What am I doing wrong??

I had a very mental breakdown about my surgery this weekend.  70% of me was regretting my decision and the other 30% is excited about the weight loss.  Here's what is going on:

1.  Constipation:  I'm drank MOM last night and I still have NOT gone!  I feel miserable.

2.  Leg Cramps:  My legs are cramping so bad even when I'm walking I feel them tightening up.
Thought it might be potassium so I started on some bananas this weekend.

3.  How do I know when I'm full??  I started on soft foods this weekend.  I have been doing pretty good with that but sometimes when I eat I get this terrible burning feeling in the center of my chest.  What is that?

4.  Fluids:  I haven't been measuring them but I'm drinking ALL DAY LONG.  I drink, I feel full, I stop, I drink, I feel full, I stop.  However, I'm might go to the bathroom 2-3 times a day to pee.  Is that normal?  I just don't seem to be going hardly at all.

That's my questions for the day!  There is so much to this surgery.  I knew it would be hard but I never imagined that I would be struggling this much.  Please help!!!

Well i think that the Bananas may be a part of the cause of the constipation, they tend to bind up some people)  You might want to look at Using Miralax daily to help (some people have said that worked for them)

the full feeling can come in many ways  for me it is almost like a pressure in the middle of my chest  that's when i know to stop

with fluids you are doing what sounds to be the right thing, just sips all day long throughout the day,  I think as long as you are able to go and not how many times you go for now is a positive step

Thank you Frank!

yw,  i hope it help a little

let me know how your doing

1. You may need something stronger then MOM like mag citrate, did the DOC send you home with a laxitive?
2. leg cramps my be the potassium but if that is the case the bananas alone is not enough to get it where it should be call your DOC low potassium can cause heart problems and even dealth if not treated.
3 the burning feeling in your chest may very well be that you ate too much you have to measure your foods especially this early out since you will not feel full due to nerve damage from the surgery. I am bout 7 months out and have just begun to feel hungry and fullness.

4 you also should measure your fluid intake

Thanks Hope.  I believe I will give them a call today.  Do you have any suggestions as to what I need to add into my diet for fiber?  She didn't send me home with any kind of laxative.

The first 2-3 months can be very trying for many post ops.  Remorse about having surgery is quite common.  Constipation is an issue for almost everyone. You'll have to find what works for you.  Eating prunes, drinking prune juice, eating high fiber foods, drinking adequate water, exercise, taking stool softeners or Mirilax daily.  My surgeon discussed constipation at a recent support group, and he made these suggestions, as well as some I can't recall at this moment.  Support group attendance will help you understand these issues better and help you resolve them.  Leg cramps are not uncommon either. Pay attention to your lab results for vitamin deficiencies to help resolve this.  Measure your foods EVERY TIME YOU EAT until you can tell when you feel full. At less than 30 days, your appetite should be somewhat small.  Drinking all day long is a part of post op life.  Later on, you'll likely learn to drink more fluids at one time, so you don't have to drink so often.  Urinating often is not uncommon due to higher fluid intake.  Again, regular attendance at a local support group one or more times a month will help you get a better understanding of post op life.  I'm 5 years post op, and I still attend at least 3 support meetings a month, where I learn something new at almost every meeting. DAVE

Thank you Dave.  I don't have support meetings anywhere close to me.  I sure wish I did.  The closest one is over an hour away and it starts before I could possibly get there.  So thankful to have you guys on here to talk to.

You may have support groups near you that you are unaware of.  My surgeon welcomes all post ops to his meetings. You do not usually have to use a particular surgeon to attend support groups that surgeon sponsors.  But, if there are really no other support groups, you do have options.  I drive almost an hour to one of my support meetings. If I had to, I'd take off work early to attend any meeting that would help me post op.  You could also inquire with the "only support group" you can find, and see if you could car pool with someone who lived in your area.  There are always new post ops at my support groups who verbally express their appreciation for the information they hear at these meetings.  Maybe your boss would allow you to start work earlier the day of the support meeting? DAVE

 My doctor told me to use Colace to soften things up and to use Benefiber to help increase my fiber. Since I started this things have been much better.