Help, please! First week blues
Well, this isn't what I ordered! Let me see that menu again?
People who claim that on day three post surgery they were out rock climbing and ballrom dancing - I say "Meh" to them. Day three I was just one day out of the recovery room, where they were all concerned that I was taking in liters of fluid and not goving the same amount back, and pondering how to give me whole blood in a way that didn't make me cry like a baby. (Who knew a blood transfusion would be painful?) Special thanks to the roving surgeon who suggested doing a cut-down on the big artery on my leg and transfusing there, as it wouldn't hurt that way. I always appreciate that sort of humor when no one can explain why I am not upstairs enjoying my Tang with the other fat ladies.
Well, I am home now - They let me go on Thursday night, still concerned with the rate of my own waste production. Of course, there I was sipping teensy little cups of herbal tea or water (the hospital broth did not suit my taste at all and gave me the first sensation tossing my cookies.) They still gave me what seemed like hugs bags of fluid along with intermittant pain killers and anti-nausea medication. (Those patient controlled boxes...don't get me started. I had to use my cell phone to call the hospital switchboard for help one night. I am so writing a letter.) So, really, I didn't have much to give back, so to speak. The morning residents were very concerned that I was not farting, but rather burping and hiccoughing. I was of the opinion, "better out than in" and not concerned with which direction the gas was leaving. There might have been some snarling. I do remember saying rather strongly to one skateboarder disguised as a doctor that if course I knew how important a BM was, I watched "Scrubs." But how I was supposed to manufacture one on a cup of herbal tea a day was never answered.
Ater I was unchained from that array of pumps and bags, I improved a bit. I was able to keep stuff down, able to **** like an illegal racehorse, able to start a period 14 days after the last one. (And why did no one mention this might happen? I had to control my own panicking by consulting with the other fat ladies - 3 of 4 of us started bleeding within 2 days of having the catheter out.)
I am...gonna skip the catheter. Short response? Hated it! 'nuff said.
Here I am at home for a few days though! NOW I understand the people who said they found it hard to get in their protein. Hell, it's hard to get in my liquids! The first time trying a simple protein/skim mil**** combo showed it would take me an HOUR to down even a ounce. I think I was lucky I got 20 grams of protein that day. Today, I tried my home made chicken broth and am relieved it tastes good *and* stays down, so that's a LITTLE more protein at least.
But I have yet to take a decent walk without coming back exhausted or tossing up whatever I have in me. I am in fact making a list of "everything that makes me nauseated." It hurts to lie down; it hurts to sit at a table. I know I am improving every day - sleeping for 4 hours at a time now, boo-yah! - but I need some help. Reality checks please? Suggestions? I felt so prepared before the surgery and feel so at a loss now it's not funny, although I try to find some humor in it all.
Laura
People who claim that on day three post surgery they were out rock climbing and ballrom dancing - I say "Meh" to them. Day three I was just one day out of the recovery room, where they were all concerned that I was taking in liters of fluid and not goving the same amount back, and pondering how to give me whole blood in a way that didn't make me cry like a baby. (Who knew a blood transfusion would be painful?) Special thanks to the roving surgeon who suggested doing a cut-down on the big artery on my leg and transfusing there, as it wouldn't hurt that way. I always appreciate that sort of humor when no one can explain why I am not upstairs enjoying my Tang with the other fat ladies.
Well, I am home now - They let me go on Thursday night, still concerned with the rate of my own waste production. Of course, there I was sipping teensy little cups of herbal tea or water (the hospital broth did not suit my taste at all and gave me the first sensation tossing my cookies.) They still gave me what seemed like hugs bags of fluid along with intermittant pain killers and anti-nausea medication. (Those patient controlled boxes...don't get me started. I had to use my cell phone to call the hospital switchboard for help one night. I am so writing a letter.) So, really, I didn't have much to give back, so to speak. The morning residents were very concerned that I was not farting, but rather burping and hiccoughing. I was of the opinion, "better out than in" and not concerned with which direction the gas was leaving. There might have been some snarling. I do remember saying rather strongly to one skateboarder disguised as a doctor that if course I knew how important a BM was, I watched "Scrubs." But how I was supposed to manufacture one on a cup of herbal tea a day was never answered.
Ater I was unchained from that array of pumps and bags, I improved a bit. I was able to keep stuff down, able to **** like an illegal racehorse, able to start a period 14 days after the last one. (And why did no one mention this might happen? I had to control my own panicking by consulting with the other fat ladies - 3 of 4 of us started bleeding within 2 days of having the catheter out.)
I am...gonna skip the catheter. Short response? Hated it! 'nuff said.
