I feel like crap!

I had surgery June 15th and the first week home I didn't feel near as crappy as I do now. My incisions look great but the larger one "pulls" and hurts. I constantly have pain in my chest which I'm sure is gas but the only thing that helps it is going to lie down. Is anyone else who is a couple weeks post op feeling crappier than their first week out? I hope this goes away! I have to go back to work Wednesday!

Hi Holly, surgery date 6/12 and every day gets better. Use Gas X for the gas and a heating pad it really did help me. In a couple of weeks we won't even know we had surgery. Are you drinking your proteins and your vitamins this will keep your energy up.

I hAd my surgery on 6/5 and it took me a full 3 weeks to start feeling better. I hope you will start to feel better soon too! Lisa

Holly, I had surgery the same day as you. My incisions are still a bit sore and its still hard moving around - like lying on my side and getting in and out of the car. I still walk slow. I also have pain in my chest but only after I have drank too much at once. I am still on clear liquids. Right under my breastbone is where I get the sensation of being "full." I have heard others say this as well. I'm not really feeling worse than I did the first week. I had some complications following my surgery which set my recovery back about a week. I'm getting better slower than I thought I would. Mainly, I believe because I'm having problems getting in all my liquids, protein and vitamins. I do better on them each day but still don't get the minimum amounts in. All the protein powders I've tried so far give me very bad gas pains which makes me not want to drink anything else and the cycle goes on. I went back to work on Friday afternoon. Only for 3 hours which was just about all I could do. I go back for a full day on Monday, then the holiday then full time Wednesday. I have a desk job but I have just taken over a new section so will be learning new things. A lot of detailed brain work!! Good luck to you. I'm confident that within a few weeks we will both be over the hump and on the journey of our lives. Email me if you want. We're in this together. Cheri RNY 6/15/06 239/212/200.5/125

Hi Holly, The other thing is....if you're ever not sure you can ALWAYS call your doctor. My surgery was on the 21st and my incicions, believe it or not, are almost healed. I can only attribute that to all the protein I pounded before hand....and still do. For me....I've learned to look at gas as a good thing and here's why. I got out on Friday and felt increasingly grrreat up until Wednesday. Then I just felt yuck.....but ah....no gas, no constant going to the bathroom with strange bowels. All that just stopped. I felt worse and worse. Then I was cleaning my teeth and happened to look at my tongue and OMG.....I had thrush. This is a fungal infection that starts down in your digestive tract and works it's way up until it gets in your mouth....and it is so gross. I went right away to the ER and got a prescription for nystatin. This happens to some people after large doses of antibiotics. Now I'm back to feeling better and being gassier. If the gas is annoying....I put up with it. If it gets painful I calm it down with a gas-X strip. As for the pain, it's possible you are trying to eat to fast or drink too much at one time. Slight discomfort in my upper chest has become a signal to me to SLOW down. It's part of the tool. Make sure your meal takes 30 to 40 minutes to consume and just sip sip sip your liquids. I have learned that my pouch will comfortably hold (right now) 7 small sips of liquid at a time. So it doesn't seem like I'm constantly putting the bottle up and down to my mouth. That was driving me nuts. I hope this helps and I'll pray for you to feel better! Amy

Holly...I felt the same way as you are feeling 2 weeks out. What are you drinking for protein drinks and are you using milk? I was fine and dandy until my second week, come to find out I had developed an intolerance to lactose. The lactose would create an awful feeling in my stomach; burning, gas and bloating. I started using the chewable lactaid and it helped so much, now I just need an occasion gas-ex. At first I didn't think that it could have been the lactose because cottage cheese and yogurt didn't bother me. The lactose has been broke down in cultured dairy products so they wont have the same effects as milk or even the milk based proteins in the drinks. Just an idea, hope you start feeling better. Hugs, Stacy

Wow! Lots of good info! Looks like we've all had similar experiences. I think I'm drinking too fast. I drink water all day but sometimes I don't sip. I sortof guzzle. I will definately try slowing it down a bit. I'm feeling much better today. I developed some sort of bumpy rash on my back yesterday and I have NO idea what it's from. The only thing I did differently was I took a Tylenol. So I bought some benadryl in case I was having an allergic reaction to something. Didn't help my rash but instantly my incision stopped hurting and hasn't bothered me since! WEIRD! At any rate, thanks for everyone's advice and support! Helps SO much!!!