Four Weeks Post Surgery - Is there any hope?

I guess I thought I would be feeling better by now.  It's four weeks today and I hate, Hate, HATE it!!  I wish I had never done it.  I would rather be fat than feel this nausea every minute of every day.  I just want to sleep so that I don't feel it.  No one warned me about the nausea.  They warned me about having to relearn to eat and I was okay with that.  But this??  If someone had told me that I would feel like this, I certainly would have reconsidered. 

I feel like a failure.  I can't seem to get all of my water in (64 oz) -- I manage between 32 and 48 oz a day.  I can't get all of my protein in (80-100 gm) -- I manage 20-30.  The protein drinks make me gag.  I hate food.  I wish I didn't have to eat at all.  I can't enjoy even the bites of food that I can force myself to eat.  I know I need to take vitamins, but I can barely get my cancer  pill and the nausea medication down every day, which I have to have just so I can get through my work day. 

I hope it gets some better soon (I read one person in this forum say that the nausea lasted two years).  I feel worse now then when I thought I would die from the diabetes and high blood pressure.  Is there any hope?

First let me just say that I know exactly how you feel and I am 4 months post op. There are days I still regret this surgery but am embarrassed to admit it. I thought I knew what to expect but the nausea was tough on me. 

Couple of ideas: ask for the Zofran that dissolves under your tongue. It was a lifesaver for me and got rid of the nausea faster than the pill. Also - are you take Prilosec?  I have recently found out that some of my nausea is acid related and I need to keep taking my PPI to keep the nausea at bay. It got better between month 2-3 but then returned with a vengeance this past couple of weeks. 

I have had other issues that have seemed to linger forever and people keep telling me that it will get better around 6 months ... I am hoping so ... But feel very scared and frustrated at times. 

I also struggle with the protein shakes so you are not alone there!  Try getting in 30g a day consistently - working your way to 60g within 60 days.  Staying hydrated is most important and that also helps with nausea. 

Hang in there.  I remember experiencing the same thing.  No one ever warned me about the nausea, it was real bad for me as well.  I hated eating ANYTHING!!!!!  Make sure you sip, sip, sip.  A lot of times that early out nausea is worsened by being dehydrated.  If you have been that sick a trip to ER for some liquids through an IV would be helpful.  That is what everyone kept telling me but I am stubborn and hate going to the hospitals so I never did.  Wish I would have now, might have made the journey easier.  Surprisingly, after about 5 weeks the nausea got better.  I am almost nine months out and have lost 104 lbs.  Want to lose about 40 more, hoping I will be able to do it.  After six months things really start looking up.  I am able to eat a normal size small meal which scares me at times. 

I'm sorry you're having such a bad time of it! But don't despair, it really does get better. For some people it takes longer than for others, but you are definitely not alone.

First, try the zofran and/or a PPI. Acid can give you the feeing of nausea - this is very common after this surgery. The right drugs can make a huge difference!

Next, don't sweat the vitamins just yet. Your body has vitamin stores to get you through this difficult time. Start taking them when you feel better.

Protein - I couldn't get down those awful shakes either. the only ones I could handle were the Atkins shakes that come in liquid form. The cheapest place I found for them was Walmart. I like the chocolate best, the strawberry is bad. they are best when very cold, at least for me.

Keep trying different things. It's easy to have buyer's remorse at this point, but here you are with this powerful operation that really will benefit you so much in the long run. Right now you feel like crap, but where would you be a few years from now with your diabetes and high blood pressure - blind, maybe? Kidney failure - that feels like crap, ask anyone on dialysis. Amputations sound appealing? You did this for a good reason. Don't lose sight of that reason or of where you hope to be a year from now. You will get there.

Larra

Except for the nausea I think you are doing great. You are being too hard on yourself. 4 weeks - your not even close to being healed.
The things you are trying to accomplish this early are just too ambitious. This is the time you will cycle through regret but you will be healing
more every day. Things will get better.

I didn't have the nausea past the first 2 weeks so I am no help there. My Doc had me on prescription Prilosec for the first 6 months. I can't
really say if that kept any nausea I might have had under control or not. Any advice from the Doc about the nausea?

I was lucky to get 30 grams of protein in by the end of the first month. Concentrate more on the liquids. Warm, cold, room temperature. Figure out which is best for you. I had more broth the first 2 months than I had in the previous year. What protein drinks have you tried? Maybe we can suggest some alternatives although there is not a raging hurry. You may find your taste changing over the next month. Although, I do remember vividly throwing up my first premier protein shake. I eventually found a protein powder that I could make thin enough that it wasn't a problem for me.

I also remember being afraid because I had no interest in food. For me that got a little better about 6  to 8 weeks. I at least developed an interest in eating on time. :) I was happy the second month when I realized I could eat a whole 3 oz at a meal. I'm at a year now and can do much better.

Take a couple of weeks at 30 gms protein and concentrate on your liquids. If you feel you can handle another pill try a multi vit. If that goes OK add calcium citrate. Look for chewables early on that may help but I would not worry about going slow with your vits the first 2 months.

There is hope - feel better soon......

Except for the nausea I think you are doing great. You are being too hard on yourself. 4 weeks - your not even close to being healed.
The things you are trying to accomplish this early are just too ambitious. This is the time you will cycle through regret but you will be healing
more every day. Things will get better.

I didn't have the nausea past the first 2 weeks so I am no help there. My Doc had me on prescription Prilosec for the first 6 months. I can't
really say if that kept any nausea I might have had under control or not. Any advice from the Doc about the nausea?

I was lucky to get 30 grams of protein in by the end of the first month. Concentrate more on the liquids. Warm, cold, room temperature. Figure out which is best for you. I had more broth the first 2 months than I had in the previous year. What protein drinks have you tried? Maybe we can suggest some alternatives although there is not a raging hurry. You may find your taste changing over the next month. Although, I do remember vividly throwing up my first premier protein shake. I eventually found a protein powder that I could make thin enough that it wasn't a problem for me.

I also remember being afraid because I had no interest in food. For me that got a little better about 6  to 8 weeks. I at least developed an interest in eating on time. :) I was happy the second month when I realized I could eat a whole 3 oz at a meal. I'm at a year now and can do much better.

Take a couple of weeks at 30 gms protein and concentrate on your liquids. If you feel you can handle another pill try a multi vit. If that goes OK add calcium citrate. Look for chewables early on that may help but I would not worry about going slow with your vits the first 2 months.

There is hope - feel better soon......

I was in your situation as well. I was nauseated/vomiting for approx. 9 months post op. I'm currently 13 months post op. It did gradually decrease and I still do have my moments. Right now focus on fluids and little by little add in other things, hydration is most important. If you get dehydrated it makes you more nauseated. If you try to eat something your stomach isn't quite ready for yet, you will be nauseated and will experience a set back. Take it slow. It may sound silly but I kept baby food in my pantry for about 6 months for the days that I just couldn't tolerate real food. I was happy if I got in one bite at a meal. I was 6 months out before I could finally tolerate all my vitamins. Do what you can and don't force it or you will set yourself back. I wish you all the best. This too will pass and you will be happier and healthier for it.

Thank you to everyone who has written -- it really helps to know that I'm not alone.  I'm glad that everyone seems to believe it will  get better for me and that in a few months I'll be glad I did this.  I'm going to use many of the suggestions that I've been given and try not to focus on what I'm not doing and more on little steps I can make to get there.  So thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the support and help!!!