Help...

Hi Everyone. Its me Kathy. I am 8 days post-op from LAP RNY and I don't think I am doing so good. I am constantly nauseated. I wake up and dry heave for roughly 10 minutes and nothing stops it (I better have killer ABs when this is all said and done!). I have drank about 3 oz. of water since yesterday at noon, I cant keep it down. NOTHING is working... I have tried phenergan suppositories, not drinking, not eating, not breathing... it all makes me dry heave. My sense of smell is so strong right now too, EVERYTHING smells funky to me (husband, dog, kitchen, living room, me, sheets, you name it I think it smells). I have called the Doctors secretary and not yet had the Doctor or Nurse call back. Yesterday I spoke with the dietitian and she told me to stick with broth and water ONLY. Well, that's just fine because I cant even get that down. I hate to sound like a pity party for one, but I am clueless as to what to do. Everyone says it will get better soon... that's great! But what do I do until soon? I feel like I am unsuccessful and at the end of my rope, so if ANYBODY has gone through this please tell me what helped you make it through... Exhausted, Kathy

Kathy, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this! I did not, so I cannot give any advice, other than to keep calling your doctor. If you have to call every hour until you get a return call, do it. That's what he's there for... I hope he knows it. I'd be really p----d at him right about now. But don't give up - keep calling until you get through. Good luck, Cheryl

I don't know what to tell you either, Kathy, but I DO know that I would be bugging the HELL out of that doctor!!!! You are going to get dehydrated if you can't keep something down soon. Time to call and step on some toes if you have to. I'm so sorry you feel so badly. You are not unsuccessful, there is just a little glitch somewhere...get that doctor to pay attention and get you taken care of.... I just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and hope you are better soon. Wish I could be of help. Tami

Kathy, I wish that I had some advice to give you on how to keep something down, but I don't. I do know that there are some newer post ops here that might be able to help you, so hopefully they will respond. I am really concerned that you could be getting dehydrated, that could send you right back to the hospital. Keep trying water/ broth..Instead of oz, try teaspoons, and if you keep that down, increase it. I too had a real problem with smells, I actually couldn't even prepare anything food wise for a couple of weeks. Yes, it will get better, and I know that you know that, but I know you want to get better now. I am so sorry that you are going through this. Please let me know how you are doing! Cathy

Hi Kathy, I'm so sorry you are having to go thru this. I, too, didn't go thru this, but I remember reading early on about others with this problem and I remember reading advice from others to try things really warm, like green tea, and that it would help soothe the nausea away. For me, on the few occasions that I did feel a little unsettled, s/f popsickles eased it. And I agree with the others... bug the crap out of the surgeon until you hear from him. Getting dehydrated is not a good thing. Work very slowly at getting in as many fluids as you can. And know that none of us got in all of our fluids when we first came home. We all had to work up to it. Hope you get to feeling better soon!!! Susan

Keep sipping...slowly. I found that if I drank things that were too warm or too cold that I got nausea bad. I could only handle things that were room temperature! Strange, but I finally figured that out through trial and error. You may be different. Try everything from ice chips or shaved ice and get warmer. Trick is to get in little amounts often, don't try to put too much down there. Broth should be good. You may just get by with sucking on popcicles. Try everything you can! I dehydrated at about 5 weeks and spent a week in the hospital. Believe me, you don't want that to happen. What you are going through is normal for some people and it is difficult to keep your spirits up when you are driving a "Buick" all day! Try anything and everything liquid and call your doctor should you find yourself showing signs of dehydration. Early signs of dehydration include: 1. Increased thirst. 2. Dry mouth and sticky saliva. 3. Reduced urine output with dark yellow urine. Symptoms of moderate dehydration include: 1. Extreme thirst. 2. Dry appearance inside the mouth and the eyes don't tear. 3. Decreased urination, or half the number of urinations in 24 hours (usually 3 or fewer urinations). Urine is dark amber or brown. 4. Lightheadedness that is relieved by lying down. Severe dehydration is life-threatening. Symptoms that require emergency care (even if only one of them is present) include: 1. Altered behavior, such as severe anxiety, confusion, or not being able to stay awake. 2. Faintness that is not relieved by lying down, or light-headedness that continues after standing for 2 minutes. 3. Weak, rapid pulse. 4. Cold, clammy skin or hot, dry skin. 5. Little or no urination. 6. Loss of consciousness. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor's office immediately. Patti

Dear Kathy: If you're still not feeling better, not being able to hold down liquids, etc. and you're up reading this... call your doc's answering service, tell them to track him down & wake him up; or, if the hospital where you had your RNY is relatively close by, call the ER & ask for the attending physician & get his/her opinion about what to do next. If you don't get a call back from your doc by morning, take yourself back to the hospital thru the ER & have THEM haul your doc down for an exam. Some thing is definitely not right. Lovingly, Lauralyn

Kathy, I think you should put a call into your Dr ASAP! Never feel bad for the way you are feeling. Please call the Dr and post an update when you can. Hugs, Tonya

Hi Kathy, I just want you to know you are not alone here. I feel like the walking dead. I mean dead would be easy compared to this hell I have been in. I haven't even wanted to post here cuz I thought I would scare pre-ops. if you wanna talk, email me your phone number and I can tell you what my doc has recomended. I have my docs direct pager and use it even when it is office hours. he always calls back. I think today I am seeing a slight chance of hope I will survive. I am sorry I didnt respond sooner. BArb

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPORT AND CONCERN! I really appreciate it! Nobody ever called me back from my doctors office so I complained today. What a bunch of jerks, not calling a patient back. I talked with the Dietitian today and told her that I have been sipping cold water S-L-O-W-L-Y and she said thats great. I have almost gone through a whole 16.9 oz. bottle of water today! Thats the most I have consumed in one day since surgery! Today I didnt heave ONCE! So I guess today could be considered a good day, but who knows what tomorrow brings. I had 3 teaspoons of broth earlier and may attempt that again in a little while. Other than that, I am just hanging in there. Thanks for all the advice, I really am thankful that people tried helping me figure out what to do. I really wish more people would speak up about the hard times they had, it makes it so much easier not to feel so unsuccessful when you know that others went through it too. Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow is good to me too! Kathy