New Here with a Few Questions!

Hi All! I have been looking on OH for years!!! But I have always been the quiet type. More of a reader. I just sometimes don't want to sound like a whiner lol. So i decided not to post or whatnot! lol Anyway....I had Lap RNY on October 2nd. My surgeon is Dr Morgan at MUSC. I love her to death!! The first few days I thought what a piece of cake! This is amazing! WOW was i wrong. I have been fighting constipation. That has been awful. I do have a few questions for you all . Some questions I don't want to keep calling the nurse prac at MUSC. Does the drain site usually get a little bigger after they take it out and it heels? It seems like the original site has gotten a little bigger although it is not draining anymore . Sometimes when i take a sip of water i feel it hit my stomach and it immediatly makes me burp. Is this normal ? I still have aot of tenderness and some pain when i either get up from sitting or when i try and get out of bed in the morning ( sometimes this is hard) Did this happen to anyone else? I know my questions seem nurotic! lol But noone better to ask then those who have been through it . I don't know how people can go back to work after one week . I am unsure if i will go back next week . I have not had a great day yet! I still walk pretty slow too. Thanks so much for any info you all can give me! My husband is currently deployed to Afghanistan . So I guess sometimes i worry about little things because i am afraid to have something go wrong and i don't have family here. My mom just left ( she is in Ohio) Can't wait to get to know you all! Lots of Hugs Corrie 266/245/140

Hey Corrie!! First of all, ask away. If you read a lot you have seen my many post complaining over and over during this first week but everyone has been so kind and helpful!! So complain away. 2nd of all, if you want to call the nurse prac. at MUSC - CALL HER!!! It's her job to be there for you. OK now to your questions - I still have my drain in so I don't know about the drain site getting bigger but it probably does. The stitches are holding mine together and I imagine if I snipped my stitches right now it would spread out. I would think if it is not draining anymore then you are doing great! But again, check with your doc!! About the water - if I drin**** cold water too fast sometimes me tummy gets a little mad at me Our pouches are like babies so we have to treat them extra special. About tenderness and pain - yes I still have a good bit of tenderness and pain around my drain site (but I am a big old baby). It feels really sore and hurt likes heck when I cough. Any activity or movement that requires use of my abs muscles hurts a little bit. I'm going back Monday to work but I am going to take it kinda easy while I'm there. I gotta get back in the swing of things or I might just retire at 27! LOL!!!! Call me anytime you want to- It's long distance but, I'll call you back 864-814-0693 Rachel

By the way, come to the LCBB meetings if you can. and it has been a great source of help to all of us. We meet on Thursdays at 6:00 at JC's Bar & Grill on Ashley Phosphate Rd. Cheryl owns the place and is one of Dr. Byrne's patients. She has a special menu for us!

ok rebecca,,,i was going to tell them about lcbb(low country bypass buddies) but you beat me to it,,,,anyway ladies,,,all sounds normal to me,,,the drain hole will close,,,just leave it be and clean when you shower,,,,water,,,i couldnt drink water for week**** my tummy hard,,,and hurt,,i got a sippy cup and that helped,,,but you can call musc anytime again that is what they are there for ,,,,but so are we,,,write me anytime friends with a pouch sandy

Try warm drinks like decaf tea or herbal teas, you are still healing so your pouch will be sensitive for awhile. Make sure you get your fluids somehow. The drain site will close, give it time. Clean it with soap and water, don't use peroxide as it tends to erode the skin. Using some of those scar creams or pads after the scab is gone will help shrink the scar. The pain from getting up and down, aside from you still healing, could be the strain on your abdominal muscles as you try to use those to help you move. Morgan was my surgeon also . She recommended mineral oil as a remedy for constipation, you can get it at the drug store, and just plug your nose and swallow a TB or what ever the dose is. I've tried everything from smooth move tea, prescription bulkers, fiber pills, milk of magnesia, magnesia tablets( these work best for me granted I have to take the max dose every day). But them I am beyond NOT normal. Most likely as your eatting gets more regulated your bowel movements will too, definitely getting exercise..plain old walking...helps with moving your digestive system along as well. And drinking your fluids. M