As of Saturday....

Post Date: 3/29/08 8:55 pm
Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm home from MMPC (Blodgett).  I went into surgery around 12:30pm on Tuesday and was in there a couple of hours and a couple of hours recovery and then was on the road to come home at 1:30pm the next day.  

I wasn't thrilled that I was out so early.  I think it was too soon.  You stay on the morphine drip the entire time you're there, just until you're released.  So you're not feeling "too bad" while there.. then we had to make the 1.5 hour trip home.  That was torture.  

I was sick all night when I got home.  I didn't vomit, but was so sick to my stomach.  I had a low-grade fever for some reason (supposed to call them at 101 or above, mine was 100).  I had terrible chills, face was so red .. i was miserable.  I wanted to die.  

That was Tuesday Night.  Wednesday wasn't much better.  I was doingmy 10 minute walks every hour, even thru the nights since I wasn't able to sleep.  Had nothing to eat Wednesday, couldn't tolerate anything, not even drinking.  I did force myself sips of carnation instant breakfast.  that took everything I had.   Took everything I had to get thru Wednesday....

I called MMPC Thursday morning because I was sick to my stomach and wasn't able to take any of my prescriptions.  For one, the taste, bitter when crushed.  I couldn't tolerate it.  I knew if I did try again I aws going to vomit and I was trying hard to NOT do that.  They told me to get sugar free applesauce and try the pills in there... tried that.. that was HORRIBLE.
Reminded me of amonia in applesauce for some reason.

Friday morning I called MMPC, I still wasn't feeling better.  Thought I wanted to die.  I wasn't really passing any gas, so I was pretty miserable from gas.  When I would try to drink anything I would get a "hiccup" that really hurt.  By Friday evening I was beginning to wonder why I did this surgery.  I still hadn't eaten or drank anything.  I could tell my body was in need of one or both.  I called MMPC back at 4pm, asked if they forgot to call me back.  By 4:45 they had called back, said if I got this message before 4:45 to call them back (!!!????!!!), if not call the PA on call and they would call me something in for being nausea's (spelling?).  I called and Matt called me in some meds.  I went right to the pharmacy and got them.  I was a little leary about taking anything but knew I needed to feel better...

After about 30 minutes of taking that pill, I was feeling SO MUCH BETTER.  I was able to sip on some water, some CIB and some of the bariatric chicken noodle soup (just a spoon of everything but that was more than I'd had in days!!).

The pills are supposed to last "12 hours" but I get about 8 out of them before I have to take another one, if not I feel like I'm dying, or want to.  I got some more soup down today, nearly 1 full packet and a few sips of water here and there. I got my vitamins both down and ate many popsicles. (Edy's fruit bars are so far the best tasting).  8 hours got here and I was sick again.. lay on the floor, house spinning, I want to die SICK.  I took the pill and I was good after about 30 minutes.  I then drank more water and am feeling better.

I don't know why I'm so sick to my stomach.  I don't know how long I'll have to be on these pills? (they melt in my mouth). I also don't know how I'm going to get back on track to take all of my prescriptions (blood pressure meds, lexapro and many others)... I'll have to figure that out.  

Right now I just wanted to let everyone know how I'm doing.

Thanks again,
Annette

Because you are doing too much too early. Soft bland nothings frequently. The pills will make you sick. Cold or hot liquids will make you sick. Go lighter. Don't chase your pain. Take your dope on schedule because the pain can make you nauseous too. kp

What am I doing too early?  I'm confused.  I'm doing just what they told me to do... and it's taking everything I have.  They want me to crush all my pills, I can't.  Then they said "if you can tolerate them whole, try it that way"... It's like I'd rather just drink water and eat popsicles cuz nothing else agrees

Soup??? I must have missed something. I was on clear liquids for a week. I drank 3 oz of watered down broth about every hour and a half. Carnation instant breakfast??? No chance in H   E   double toothpicks that soon out. In fact I haven't had it since I was cut. That means milk too. I took liquid Vicodin (Loritab). We metabolize drugs faster because it moves through faster. I only get 75% of the time frame for a drug  - if it has any effect at all. Go on clear liquids - Campbell's chicken noodle or vegetable beef soup with the broth skimmed off and  cut by 30%.  Jello - watery.  SF popsicles-slow. No Ice cold stuff. Good luck. If you want to call me - PM me directly and I will send yo my number and I will help you through some of the nausea tricks. kp

