Recovery and St Vincent

Hello all. I am in day 4 of my post op status. This is the first day that I am actually hungry and the water I drink all day long is just not cutting it. I have until Mon. when I can start eating soft food. I experience at St. Vincent was really bad. The prep nurse did not believe me when I told her that anestesia makes me really sick so she wouldn't call anyone to ask them if I could have anything. Finally the anestesiologist came in and I convinced her that I was going to get really sick. She ordered something for me and I never got it. As far as the surgery itself, I was told it went very well. Then the ordeal began.  First off there is an LPN there named Madolyn that about drove me nut in recovery. She thought it was her responsibility to tell me every food I could never eat again and she continued to tell me the list every day I was in the hospital.  While I was being wheeled to my room on the 4th floor, I kept getting sicker and sicker. I told the nurses taking me that I was getting sick. They told me to take deep breaths. When they finally got me to my room after getting lost they put my bed beside the hospital bed and got the two stuck together. Madolyn started jerking on the beds and my stomach had too much and I started throwing up.  She actually looked at me and asked me why I did that?  Did I not  take deep breaths like she told me to? If I could've gotten out of that bed.  Then just about every nurse or cna totally ignored me unless they needed something. Including when I had been running a slight fever. I called to see if someone could take me temp because I thought it had gone up because I was freezing. I called 3 times and then finally had to haul my keester up to the nurses station. The one bright light was a contract RN from Maine named April. She was always there right after I called and answered any question I had. She was the only positive thing about St. Vincent. I pray to God I never have to go there again. Anyway, what can I do about this hunger thing? Tina

Holy cow.  I am sorry your experience at St. Vincent was so bad.  I had my open RNY done at Baptist and I don't think I've ever been to St. Vincent (even to see family, friends, etc).  Seems to me like I heard that that was typical of St. Vincent though.  Didn't you have to go there because of your insurance though?  Sorry you had a bad experience either way. As far as the hunger thing, is it real hunger or head hunger?  Are you allowed to have skim milk?  That feels like a MEAL to me (even now)!  Are you allowed to have cream soups?  Sugar free jello?  Sugar free popsicles are great to give you that chewing on something sensation.   Hope that helps!  Good luck! 

I am pretty sure this is real hunger. My stomach is growling and I feel like I have an empty pit. I have been eating sf jello but it only lasts for about five minutes. The popsickle helps too but five minutes later my stomach is growling.  I will hold out until Mon. it just sucks to be so hungry. I should be able to handle it though, it's not like I have never been on a diet before and practically starved myself. I am not allowed cream soups or anything like that. Just liquids. I weighed today and took my measurments to get a start. I have lost 14 pounds. When I had my prelabs done last Fri. I weighed 324 pounds and today I weighed in at 310. I guess that is what happens when you are getting no more than 50 calories a day. It is nice to talk to someone. My DH is great but he can't possibly understand. I read some where that estrogen is stored in fat and as we lose weight out emotions go nuts. Is this true. I seem to be so emotional right now. Tina

  Hi Tina, Wow!  14 pounds lost, that is great!  It sounds like your hospital experience was not enjoyable.  I hate to hear of your bad experience.  Hang in there!  Your body is making many adjustments right now so it is normal for your emotions to go nuts.  I had my surgery 10 months ago and remember the emotional roller coaster the first few weeks after surgery.  My surgeon required 14 days of a liquid diet post-op prior to soft foods.  I survivied on broths, SF Jello, crystal light, and slushies.  I would take crystal light and ice, crush in a blender, and enjoy a slush.  Don't forget your protein.  I would add a scope of protein mix to my crystal light slush for added benefits.   Take care and welcome to the losing side of things

Man oh man Tina, what a mess you had.  I had my surgery at SVI and it was pretty much like yours, without the nausea issues though.  FYI, Madelyn is the nurse in charge of the bariatric program....ironic, isn't it?  She and I have had many a run in before and after my surgery until I finally just had Dr Gibbs assign me to JoBeth( the nutritionist) at Baptist. Madelyn caused unnecessary delays in my insurance approval and gave me really bad post op diet info.  So, I can surely relate! Now, about the other stuff. The "grumbling" you hear is your intestines and bowel "waking up" after surgery. Remember how the nurses and doctor would listen to your stomach with a stethoscope?  That's what they are listening for. That's what you are feeling, not hunger. The nerves in your stomach that send the signals to your brain were cut during surgery and won't start sending those signals again for quite some time. Please believe me on this, you'll be hearing some pretty weird sounds from your belly for the next few weeks, maybe longer. Yes,  hormones are released from fat stores and you can get emotional, but I think you might also be experiencing the anesthesia leaving your system. I often hear of (and have had it happen to my, too) that I've gotten very weepy in the first days following surgery.  I've had 14 of them now, guess that makes me an "expert"  LOL Also, you're going through a very emotional state right now with a life changing surgery. Be kind to yourself and give it some time....before you know it you'll be on top of the world because you're losing weight so quickly. You should have come home on a full liquid diet, right?  This means creamed soups (fat free, of course) that are made with skim milk and strained. They might be a little more satisfying to you, so give them a try. Cream of wheat or oatmeal thinned down with skim milk or sugar free puddings are good too. Good luck, and if you need anything at all, let us know. Not all of us had our surgeries at SVI, but we've all been down the other part of your journey and are here to help. Take care

Sorry to hear about your horrible hospital experience.  If they send you a satisfaction survey, fill it out and send it back.  I would also complain to my surgeon and the shift supervisor at the hospital about Madolyn.  The squeeky wheel gets the grease.  If enough people complain, they will have to do something about her.  I know that it is impossible at times but always have someone stay with you when you are in the hospital if you can.  A friend or a family member can be a really good advocate for you in a situation like that.  At least you have that part behind you now.  You really do need to be getting in your protein right now.  Are you drinking your protein drinks?  Even instant breakfast mixed with skin milk has everything the more expensive drinks have in them.  There are even good tasting flavored protein powders that you can mix with liquids that will help.  The protein will help keep your body from breaking down your muscles for fuel which will keep you from getting so weak during this time.  Also, your body needs the protein for healing after the surgery.  Also taking Zinc and Vit. C also help speed up the healing process.  Good luck.  

I wasn't told anything about protein at this time. I was told when I start my soft diet [tomorrow] to start making sure I have my protein. So I have had nothing with any protein in it. Let me get this straight. If I don't have any nerves to tell me when I am full. Is that why I can only eat 1 tablespoon of jello. Last night I made me some malt-o-meal and ate one tablespoon. This is such a confusing ride. I studied for this for a year but am begining to realize I don't have a clued as to what I am doing. Susan and others- thanks for your help and I am gonna need all I can get. Tina