First Surgury Followup Today-Kind of Long

Hey Everyone!

I had a really rough day today.  I saw my surgeon for my one week follow-up today and told him that my left side was bothering me.  I just thought that it would at least feel a little better by now since my surgery and the pain had not let up any.  I also had not had a BM yet and I wasn't feeling well in general (was getting chills then getting sweaty but with no temp).   He agreed that I looked a bit punk (his word) and thought it was best that I have a CT scan to make sure everything was working ok.  I had to drink two large cups of barium which is not an easy feat with my new little pouch.  I think it took me a bit over an hour to do it.  Then went off to CT and had to get hooked up to an i.v. contrast thingy.  They had a hard time finding a vein and it took a couple people and a few pokes but they finally got it in.  They went to start the CT and as the dye was getting injected, the i.v. blew and dye went all over me, down my arm,shirt,hair.  They had to stop the CT and redo my i.v. and restart the CT.  Got that all done finally and went out to the waiting room to wait for my surgeon to review and talk to me.  I wasn't feeling too hot at this point, I haven't been up and around this much since my surgery.  A nurse saw me looking not too swift and asked if I wanted to lay down.  God bless her!  I gratefully obliged and went and laid down to wait for my surgeon.  He came in shortly after and said that my CT looked good and that to give it a couple more days and let him know if my pain got worse or any issues arised.  He helped me up and I did NOT feel good and I think he could see it written all over my face and asked me if I was going to pass out and I said yes.  He laid me back down and decided to have me hooked up to an i.v. for a couple hours to pep me up as he put it.  The nurse came in and saw that I was going to be difficult to get an i.v. in and needless to say it took 3 people, 6 pokes and 3 of my veins blew out but they finally got one in me.  All in all I was there for 6 1/2 hours and I checked out all right but with a few bumps. 

Jessy

I guess you could say that you have not had the smoothest start to this. I can only hope mine will go a little bit better. Did your surgeon give you any indication to why you are still in pain and not feeling well.
I never thought I would post this but - I hope you have BM soon!    I'm sure that will make you feel better.
Are you able to move around, walk a little and get your body going. I find it strange that every time I go to Home Depot I have to go to the bath room. My wife laugh every time saying I get too exited and worked up. I guess if I have problems after my surgery I'm making a trip to Home Depot.

I hope you have very speedy recovery.

Don't fret.  Everyone is different.  There is a gal who had hers done the same day as me with the same surgeon and she is doing great!  I am just having some minor issues.  My surgeon said the pain is normal and to be patient.  It should get better in a few more days.  The particular area that is bothering me is where they used the big stapler and that incision got done over pretty good.  In the end I probably wasn't feeling great between being up for so long and being somewhat dehydrated.  I am feeling a whole lot better since I got home.  I thought I was drinking enough but I guess I need to work on it even harder. 

Hi Jessy, I am sorry to hear about your pain and CT drama.  Glad to hear everything looked OK though.  I had surgery 2 wks after my brother (his was an open surgery so large incision, mine was LAP) He did so much better than I did pain wise.  My left side killed me for 6 wks. I don't tell you this to bum you out, but to let you know it will get better.  I remember at about a month just bawling because no one could really tell me why it hurt so bad and thought it was never going to get better.  I think they just really stitched me tightly there.  I'd hear the same from some others as well.  But it will get better, hang tough.  Take good care of yourself, sip, and chew and sleep and heal.  It is soooo worth it all.

I am sorry you don't feel well.  I really am.  I remember it vividly!  But this too will pass.  Good luck, you are on your way.

Tess

I'm sorry you're having a bit of a rough start, but it sounds like it's not too serious.  At least your doc was being pro-active to look for some sort of obstruction.

I would have to guess that getting your fluids in and WALKING would do you a world of good.  I think dehydration is the #1 issue people have early on.  Yes, it's hard getting all that fluid in when your pouch is so tiny and swollen and healing, but some people actually set an alarm to go off every 5 minutes to remind them to take a sip.  Eventually, it becomes habit.  Just keep the fluids in, it will help you in many ways, including .

MY biggest complaint post-op was the gas - I would have PAID someone to hit me with a pitchfork for the first 10 days or so, my belly felt so bloated and distended!  But those dissolvable Gas-X strips helped, as did walking.  Once that issue was resolved (although there are those around me who would argue it has NEVER been resolved...), I felt MUCH better!!!

Just hang in there, sip, walk, walk and sip, and you'll turn a corner soon!

Hang in there, Girlie!

SOOOO sorry to hear about the CT mess... I've in the same boat when the multiple pokes and blow outs.... no fun indeed! At least the med staff was observant enough to keep you lying down for a bit!

That left side pain lingers for many of us for a few weeks. Glad you got checked out to be safe and that everything looks good.

Keeping drinking and walking, and like Darla said, it WILL help with the bowel issues!

Will message you soon! TAKE CARE and rest up!

Shannon

Some of us don't have the greatest starts, but that doesn't mean everything doesn't turn out for the best in the end.  I had severe pain in my right side for about 5 weeks after surgery.  They had pulled the inner stitches so tightly that my skin was actually pulled in.  I looked like a had a belly button in the middle of my right side lol!! 

I also had bm issues, it was 2 weeks before anything came out, and when it did I actually cried it was so painful.  Due to anemia issues I was on large amounts of iron as well as pain killers, and that is not a good combination!!  For the next 2 months I was taking prunes and stool softeners twice daily, and if I was really lucky, I was able to go once every 2 weeks or so.  Eventually my system balanced out, and I became more regular.  There is hope!!

I had my first ulcer 2 weeks out of surgery, and I've had 2 more since then (10.5 months out now).   I have had roughly 15 weeks of IV therapy in that time, multiple upper endoscopies, multiple CT's, more IV's then I have veins (at least I think so), 2 PICC lines, and the list goes on.

No matter what side effects of the surgery have happened, I don't regret it at all.  I'm a slow loser, yet in the last year I'm down 128 pounds.  I've gone from a size 28/30 to 14/16s.  Don't let a bad start discourage you.  There is a vicious circle in the start.  You are in pain, you take pain meds.  The pain meds "bung" you up as my nurse mother would say.  This causes more pain, you take more meds, etc.  If you can get through the first few weeks, the pain goes away, then you body starts regulating. 

There are always going to be some sort of setback, whether medical or a simple plateau, just know that in the end it will all be worth it.  At least that's what I keep telling myself!!

Best of luck to you!