Here I am at home for a few days though! NOW I understand the people who said they found it hard to get in their protein. Hell, it's hard to get in my liquids! The first time trying a simple protein/skim mil**** combo showed it would take me an HOUR to down even a ounce. I think I was lucky I got 20 grams of protein that day. Today, I tried my home made chicken broth and am relieved it tastes good *and* stays down, so that's a LITTLE more protein at least.
But I have yet to take a decent walk without coming back exhausted or tossing up whatever I have in me. I am in fact making a list of "everything that makes me nauseated." It hurts to lie down; it hurts to sit at a table. I know I am improving every day - sleeping for 4 hours at a time now, boo-yah! - but I need some help. Reality checks please? Suggestions? I felt so prepared before the surgery and feel so at a loss now it's not funny, although I try to find some humor in it all.
Laura
Laura,
First off I am so sorry you went through hell. I hope your recovery will improve shortly.
I too had the blues. I did hurt quite a bit(I had the band) but with walking it subsided a lot. My pain issues actually started about a week and a hlaf post op first I add this intense feeling of something pulling down on my sternum so we rushed back to the ER, this poor very very nice and kind doctor(who was I believe12-13 years old) said Mrs. Burke I'm not sure how to say this without offending you after x-rays a few test etc. but it's because you have massively huge boobs(note he did not refer to them as breasts my husband almost fell off his chair laughing)then I worked at an alcohol and drug rehab center for teenage girls and the day I return 9 of 24 girls comes down with what I beleive to be either dysentary, original swine flu, or some god knows what bug and guess who cathches it and misses two more weeks of work. Just about the second we walked in from being discharged from my surgery I literally started crying and it lasted for a month(they say it was from the anesthisia I thought what did you pump me full of pregnancy hormones gee thanks.
It will get better and I wish you well.
You are clearly awesomely funny and very sarcastic(which is my kind of people) it will actually help you so much.
Wendy
First off I am so sorry you went through hell. I hope your recovery will improve shortly.
I too had the blues. I did hurt quite a bit(I had the band) but with walking it subsided a lot. My pain issues actually started about a week and a hlaf post op first I add this intense feeling of something pulling down on my sternum so we rushed back to the ER, this poor very very nice and kind doctor(who was I believe12-13 years old) said Mrs. Burke I'm not sure how to say this without offending you after x-rays a few test etc. but it's because you have massively huge boobs(note he did not refer to them as breasts my husband almost fell off his chair laughing)then I worked at an alcohol and drug rehab center for teenage girls and the day I return 9 of 24 girls comes down with what I beleive to be either dysentary, original swine flu, or some god knows what bug and guess who cathches it and misses two more weeks of work. Just about the second we walked in from being discharged from my surgery I literally started crying and it lasted for a month(they say it was from the anesthisia I thought what did you pump me full of pregnancy hormones gee thanks.
It will get better and I wish you well.
You are clearly awesomely funny and very sarcastic(which is my kind of people) it will actually help you so much.
Wendy
Laura,
I had a similar post-op experience. It was hell! I bled into my GI tract and ended up with HORRID bloody diarrhea the second night post-op. My red count dropped too much and I ended up with a transfusion in the middle of the night. My little hand catheter came out during the first transfusion and SEVEN attempts later a nurse from ICU got another one in so I could get the rest of the blood. My arms were so BRUISED! It hurt to sleep; it hurt to sit. My butt and hips hurt so much from being in bed for too long! It sucked to go to the bathroom. And, the surgeon and residents were less than sympathetic.
The first 6-8 weeks were hard. I worried tons about further complications and struggled to eat and drink appropriately. Sleeping was hard; I woke up in the middle of night for months. BUT, I've had no further problems. I've lost more than 1/2 of my weight and all of my co-morbities are gone! I don't feel deprived of good food and I still have real restriction.
So, it will get better and the initial trauma is totally worth it.
Feel better quickly. Sending good thoughts your way, Meg
I had a similar post-op experience. It was hell! I bled into my GI tract and ended up with HORRID bloody diarrhea the second night post-op. My red count dropped too much and I ended up with a transfusion in the middle of the night. My little hand catheter came out during the first transfusion and SEVEN attempts later a nurse from ICU got another one in so I could get the rest of the blood. My arms were so BRUISED! It hurt to sleep; it hurt to sit. My butt and hips hurt so much from being in bed for too long! It sucked to go to the bathroom. And, the surgeon and residents were less than sympathetic.
The first 6-8 weeks were hard. I worried tons about further complications and struggled to eat and drink appropriately. Sleeping was hard; I woke up in the middle of night for months. BUT, I've had no further problems. I've lost more than 1/2 of my weight and all of my co-morbities are gone! I don't feel deprived of good food and I still have real restriction.
So, it will get better and the initial trauma is totally worth it.
