5 day POST-op update!!

Hi everyone! Its been 5 days since surgery...so far so good. I don't have much pain. I think just normal stuff. For those that didn't know, I had a fever of just a bit over 101 the first day home, I called and Dr. said asked what I was all feeling and came to the conclusion on sleeping sitting up, sounded more like a "lung" thing. That helped, plus my liquid Lortab brought my fever down. So I slept upright for the first couple nights here and took my lortab at night cuz thats when my fever would start to return, just not past 100 anymore. Yesterday we went to the Mall here in town. I wanted to get out and do some good walking...got to start feeling some of the "holiday spirit" out there! I'd say we were out for almost 3 hours...I did rest some too. I can't seem to get rid of the gas...my Dr. hasn't said anything about "gas-X" I finally called the clinic before they closed yesterday and they told me to take 1 dose, just 1 and no more of Milk of Magnesia and if that doesn't help to call or go up to the emergency room! That kind of freaked me out! I have a gassy, bloating feeling...I can eventually pass some of it but it comes back. I thought the first few days that is normal. I feel all blown up inside, I can feel the rumblings of the gas, but I still feel all bloated. Not to mention then yesterday I got my period, so more bloating. Now I'm kind of second guessing my "normal" feelings. None of this is really normal to me yet. Sometimes i take a drink ( I have no problem getting in my fluids) and it feels like "heartburn" like it wants to come back for a second....I figure that is cuz I took to big of sip, after a second or if I stand or straighten my position, it goes right away. I do have a question.....I haven't been able to blow up that breathing thing they sent me home with any more than on the day I went home. Sometimes it feels like my lungs are pressured...I can take a deep breath, once in awhile I take to deep a breath and I get that same "full or pressure feel". I'm breathing good, but I did have some sinus crude and I was coughing up crude after my surgery. They didn't think anything of it. I'm definetly keeping an eye on that....I'm not sure if that's "normal". Past that, I can now sleep on each of my sides, I great, only wake up maybe twice to go pee-pee, get out of bed easily...I've been cooking my family dinner the last couple of days, doesn't even bother me...think they're glad to have me back on track So for those who've read my blow by blow update....thank you so much...also a BIG thanks to Carol N. for updating for me and EVERYONE here to their prayers and support...couldn't be a nicer place the this site and all you great people!!

I've heard that it can take up to a month to get rid of the gas and fluids from surgery.  And the drugs can also cause constipation with gas.  So while you are passing the gas from surgery, the pain meds could be adding more back in.  I never got the lung thing past my hospital threshhold either.  I gave it to both my daughters to try and they never got any higher than I did either.  As long as you are doing it you are exercising your lungs so you are helping them.  Until you get rid of the heavy feeling in your chest area, don't stop doing the pump.  Another suggestion would be to slow down the drinking to sips because if you are too full of fluid, you can have an uncomfortable feeling too.  The pouch is right below your sternum so feeling heavy there may be you are overloading the pouch with too much water.  That could explain the wanting to come back up.  The size of your sip should be the size of a thimble -- literally sip, sip, sip.  Eventually, as the pouch grows, you can take bigger sips but not for a fews weeks.  I'm six weeks out and I still take small sips because I can sure tell when I took in too much.  It hurts like a charlie horse in the top of my pouch.  Usually forcing myself to burp will relieve it.  But "heartburn" burning is not normal -- you may want to get on a anti-heartburn medication so you don't develop ulcers in your pouch.   Hope this all helps.....Glad you are home and getting back to "normal".  You will be feeling a lot better VERY soon!!! XXOO

 

Barbk, Thank you so much for the reply! I will watch out for the "heartburn" feeling I think you are right though about the "filling up" of the pouch, that's where I feel that full sensation, right below the sternum some times. I am trying to "sip,sip" not even do a half of a swallow, which is more of what I was thinking a "sip" was. Yeah, sometimes it goes down kind of "hard" so I figured I was doing something not quiet right. Thanks Again for the help!!

Super to see a post from you and doing so well!
I have no advice but that's okay, coz Barb gave you a LOT of good advice already!

Just wanted to offer prayers of support that your healing continues .....I know each day will get better and better for you!!

Great to hear you're overall doing well. I had the gas pain problem the first night home. I let it build up all day. Finally sent my mom to the store at 1am to get some GasX chewables. I have used 1-2 a day since and have found great relief. I am surprised your doc says only 1. I guess 1 dose is 1-2 tablets I think. I got my period the day of surgery, noticed it the first time I went to the bathroom after surgery. It has definitely added some discomfort. I don't think I have ever had cramps as bad, and from what I have heard they're bad for the first few months. I'm trying to be frugal with my dilaudid for those times. I have actually found my cramps and bloating from my period worse than anything I have been feeling since surgery. As far as the lung thing, definitely keep doing your spirometer. It's ok if you're still at the level you were at in the hospital. I stayed at the level I was pre-op. Coughing and deep breaths will help clear your lungs. Good luck with the things that are bothering you. Keep up the sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk. I have definitely found walking helps with the gas a lot.

Alayna, That's right, you were the next day after me...glad everything went well for you, sorry for not catching that. No....my Dr. didn't say anything about using GasX, he wanted me to go and get a bottle of Milk of Magnesia and take just 1 dose...I wasn't constipated, just gassing up...that's why I was confused, but Milk of Mag is what he told me to get...so I wasn't able to be relieved with GasX as you were. Sure wish I would have though....but I followed what he said. I also got my period, yesterday though....it sucks! Now you feel more bloated and cramped! Yeah, I've got about 3/4 of my bottle of Lortab left...it will be good for period time. Thanks and looking forward to keeping up with our future progresses!! Sherry-

As far as the heartburn feeling it is and can be a normal part of bypass surgery. You still have some acid making receptors in your pouch, and they still work. Dr. Glass gave me a prescription for it after my second surgery, and said it was simply to prevent stress ulcers from the trauma of the surgery. If it doesn't go away, you may want to give him a call and get a prescription. It is a time released med that comes in little round capsules that you are able to empty out, yes, I know that is not the case in all time released meds, but in this case it seems to be ok according to Dr. Glass. It took about a week, but the heartburn feeling for me went away, and hasn't come back since. Good luck with healing, hope to see you on the 24th!

Ditto what Barb said!  You are doing a-ok for now. Give it time. I hope you have a good week....please keep us posted. Good wishes coming your way...connie d

Thanks all! Yeah, I feel really good tonight! It's just that little heartburn feeling, no different than when I needed Prilosec...same feeling. It's not terrible, just making sure it was somewhat normal. Thanks for all the responses. That's right...the 24th....I'm sure I'll feel just fine by then...Thanks again!! Sherry-