update

I just wanted to say thank you for all of oyur encuraging words about my surgery. I never really got nervous or anything. I think I knew so much about what was going to happen that I was ok. the only thing I packed from home that I used was my chap stick.

The pain is worse than I was hoping it might be. It was hard not being able to have any water when I got out of surgery, but once I got some I loved every drop!

I am having trouble getting my meds in. I am doing a lot of sipping and walking. I hope I am not rambling to much as I am still on the pain meds.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

If your pain meds are not working, please contact your Dr. They should be able to manage your pain. I do recall that the first day home was the hardest for me. The trip home can be a little rough.

Be sure to keep siping and walk as much as you can. If you can manage to get up and walk at least 10 minutes an hour it will go a long way towards helping your recovery along. It helps to disipate any residual gas that was used to inflate the abdominal cavity as well as to keep the blood flow going to help ward off possilibilites of embolisms.

The hydration is really important. Dehydration is one of the top reasons that people end up re-admitted to the hospital, so be sure that you are getting in as much fluid as you can. I'm sure that your physician sent home the requirements for your hydration and protien consumption. I know that mine required 2 ounces of liquid protien every hour and 2 ounces of fluid every fifteen minutes that I was awake. I had to use a timer to make sure to keep up with the demand because I honestly wasn't wanting to consume that much in the beginning.

Take care and keep sipping and walking,

Barb

I am going to second what Barb says. We all have differing tolerances for pain and are affected differently by trauma to our bodies. The hydration is extremely important and pain control is just as important. Also remember every time you mix a protein drink the liquid you mix it with does count towards your total fluids each day. Your broth counts too. Let your doc know about the pain. Mine told me he did not want to give me too much pain meds in the hospital because he needed to know I was having pain to monitor that everything is okay with the surgery. I did not feel much pain except when moving around. Then it hurt to walk a little because of the gravity pulling on my abdomen. Let the doc know where your pain is and how much it is. You know the 1 - 10 scale they gave us.

Welcome to the losers bench Jeff.  I was fortunate and didn't really have any pain but if the medicine isn't taking th edge off, please call your doc.

Thanks, Pam

Jeff - from a nursing stand point take your meds on time - don't let the pain get too far ahead of you and then take something - it might not help as much.  So stay on a schedule until things get better.
Next - move as much as you can - that means walk even if it is only 10 steps.  You may be more comfortable in a recliner than in the bed and that is okay, too.  Getting up off the bed is pretty taxing.

Glad you are home and things will get better - soon...

Shelia