Feel better quickly. Sending good thoughts your way, Meg
Yep, I know how you feel. While a lot of the the specifics in my situation were different, I had a REALLY hard time getting all my protein at first. The one thing that helped me was something my doctor said - just do the best you can. You won't get it all in for the first few days. And my lovely peers on here reminded me that I'm not going to be able to run a marathon right off the bat. I started taking small walks around my apartment building, then around 2 buildings, then around the complex, and so on. I did the same with "eating". One day I'd get in a little, then a little more, and so on until I was getting all my protein in.
What you're going through mentally is totally normal. You don't realize how much chewing can effect you psychologicially. Trust me, once you move to soft food, you'll start to feel a little more normal. I could've made sweet love to that first bite of cottage cheese LOL
People lie like a damn dog when they say that ****
I had a supository to make me go. Cause they need to see if everything is working. Trust me. Until I was on solids I would go all the time. At my docs they ask if you have the runs. I put yes, liquid goes in, liquid comes out. How hard of a concept is that?
LOL I had my period the week before surgery and then I started again in the hospital. Has to do with the stored estrogen being released from our fat.
OMG My catheter was a godsend. I had girly surgery before and hated it. So my surgeon said he would take it out the second day if I wanted it. I told him no way, it was staying in as long as he wanted it. It has to do with placement. The first one I had was sooooooooo uncomfy. It hurt to walk and sit and, just about anything. The one with my RNY? Wonderful. I never felt it until they had to take it out. Even then it wasn't as bad as the first one.
Rmember, your shakes count as your fluid. I thought I was sucking butt on getting my fluids in until they reminded me of that.
I too felt prepared for surgery. The fact is you can never really be prepared for this. It's something you have to do to really get it.
Good luck hun. It does get better.
I had a supository to make me go. Cause they need to see if everything is working. Trust me. Until I was on solids I would go all the time. At my docs they ask if you have the runs. I put yes, liquid goes in, liquid comes out. How hard of a concept is that?
LOL I had my period the week before surgery and then I started again in the hospital. Has to do with the stored estrogen being released from our fat.
OMG My catheter was a godsend. I had girly surgery before and hated it. So my surgeon said he would take it out the second day if I wanted it. I told him no way, it was staying in as long as he wanted it. It has to do with placement. The first one I had was sooooooooo uncomfy. It hurt to walk and sit and, just about anything. The one with my RNY? Wonderful. I never felt it until they had to take it out. Even then it wasn't as bad as the first one.
Rmember, your shakes count as your fluid. I thought I was sucking butt on getting my fluids in until they reminded me of that.
I too felt prepared for surgery. The fact is you can never really be prepared for this. It's something you have to do to really get it.
Good luck hun. It does get better.
I shall now be know as Hagatha: Queen of the queens. 
Baby 
7-09
Xavier Elliott born 10-5-10
HI there Laura. Just checking in to see how you are doing 10 days after your original post. I hope things have improved physically and that you are finding a comfort zone about taking in fluids and your protein. Your post made me wince with sympathy and scream with laughter. I think with a sense of humor like yours you will recover just fine. Hang in there!!
Jill 
Well, the short answer is "better" - I haven't killed anyone, the wife and cat haven't left, and they did in fact move me on to squishy foods and told me I am doing things "on track."
But I still feel tired at the smallest things! Bending to pick up a towel leaves my heart pounding sometimes. I was trying to chop vegetables for soup the other day and had to REST. It feels stupid; how can I need so much rest when that feels like most of what I am doing?? On the other hand, it's allowed me to plow through at least a dozen books.
Emotional roller coastering, although expected! - is sometimes worse. I mean, I feel tired, I sit down, big deal, 5 minutes later I can get up again. But sobbing at a television show is just *not* my style. I am starting to think the cautions about not drinking alcohol have nothig to do with my new golf ball stomach, but the fact that I am crazeee enough; an ounce of light beer would just make things worse.
So, regarding liquids and protein - liquids way up, protein still an issue. Those proten shakes make me a little queasy just in thought. The nutritionist suggested I get the canned Isopure ones (35g/shake) and I picked up two, and blech, blech, blech. At the GNC I saw the same brand in a clear compound - (40g per much larger bottle) and have managed to down 1/2 - 3/4 of a bottle of that one per day, provided it's as cold as I can get it. I know it's not enough.
Here's the puzzle now...
There are just so many hours in a day. I need to NOT drink an hour *before* eating and an hour to 90 minutes *after* eating. "Eating" being my tiny little portions of sugar free pudding, Greek yogurt, farina, mashed potatoes...I got a variety of squishy stuff, most of which stays down. In between these meals, I also need to be drinking 2 protein drinks.