Ok Annette, take a deep breath.....and try to relax.  Before you call the doc again, write down a consise list of what's going on. I'm wondering if your meds come in liquid form, and if so, why they didn't give them to you that way so you could take them post op.   Find that out.  You may just have to space them out so you only swallow one pill every 1/2 hour or so. Second.....everything you put in your mouth at this stage has the potential to not agree with you.  Just like they do with babies, you need to try one thing at a time and eat it 3 or 4 times before you move on to something else.  If you are trying sf popsicles, then make sure they are ok before you move on to something else.  Once you feel they are ok, start with the broth.  You never know what is going to make you sick. Third......this is just my experience.  I was nauseous for two weeks after surgery.  Just like you were describing.  I didn't call my doc because I'm stubborn and a little stupid sometimes, so I didn't get a script to help it.  I did mention it to them at my 2 week visit and after everything was ruled out, it was determined that it was just a side effect of having my guts scrambled around.  It did eventually go away, but I was laying on my couch cursing myself because water was making me want to throw up.  I ended up in the ER from dehydration because I just couldn't think about drinking anything else.  Your best bet is to find a high protein drink (like CIB but with a scoop of protein mixed in) and just sip on that whenever you can until it eases up.  If you're sure that the docs have ruled everything else out, you may just be "one of those people" like I was.  It will go away...and not surprising considering what your digestive system has just gone through. I hope this helps ease your mind a little, even if it doesn't help with your physical symptoms.  PS-after about 17 days, I woke up and all of the sudden I felt great!

Soup--- it's the bariatric soup we were on two prior to surgery... chicken noodle, cream of mushroom... THAT soup.  I have to take the noodles out of the cn, too much for me. I like the broth.  As for the CIB, that is what they gave me in the hospital instead of Unjury.  So, I'm supposed to be doing my 1point soups (as described) my 1 point hot chocolates, or my cream of vegetable soup (also 1point).  We are supposed to be having 4 points of this "food" a day and try to get in 64 ounces of water a day (or jello or popsicles)... Heck, I can't get 8 ounces of water in without feeling like my pouch is going to explode (and yes I'm sipping it).   I am going to try to do only the ckicken noodle tonight, but make it more like you suggested "broth" so we are going to strain every bit of everything out of it.  I do feel very "thirsty" .. just cant get the water down fast enough with having to "sip" it. As for my meds, I was told by the nurse to take them 10 minutes apart.  I am supposed to crush all of them, except one cannot be crushed.  Two of my meds are "melt in your mouth" type and of course those aren't the problem. I haven't taken ANY pain medication since the night I got home and maybe that isn't helping?  I almost lost all my soul when I took that liquid vicoden.. thought I was going to vomit... you know that feeling? lol  awful.  So I just haven't taken anything. So... I'm just going to try the vitamins (flintstone chewable, the melting prescriptions, and the broth for the next couple of days and see if that helps).  I'll stay away from everything else. Thanks for the help

One last thing...unlike KP, when I could tolerate stuff, it had to be ice, ice cold.  I froze all of my crystal light and sf kool aid and basically crushed them up like slurpees so I could have them.  That might help withthe nausea too.  I don't really understand why they gave you CIB instead of a protein drink.  It doesn't have that much protein in it.  But, your plan sounds like a good one.  Take it easy and hopefully things will get better. 

Hello Annette.  I don't have any word of wisdom just wanted to say I am sorry that you feel so awful and I hope you feel better quickly.

Hi Again

Brenda, I have found that I do great with popsicles, the Edy's SF fruit bars and after talking to everyone tonight my husband and I decided since I seem to be doing good with ice cold things, to do just that..freeze everything..LOL  So far, this is the first time I haven't wanted to throw up..LOL

All I have had tonight is a popsicle and I've taken my nausea pill...so tomorrow we'll see how things go.

I will keep you posted.  Thanks again everyone, I appreciate the support.  Time for bed ;-)

Oh Annette! You just described my husband's entire post op experience.  I attribute it to the fact that you are off your regular medications.  He could not tolerate them crushed either and he was not normal until after he took them and got back on schedule.  He cut the pills that he could into halves or thirds and took them that way.  He could not tolerate the ideas the PA's gave him to try to get his pills down.  Try cutting the pills and swallowing them.  You will feel much better when your meds are back on track. You should call and get MMPC to call in a different pain medicine for you because as KP said, pain can make you nauseous.  You are doing just fine with the food packages from MMPC.  It took me weeks to be able to get 4 whole points worth of food down.  Try and focus on drinking your liquids.  I still have some MMPC foods here if you need anything, I would be glad to bring them to you. Please keep us updated as to how you are doing.  Try and remember that this will all be worth it. Jenn