeon puts them on a different program but I'm on clear liquids another day which makes 6 days and then days 7-20 I'm on full liquids and then puree's and then soft foods. I won't even be eating "real food" until April. I did something horrible today. My mom made herself a steak with onions and I sucked the flavor from a piece of meat and then spit the meat out. So, you are not the only one who misses food. Good luck. Temeka

Dear Christi, The first two and a half weeks were pure torture. I was so tired, weak, and just felt like craX. Last week I was nauseous all of the time I couldn't get anything down. The only thing I could drink was hot tea. I too questioned if I had done the right thing. I've cried a lot the last couple of weeks too. I am also mourning food. For me it helps just to smell everything. If my husband or kids are eating something that I really want I just sit and smell it. For some reason that helps. I have also out lawed some food in my house until I am better to handle it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that it does get better. The last 2 1/2 weeks have been the longest of my life, but I think I have finally crossed over and I am feeling better. I had more energy and didn't have that much nausea. It will get better.