Since it takes me 15-20 minutes to eat, and 20 minutes to drink even 4 ounces of a protein drink, this has proven to me without a doubt that 1) math is hard and 2) there are not enough hours in the day to manage this. I feel like I am either stuffed and ready to hurl (which I sometimes do) or I am dying of thirst.
The surgeon says reassuring things like "get your vitamins and liquids and worry about protein later it'll come," and my nutritionist (skinny, OMG, I bet you never finished a combo meal in your life) tells me firmly that if I don't eat three times and day and drink these shakes, well, something dire will happen. Probably soon.
During my worst days, I concentrate on the liquids because I fear dehydration. (Sugar free popsicles are wonderful things.) On the best days, I choke down almost 40G of protein in the Isopure bottle and pick at my 4 ounces of mashed banana and yogurt.
I still haven't gotten the hang of taking huge-ass pills. I thought I was always a good pill swallower, but man, any swig large enough to chase that calcium down will make me queasy, even when I cut the pull in half.
So all in all? My weightloss has been steady but neigher alarming nor slow. My inscisions are almost all faded to marks that look like my cat was very annoyed with me. I am no longer cursing the day I decided to do this, but I am constantly worrying I am doing it "wrong" - that at any minute I will loose any muscle mass I have under there, my hair will fall out, my breath will never be decent again, etc. I mean, how can I be looking forward to actually enjoying one of those "long walks on the beach" everyone talks about if I can't manage a 4-block walk to and from my polling place?
(Run off election today, and I am pondering this as my walkies.)
So, yeah, I am still *gloomy* but I am not terrified and completely negative. Just trying to figure out how to do these things without putting myself on the sidelines even more than expected.
L
But I still feel tired at the smallest things! Bending to pick up a towel leaves my heart pounding sometimes. I was trying to chop vegetables for soup the other day and had to REST. It feels stupid; how can I need so much rest when that feels like most of what I am doing?? On the other hand, it's allowed me to plow through at least a dozen books.
Emotional roller coastering, although expected! - is sometimes worse. I mean, I feel tired, I sit down, big deal, 5 minutes later I can get up again. But sobbing at a television show is just *not* my style. I am starting to think the cautions about not drinking alcohol have nothig to do with my new golf ball stomach, but the fact that I am crazeee enough; an ounce of light beer would just make things worse.
So, regarding liquids and protein - liquids way up, protein still an issue. Those proten shakes make me a little queasy just in thought. The nutritionist suggested I get the canned Isopure ones (35g/shake) and I picked up two, and blech, blech, blech. At the GNC I saw the same brand in a clear compound - (40g per much larger bottle) and have managed to down 1/2 - 3/4 of a bottle of that one per day, provided it's as cold as I can get it. I know it's not enough.
Here's the puzzle now...
There are just so many hours in a day. I need to NOT drink an hour *before* eating and an hour to 90 minutes *after* eating. "Eating" being my tiny little portions of sugar free pudding, Greek yogurt, farina, mashed potatoes...I got a variety of squishy stuff, most of which stays down. In between these meals, I also need to be drinking 2 protein drinks.
Since it takes me 15-20 minutes to eat, and 20 minutes to drink even 4 ounces of a protein drink, this has proven to me without a doubt that 1) math is hard and 2) there are not enough hours in the day to manage this. I feel like I am either stuffed and ready to hurl (which I sometimes do) or I am dying of thirst.
The surgeon says reassuring things like "get your vitamins and liquids and worry about protein later it'll come," and my nutritionist (skinny, OMG, I bet you never finished a combo meal in your life) tells me firmly that if I don't eat three times and day and drink these shakes, well, something dire will happen. Probably soon.
During my worst days, I concentrate on the liquids because I fear dehydration. (Sugar free popsicles are wonderful things.) On the best days, I choke down almost 40G of protein in the Isopure bottle and pick at my 4 ounces of mashed banana and yogurt.
I still haven't gotten the hang of taking huge-ass pills. I thought I was always a good pill swallower, but man, any swig large enough to chase that calcium down will make me queasy, even when I cut the pull in half.
So all in all? My weightloss has been steady but neigher alarming nor slow. My inscisions are almost all faded to marks that look like my cat was very annoyed with me. I am no longer cursing the day I decided to do this, but I am constantly worrying I am doing it "wrong" - that at any minute I will loose any muscle mass I have under there, my hair will fall out, my breath will never be decent again, etc. I mean, how can I be looking forward to actually enjoying one of those "long walks on the beach" everyone talks about if I can't manage a 4-block walk to and from my polling place?
(Run off election today, and I am pondering this as my walkies.)
So, yeah, I am still *gloomy* but I am not terrified and completely negative. Just trying to figure out how to do these things without putting myself on the sidelines even more than expected.
L
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