5 days post-op...when will I quit feeling yucky??? (long-ish)

Okay, I'll admit it up front...I just really need to whine. I've stayed off the boards since I got home from the hospital cuz I didn't want to be a whiner, but there are a few things that I am still surprised by in all this, and I just really need to share. Do you mind? Could you lend an ear? First off, what is with the psycho sadistic flourescent light show hospital nurses like to put on at 3 a.m.??? You know the one I mean...where they wait til you have finally found an almost comfy spot, then sneak in and flip on every flourescent light in the room, whip back your warm blankies and aim yet another needle at some new portion of your already abused anatomy??? Can't they get all that over with before you try to sleep?? Is it absolutely imperative that blood tests need to be drawn at FIVE A.M.??? Then...the gas is something that has to be experienced to be believed! I'm not talking about that pansy kind where you flutter the covers a little, grin sheepishly, and say "pardon me." I'm talking the CO2 that has to dissipate through your muscles following Laproscopic surgery so that you feel like someone snuck up on you and shoved a knife through your shoulders or up under your ribs. Just exactly how long is that going to take to go away??? Then, the 36 hour wait for the tiniest sip of water...and then it turns out to be tap water!! Have these people never heard of Poland Springs?? And so I ask my hubby to bring me a bottle...you know, like maybe 8 or 16 ounces...and he brings in a bloody GALLON!! Like, who can lift a gallon of water after abdominal surgery? I finally come to the end of my journey at the hospital, and have my drain removed. The PA just says, as he gets ahold of the thing, "I find the best way is to just keep going once I start", which he proceeds to do while I am expressing my sentiments in VERY colorful word choices! Is that the ickiest feeling ever? Actually, I have friends who say it didn't bother them at all, so if you haven't gone there yet, keep in mind that everyone experiences each step differently...so, though it was one of the worst experiences in my life, others find it a breeze. The PA had to forcibly remove my fingers from the side rails before they bent (the side rails, not my fingers) and order me repeatedly to breathe...no, BREATHE. Do you remember how to do that? You have to suck air IN, ma'am. No, stop holding your breath...I said Breathe! Then I get in the car...where my DH decides it would be far better to drive 45 mph and hit every single pot hole in town in the interests of getting me home quickly, rather than going slow and smoothe. I am sooooo unappreciative!! What is wrong with me??? Well, then the fun stuff. Did any of you feel like you were having the baby blues?? I mean, I was weeping over commercials for crying out loud! Tears just kept welling up over the stupidest things for 2 days. If I wasn't already hurting, I would have just slapped myself. Someone sure needed to! And, even though my period ended the day BEFORE surgery, it decided to start all over again the evening after surgery! That is just plain NOT FAIR! THEN...trying to find a comfy spot to sleep when one has been a belly sleeper for life. Trust me any of you out there who don't already know it...you will NOT be sleeping on your side or tummy for a while. BS (before surgery) I couldn't really see what the big deal was about getting in your daily 4-6 cups of fluid....well, today is the first day I have managed to swallow 16 ounces rather than 8...and it took 16 hours!! I can't believe how HARD it is to actually drink (sip) water or whatever. I feel like I need to get a home IV kit and just hook it up! Who'da thunk that one ounce of protein powder enhanced SF jello would make one feel so full that it was about to ooze out of one's ears?? These are things that just have to be experienced to be believed! It's a little cool, but a lot scarey...I mean, I could chug a 16 oz glass of tea in a matter of minutes before...and jello was just something to hold together the fruit and whipped topping of choice for a very light desert. Now jello is my main food group? geesh! Okay, so (are you still there?? have you given up on my whine and moved on to more interesting things by now?) I found that my bestest friend is a tighly rolled bath towel held together with pony-tail holders to aid in the whole coughing without ripping out your insides experience. I feel like I need to draw a face and give it a name or something like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I already had to call my surgeon's office, who thinks I may already be dealing w/ vitamin deficiency as the whole outer side of my right thigh has gone quite numb. Ahhh...if only my belly would go numb!! Finally, just when I think, okay, I think I can handle this as long as it doesn't get any worse (brace yourself!), my hubby runs an errand and my 8 yr old decides to go out in the snow-covered yard to play. He is out there maybe 5-10 minutes before I hear this horrible scream! It takes me bloody FOREVER to inch my way out over icy mounds holding my towel tighly against my gut, to see what's wrong, and the kid is on the ground holding his arm and sobbing, saying "I slipped." I couldn't pick him up, or even help him up. I felt so totally useless as a mom at that moment. I had to tell him to get up and follow me into the house where I could check and see what he had done to himself. Well, as I stared at his wrist that doesn't quite match the other one anymore, I have to call DH and suggest urgently that he cut his errand short and get home as I suspect his son has just gotten his first broken bone. I called neighbors to see if any of them had any experience with broken bones, so by the time DH finally arrives, there are 3 rather clueless women standing together staring at my son's wrist going, "duh, I dunno, maybe it could be broke" like any of us were being the slightest bit of help to this poor child. Well, as my hubby had his hands full dealing with a sobbing and possibly broken child, I stayed home and waited while he took him to the urgent care center to be checked. Well, he did it! That child actually broke his arm! Apparently, after being with me for the past two days, he tells the doctor, "don't make me laugh, it hurts too much." My hubby had to remind him that he had NOT had stomache surgery, so laughing would NOT make his arm hurt. I don't know about that though...seems like any moving would be painful! They splinted it and he gets to go to the orthopedist tomorrow for his first cast. He sure didn't appreciate it when I told him to cheer up cuz it was his left arm, so that meant he could still do homework! I think another day or two of this and my husband is going to beg his boss to let him come back from leave early just so he can get some peace! On a positive note, I've lost 14 pounds so far. Thanks for listening. My friends love to hear me go on a rant cuz they think I'm funny, so if I have inadvertently made you giggle, I apologise, and I hope you have your bestest friend closely gripped as you read. If any of this stuff sounds familiar to you, could you let me know so I can stop worrying that maybe I am completely losing my mind?

