Louisiana, please show your support

I'm just getting back from visiting Gayla S. I planned to stay the night, but she is still in ICU. Gayla is dealing bravely with a tremendous amount of pain and inadequate oxygen levels.

I pray she is strong enough to go to the floor and appreciate all the support and prayers you good people have to offer.

Like a caring mother or a protective big sister (leaning toward mother age, truth be told), it pains me to see one so young struggle with such tremendous pain. I know, however, that our fight is not merely for the moment, but we fight the fight of the future -- a desire to be well, happy and able to reach our true potential. I'm humbled by her strength and I hope we can all catch a glimpse of her commitment and never take our health and wellness for granted.

Please say a prayer or visit her suppor page.

 http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/status.php? N=S1237457166

I plan to return tomorrow night or over the weekend.

All my best,

 Fran

Do they know what is causing her oxygen level to be low? She is definitely in my prayers. It really brings tears to my eyes to see the tremendous support and love on this board.

Fran,

Just wanted to let you know that I visited with Gayla on Thursday and Friday before My husband, who had RNY, and I left to come home Friday night.  He had surgery the day before Gayla.  I tried to encorage her and prayed with her.  She told me you were coming.  I think that is wonderful.  Keep us in mind as my husband, LeRoy, is having a bad day. His stomach feels like it has very bad indigestion.  I am trying everything to help him.  I know that having others is so crucial for recovery.

Melody

Hello Melody,

Thank you for your compassion and support. I wish I could have met you all Thursday or Friday, but my husband and I came both days after work and drove through crazy traffic jams both days. It was dark before we arrived.

We go through a period of extreme discomfort and pain with these surgical procedures. There's lots of meds out there, but don't under estimate the power of just comforting your husband and trying to help him relax. After surgery, the tension and stress and gas are two major accerlators of pain. Both can be eased by helping him relax and changing position.

Find as much variety as you can in these very simple liquid meals -- hot and cold and sweet(ish) and savory as he can tolerate it. I quickly got tired of popsickles and jello. There's a horrible bad taste in the mouth that comes around a week or less out (as our bodies start to give off ketones) that makes everything sweet taste bad.

Hot soups and hot tea will also help ease trapped gas and help it move in one direction or the other. Gas after the surgeries is unlike the "gas" we have experienced before. It's extreme and can feel like the pain of heart attacks or as difficult as labor pains. It's sharp and makes resting more difficult. I got a new body pillow a couple of days after surgery and starting using it to turn in bed or cuddle on the couch.

I also use herbs and spices (not pepper stuff) in my simple soups and broths to add some variety. Having some warm herbed broth or herbal tea is also a good comfort to the gas discomfort.

You can also try some massage to help him relax and this will aid the pain killers. Even on the hardest pain killers, I tend to tense up and make new pains and sore limbs in the process.

I can appreciate the dedication that you are showing to your husband and I'm happy that it will help you both extend the time you have together and boost his quality of life. Yes, right now is a dark moment, but trust me -- IT DOES GET BETTER

Please let me know how things are going with y'all and maybe our paths will cross some time soon.

All my best,
Frances