not feeling so well

I'm not sure what is going on.  I feel sick a lot when I eat anything solid.  I am 8 weeks out on this coming Tuesday.  I have done pretty well on solids for a while now, but now things don't feel great.  I used to be able to do an egg for breakfast no problem, but then it started hurting, so I added a bit of cheese to make it softer/moister, and that helped for a bit but now that is worse.  I could do turkey roll ups (2) for lunch but then started hurting, so added a bit of mustard for moistness again, helped a bit and now, feels like garbage.  I am started to dread meals.  Too thin hurts as well.  Water is awful.  Protein drinks, are good.  I can handle those, so I am getting in my protein, and liquid, etc, but I don't think I want to live on those forever!  

I'm also experiencing some of that hormonal surge thing from losing weight, I have no patience, I am snapping at my husband, kids, boss, (thankfully I have a pretty cool boss, so that has not been a problem, he just calls me his 2nd wife as he gets it at home as well LOL) but I am not doing well.  I have been taking the occasional xanex at night to help with sleep (and this helps a TON with getting enough sleep) but I feel like I need one during the day to chill me out, but I don't take one because it knocks me out.

Anyway, just a bit of a vent but looking for some "been there done that" and any advice, approach you would take.

thanks for the rant.....
Ann Marie

Anne Marie,
I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. A couple of things.

1. If you are having pain when eating, then I would call your doc. If the roll-ups included a tortilla, I would probably not try that since tortillas and bread can very much cause pain when they get all balled up in there.

2. Make sure you are chewing like mad. Think of chewing everything to the consistency of applesauce.

3. Try drinking decaf herbal tea (maybe with a ltitle sweetener) to get your water in. This time of year, the warmth feels so good and it tastes good too.

4. I don't think I ever experienced the hormonal issues. It's good you have people around who are understanding. Try to get in some walks (you may already be doing that). Exercise is a great stress reliever.

5. Be careful with that Xanax, girl. I know I like that stuff way too much. A Benadryl works wonders for helping sleep too and might be a safer, long-term solution. But, hey.....I'm no doc!

Hang in there -- it gets better. But, please also don't ignore pain. Pain is not normal. Keep us posted!

Thanks!  nope, no tortilla, just the turkey and some mustard rolled up...i don't really do very many carby products except the occasional 1 slice of that "very thin" bread, or oatmeal, but since the pain, no bread at all....

chewing could be some of my issue...i need to be more conscious of that....

i'll give the benadryl a whirl.  i think i already have some in the house..

thanks again!!

I haven't gone through that but I would try going back to soft foods.  Cottage cheese, yogurt, cream soup, refried beans.  I cook basically all of my meat with some kind of soup or liquid to keep them soft. 
Hormones, I think it helps just that you know what is happening.  It seems to come and go so maybe it will be better soon.

Ann Marie,
so sorry ur not feeling well. Valley free was right on the money. chew ur food thoroughly they say it should take 30 min to complete ur food. i agree with the xanax i never took any of that but my oldest brother takes them here and there and it destroys ur liver. id rather u take a huge glass of wine or something. having 3 brothers as drug addicts and losing a 51 yr old 2 years ago from a drug overdose i know all too well .maybe thats why i would never take a pill i almost fight tylonels please dont think im saying that u r one , im not. i m just saying that all my brothers took xanax as one of their choice drugs, and one of them has hep C his liver is shot and will prob have to go on interferon meds that will make him ill for a year. of course xanax wasnt the root to his prob but it doesnt help him omg listen to me im blabbing away.
anyway i hope u feel better
and definatly get out there an exercise that will help the stress

Ann Marie,
If you are now having a hard time eating most foods, you need to call your doctor.  You could have a stricture and they can fix that pretty quickly.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Linda

Calling the doc today....I did really thin oatmeal this morning, and that wasn't too bad but still feels tight in there.  I think I jinxed myself as I posted like a week ago how getting on food was going pretty well!  Stupid me!  anyway, I can totally keep down my protein drinks and anything foods that are thin (but very thin liquid like water feels like it is refluxing back up) so I am definitely getting hydrated and getting nutrition, but I don't want it to get worse.  I have an appt next monday anyway for my 2 month follow up, so not sure if he will just tell me to wait or come in earlier, but will call and find out.

Thanks for all the advice!
Ann Marie

Calling the doc is a great idea.
Not feeling well after eating and drinking makes me wonder if you have an ulcer. Are you on anything like pepcid or prilosec?
You have gotten some good advice already. I have had some issues with depression since preop and find I have good days and bad. Seeing psych, and have not started on any meds, but I am feeling better.

Good luck!

Maria

This happened to me at about 8 weeks out.  I thought it might've been a stricture or ulcer, but it thankfully wasn't.  

I just eased up on the food experimentation and it made things better.  Once I got all healed up (at about 12 weeks) I was as good as new!

Ruling out strictures and ulcers is a great idea.  My team told me to look to see if I couldn't get ANYTHING down.  If that was the case, then stricture was probable.  

Hoping it's just a little irritation that will go away for you soon!  BTW, I started feeling much better when I powered through the water pain.  It would hurt for the first few sips, but then it started feeling better.  Tea helped.  I just forced myself to drink the first few, and then the rest was much easier.  Hope that helps.