Watch how you drink!!!

Hi my friends... After two days of excruciating pain and nausea...I finally came to a realization this morning. Let me start at the beginning.... I came home Tuesday evening and felt pretty good. Got up Wednesday and still felt ok. Then as the day wore on I got worse and worse. I only drank two protein drinks and 48 oz of water that day. Also a teensey amount of broth and even smaller amount of jello. Couldn't stand up straight and felt like death warmed over. I took my pain med and almost threw up (sorry). My husband came in and rubbed my back and I burped (sorry again) and suddenly felt better. I was able to sleep in bed and did pretty good. Woke up Thursday feeling pretty good. Then it went downhill from there. By last night I was begging for relief. Only got in 24 oz of water and one protein drink. Every time I took a drink Oscar would cramp, scream, howl and growl. I had so much pain and it was gas. I tried Mylanta, Gas-x, back rubs, back massager and was crying from the pain, nausea and the "what have I done" 's. Finally took some pain med and went to sleep. Woke up today feeling pretty good and as I was walking I stopped to take a drink and it hit me....I SWALLOW AIR AS I DRINK!!! May not seem like a biggie but as the day goes on and Oscar gets full of air it becomes a huge biggie. When Oscar is full of air there is nowhere for the water to go. That is why I had so much pain and cramping. So I've started to exhale right before I drink and it has made all the difference in the world. I feel so much better today than at this time yesterday. Oscar isn't near as grumbly or painful (oh...he's still Oscar alright and makes his wishes known) and I've almost got 48 oz of water in. Which compared to yesterday is a miracle. I'm also moving gas on my own a little easier. Wow, no wonder babies scream when they have colic. So, the moral of this long post is....be careful when you drink. You may swallow air and get pains and not understand what is going on. Least that is what happened to me. I wish somebody would've told me before I came home that swallowing air was a possibility. Well, they did, kind of, but not to this extreme. I needed to know that it was a possibility with every swallow. Thanks for listening to me vent (or burp). Blessings, Peggy

Hi Peggy, Thank you for sharing this and for being blunt with the details. My surgery is Monday and I appreciate the detail. I'm sorry you had to go through this experience but just think how many of us you have now helped! May you continue to get stronger, feel better and thanks again for sharing your wisdom. God bless you, Kristy

Yes Peggy! Kuddos to you for saving all the rest of us who will be going through this later this month. My surgery date is 9/29. I'll be one of the last ones to go this month. Keep us posted on how you're doing and anything else you discover!

THANKS FOR THAT MY BIG DAY IS 9-19-05.

Hi Peggy, Thank you for the info. What protein drinks are you drinking. the dietician said not to worry about it for a couple of weeks. Hope you continue to improve! Annette

Hey Peggy! I had surgery 9/14 and had a nasty habit of gulping when I drank too. Well, this surgery has a way of working those bad habits out of you, doesn't it! I mean, they tell you what not to do as best they can, but when we actually do step out of line, intentionally or not, a great lesson is learned! Thanks for the post!

Hi Peggy - It's nice to see you again! I'm glad you've unraveled the Oscar mystery - for your sake and, selfishly, for mine as well! Wishing for you that each day continues to get better and better... Mary Mc

Hey, thanks so much for that heads up!! I had my surgery on the 14th,,everything is going well so far. Since reading your post though,,,,I think I will break down and use that little red sippy cup I bought several months ago!! Who cares how it looks!!! Thanks again,,,,wish you the best!! BETSY

Peggy, I nominate you as the Angel of the month ...for the September board. This has to be one of the most valuable posts I've seen. My surgery is tomorrow morning ....and I am now opening my sippy cup package that I bought. I found a sippy cup that is insulted!! Thanks again, Jody