couple of complaints! LOL!

I wish this gas would go away.  I have had a terrible headache since last night-even the pain meds are not working on it.  Also, I wi**** didn't hurt so bad to cough!!  I don't even want to do it, but know that I need to.

On a positive note, 2 of my drains are putting out less that 30 cc's daily. The other is at about 70.  Also, I get to take a shower somewhat today.  He said I could not get the incisions wet or take the bandages off, but I can wash my hair and my back side.  I think maybe that will help with the way I feel.

Thanks for listening to me complain!!

Erica

Ps.  I will take these things any day over the skin!!

How far out are you at this point?  I remember keeping a headache the first couple of days of my second week out.  I was in a lot more pain that second week so I was taking the pain meds more so than I had been the first week - I think it was the percocet giving me a headache.  I quit taking it as often and took tylenol instead.  The tylenol helped with the headache.  If that's not an option, chamomile tea helps as well.  Oh, and for the gas - gas-x strips were my best friend!  Oh, and Beano too ;)

Oh, thanks for your reply.  I am not that far out.  Surgery was on Monday.  I stopped with vicoden at this moment-have not needed since 1:45 am.  I am taking tylenol now.  It has helped with the headache.  It's not as bad right now.  I do have gas-x, I don't know why I didn't think of that. 
 
Thanks for the warning about the second week being worse.  I will definately keep an eye on that, and monitor my pain.  If I need too I will take some meds.  I just don't like that high feeling, and they make me sick to my stomach.

Erica

Hey Erica!
Funny you should mention the headache! I had the same thing happen during the end of the first week. (I think) In the late afternoon I'd get a very bad headache that moved all the way down to my shoulder. I wondered if it might have been caffiene withdrawls that didn't show up unitl I was off the vicoden. OR if it was a reaction to being off the morphine and vicoden. Or off pain meds and caffiene at the same time. I also had hot flashes during those days. Once I figured it might be some type of withdrawl I started back drinking a cup of coffee each morning and from that point on the heacaches stopped. Could be a coincidence who knows!

I didnt' have the gas issues but the couging was hard. I hated it but made myself do it. One thing that seemed to help me not need to cough as often was using the spirometer quite often during the day. 

YAY for a shower!!!!!!! Clean feels good :) 

Keep up the great healing!

Come to think of it - I had hot flashes too.  That was unusualy because I am always cold!  I guess it could have been some type of withdrawal - I was still having my daily tea, just not as much as usual.  Hmmm....that's something to think about  ;)

Are you taking stool softeners and have you had a BM?? Being constipated was my biggest problem, may be the cause of your gas!?!? I never felt like I had to go, but all the while it was backing up, almost to the point of a blockage!! Never had the headaches, I loved my Vicodin!! Edited to ask if you are stripping your drain lines??

Nope, not taking stool softeners.  I bought them, just in case.  I did have a BM yesterday.  He didnt say anythng about striping the drains.

Erica

If you are not stripping your drains that may be why your output is low. The nurses at the hospital didn't tell me about it either, when I went to my PS appt. after a week, they told me to do it. You hold your drain next to your skin and with the other hand tightly press on the line between your fingers and pull all the fluid out into the drain bulb. I hope you understand what I am saying or call your PS office. I do believe that by me not stripping my drains, that that may have set me back a week. Good luck, you will love your plastics!! PS: glad to hear you had a BM, make sure you are regular, that was my biggest problem!!

Thanks so much for telling me how to strip my drains.  Your directions were great.  I did it.  That was gross!!  I do agree that maybe that is why I am not getting much output.

Erica

I seem to wake up with a headache almost every day while I was taking the vicoden.  I also got nauseous for a couple of days but not right away.  Wierd.  I quit taking them after about 4 or 5 days and was on tylenol for a few more.  I am 2 weeks out and pain free.  I might get sore if I do too much but not enough to take anything.  I just stop and rest then I'm better.  The pain actually got better after the first week for me.  I also took gasx every day after I ate because I felt so swollen as it was and eating just added the bloaty feeling.