Hi Kim, Boy I bet it felt good to get al of that out of your system. Now that you have just. The pain of surgery will pass and as the pounds start melting away I sure you will be gleefully writing about how your clothes don't fit anymore and how you can't wait to go shopping ! Keep the faith girl! It will get "Alot" better real soon! Take Care,

Is it bad of me to have laughed at most of it? I have had stomach surgery before and I know what you are talking about with some of it. Also I swear that my hubby will hit all the holes too.

You will be feeling better real soon. I am sorry but I had to chuckle at your message, especially the way you wrote about your experience, you have a good sense of humor, that will go along way. But ,I can relate to most of things you have experienced, except the numb leg, and my son breaking an arm. I hope you are both healing and feeling better soon.

Actually, I kinda aim for funny. Beats the heck out of true whining and allows me to see the lighter side of things so I don't feel so overwhelmed. So it's perfectly fine to chuckle. I promise not to hold it against you. I'm feeling a bit better today. I think maybe I will just quit the pain meds and go to Tylenol. That diladen (sp?) kinda makes me feel like my skin is inside out and I have waking nightmares that are a bit bizarre...so maybe I'll just kick the habit, eh? Is there a magic day that it quits hurting, though? At what point do you start to feel more "yourself"? Had some homemade turkey broth today. I liked the warmth of it rather than cold jello (warm jello just doesn't quite work, y'know). Much more soothing sensation on the pouch. Well, so much to do and so little time...I was thinking of being truly narcissistic today and watching a soap opera...nah...who needs to with the week I've had, huh? Besides, what's a soap opera without a box of bon-bons? Course, I suppose I could do jello shooters and just pretend they were decadent chocolates or something

Kimberly, I didnt chuckle, I laughed outloud. I know it isnt funny in the realistic way, but you have a great way of wording things. I am not sure if you had Lap or open, so its hard for me to comment. I was very sore the first few days, but found I weaned myself off pain killers very quick because they actually make the pain seem more intense when wearing off than just some tylenol. Also the more you walk, the better the pain from the surgery and from the "gas". Moving helps the blood circulate and the healing process accelerate. Now about the water and hopefully clear Isopure (even if its disgusting) The less you drink the worse you are making it for yourself. I dont want to preach, but been around a long time and have seen what happens when postops become dehydrated and malnuitritioned. Very hard to catch up. I would suggest CONSTANTLY sipping. Tiny sips (and I mean tiny)from a straw almost every 2 minutes. You should be able to get in at least 8 ounces an hour doing this. If not get to the ER cause liquids pass with no blocks and if its sitting in your throat you are BLOCKED. This isnt normal at all But if you are trying to sip a full ounce at once and it hurts so it stops you from doing it, you are making this worse for yourself. I am not preaching, I just remember the feelings, but the more you drink the easier it gets, PROMISE!!!!! Good luck and I love your sense of humor. Tee

I am hysterical and am 7 days post-op, but the laugh was definitely worth it. I too have been crying at the drop of a hat and know exactly what you mean about the water. Every once in a while I get involved in something and without thinking take a huge swig of water - then have to either hold it in my mouth and slowly swallow, or run to the nearest place where I can spit it out. Definitely not attractive as my 5 year old has pointed out numerous times! Who knew the pain a little water could cause! Anyway, the pounds melting away make all the pain and aggrevation worth it! Good luck and keep me posted on how it goes!

I know you have had quite the response to your post but as someone who is a recent post-op I had to weigh in (forgive the pun). I was really upset about not getting to sleep on my stomach too and the first time I trid to roll onto my side I was like -OK, not gonna happen. I really felt terrible and someone mentioned that they felt better at about 8-9 days and that was a turning point for me too. You think you will feel substantially better each day and when you dont or feel worse you are dragged into your own misery. That incision pain will start to subside too - I remember having to cough but feeling like I'd rather just die. One night I thought , comedy central...thats a good idea. My husband got to laughing and I did too and I had to start swinging to get him to stop. That was the worst. Im over all that now, I actually went to a party at 12 days out and even though I was the sober one - drinking my yummy protein shake, I actually danced with the drunk ladies without much pain. It gets better and then the mental issues of not eating kick in. Thats where I am now, not so lovingly refering to the people around me as "chewers". Keep posting and reading others strugles, it cements that you arent crazy and will get there. Congrats on the 14 pounds.

Hey! No response goes unnoticed! Every single comeback reminds me that I am not alone and that there is sanity out there waiting for me somewhere! I just have to look under the right mushroom to find it.

OMIGOD!!! I have to say you are the best!!To find humor makes evrything better, trust me ! I have to say, the pot hole thing reminded me of my first trip out, I took on Walmart at 5 days post-op, rather than killling off my loving-oh-so-suffcating family!! I do not reccomend it, but I bought the best sugar-free popsicles (actually I bought EVRY kind they had at walmart--I may still have some left) The gas pains will pass, wait til you burp like a trucker...my family calls me "Butch" I cried at night a few times when I could not find a comfortable spot to sleep, and ended up kicking my guy out of his 'sacred" recliner for a week!!! It gave me just enough stretch without pulling on my tummy and it kinda launched me out when i needed to get up! I do reccomend walking around your house, i did laps every day (with 2 dogs following me thinking "what the heck is she doing now?") believe it or not, it got rid of the gas pains and gave me something to acheive each day!! Good luck on your journey...a year from now you will be in my shoes and will hopefully provide some "oh so helpful" humor filled comments to a newbie...keep smiling Drea