Successful Surgery and some Questions

Hey girls!  I had my surgery this past Monday and everything went well.  I came home on Tuesday evening.  All days were hard but yesterday, Thursday, was my breakdown day.  I seriously wanted to go have it reversed because of the pain.  I'm an eternal optimist who has a very high tolerance for pain, so I assumed I wouldn't have a problem.  Wrong!  A word to those who have an upcoming surgery is to be realistic and to be determined to use your pain meds as long as you need them. 

Today is a new day, however, and I feel much better.  Still have pain and I still need to use pain meds, but I'm trying to go longer in between doses.

I do have several questions to those who have had surgery.  For the large incision on the left side, was your incision site sunken in a little bit?  Mine is and was just wondering if this is normal.  Most of my lingering pain comes from this area.  Also I haven't had a bm since Monday morning before surgery.  My doc said to use Miralax today.  However, how am I supposed to get the dosage when I can't even get my water in?  Any tips you have on getting the water in would be much appreciated.  The last thing I need is to get dehydrated and nauseated!

One last question, when did you start seeing weight loss?  I know it is probably too early for me, but was just wondering what everyone else experienced. 

Thank you girls!  I really appreciate all the advice I've received throughout this process.  have a great weekend!

Welcome to the loser's bench!  If I remember correctly, none of my incisions were "sunken", but I do remember the most tenderness on the left side.  As far as water goes, I sipped water with fresh lemon wedges in it all day long....I just made myself do it.....and yes, gasp, I used a straw....it made it easier for me.  From the time I had my surgery I only weighed on Friday mornings, and still do so today.  So about a week after my surgery I weighed and had a loss--and had losses every single week for the entire first year!  I also exercise alot so that may have something to do with it--and I was back on my treadmill (very slowly!) the day I came home from the hospital (I worked out for the 6 months leading up to my surgery, so I was somewhat "fit").

All in all, everyone is different.  Listen to your body, do what your doctor/nut tells you to and you will be fine.  Any concerns, call your doctor's office.  Best wishes, and hold on!  The best is yet to come!

Kim

Thank you Kim for the advice.  I haven't exercised much at all because I've been so nauseaus.  But I will do better today.  I've walked around the house, but I'll attempt to get on the treadmill for a short period of time.  Have a great weekend!

Most of the pain on the left is due to the fact that this is the area they had to really stretch in order for the doc to do his work. The muscles get very bruised from this. I had a tender spot on the left a couple of inches below my incision for about 4 months (it gradually got better) but I called it my invisable boo-boo. When I finally remembered to ask the surgeon about it, he told me what I shared with you above.

Another cause of pain right now is the air they pumped into you for the surgery. Taking several small walks daily will help move this out and also help prevent clots and start you on a path to getting in your exercise.

it's odd, some experience ALOT of pain with this, and others, not so much.. we are all so very different.

I struggled alot with water post-op. I could not tolorate plain water, it made me nauseated! So I used crystal light (which you can mix the miralax into and also protein powder) I ate sugar free popsicles constantly... as they are considered fluids too, and without them, I may have ended up dehydrated as well. This part will get easier as time goes on.

As far as seeing the weight loss, it can start showing up almost right away or it can take a week or two. This longer time is usually only due to water weight being held, especially if you are not able to get in enough fluids. Once that scale does move tho, you are going to be amazed! Try not to weight every day. Once a week is best. twice at most if you must. But give your body plenty of fluids and I'll bet the water weight will start coming down. Other options for liquids are the things pre-op like jello, broth, etc.

Hang in there it will all get easier with time.

Thank you Patrece for responding.  After reading what you wrote above, I'm thinking that gas may be causing me my pain issues.  I thought I had cleared all of that out because the area around my left shoulder blade hurt for several days after surgery and then got better.  Maybe it moved down to my left side?

Also, I had my husband go get me some sugar-free popsicles and he brought some Crystal Light popsicles home.  They are so good!  Thank you for suggesting them.  I've tried different protein powders and I can't tolerate any of them.  So, I've got a protein liquid that I'm trying from GNC.  Not so great either but I can tolerate this.  I go see my surgeon and my nut on Wednesday so I'll run that by them then.  Do you think I've hurt myself by not getting in much protein at all for the first 4 days after surgery?

Thanks again for your encouragement.  I couldn't do it without it!

Naw.. you haven't hurt yourself in this short of a time period. Worse case scenerio, you may have slowed your healing a tad. But 4 days isn't going to be too hard on you. But do try to get some in somehow..even if just little bits...it is far better than none at all.

I have to be honest...other than changing positions right after my surgery, the gas was the worst of the discomfort I experienced...truly! A terrible achy crampy pressure type of pain. It about drove me insane, then finally it subsided. lots of little walks helped move it out.

What do you mix the protein powders with? I am not nutz about them, but i do like vanilla mixed with orange crystal light. Tastes a lot like an orange creamsicle to me. I do tho have to put lots of ice in, as it has to be very cold for me.

Isn't it amazing how good a popsicle can be! Especially when everything is so bland. It has so much flavor. You are very welcome for all of the suggestions. Glad I could be of help to you. Let me know if you need any other direction or questions answered. Let me know how your appt goes!

Good news Patrece.  I finally had a BM and passed most of the gas!  Today, Sunday, was the best day I've had so far.  I do have some pain at the drain pump site from pulling, and also still on the left side.  On the left side I've figured out that if I wear the compression wrap it holds my tummy up and in to my body.  Otherwise, gravity pulls my tummy down and with it pulls on the sore spots. 

I tried the orange CL and the vanilla protein powder with lots of ice and just couldn't do it.  I'm going to try to find the Carnation breakfast drink tomorrow and we'll see how that goes.  In the meantime I'm using the liquid protein and blended it with some ice and a few peaches.  I can handle this but I don't really like it.  I knwo I'm going to have to just do it though!

Ohhh...so glad you got some relief. The rest will get better and better each day.
If you do the Carnation instant breakfast, be sure you get the no added sugar one.. The regular has too many sugars and carbs.
Keep trying.. there's got to be something you can handle somewhere.. Maybe check out sites that offer protein and request samples?

Daisy, I had the invisible booboo for a few weeks after surgery too.  I thought I popped something inside due to the pain and constipation.  A lot of work was done through the incision on the left side of the abdomen.  I felt an egg sized lump near that site for several weeks, surgeon said it was a pocket of swelling and fluid.  It resolved in a few weeks, better each day. 

I was so constipated at one point about 10 days out that I wanted to die.  Even had a CT scan to see if there were any problems. 
Found out that I was FOS (full of s--t), the miralax helps.  Try to mix it into any fluids, mixes in easily and has no taste or texture.  I use generic benefiber too for added fiber, again, no taste or texture when added to fluids, disappears completely in my crystal light.  I needed a dose of milk of magnesia to get things moving, horid taste...... I would rather take the miralax instead.

Keep working on fluid intake, popsicles (sugar free) got me through a few days.  I still have a couple or more each day for a sweet treat that will not hurt my efforts.  Even carnation instant breakfast(sugar free, of course) will help to get in fluids and protein.  This will all get easier soon.  Hugs

I have great news on the constipation - I am no longer !  The miralax really worked but it did take over a day to work.  I'm just not eating very much at all as I'm just not that hungry.  I tried some potatoes mashed with beef broth and a touch of spray butter yesterday and they went down very well.  Tonight I'm trying pureed carrots.  Will I know fairly quickly if they agree with me or not?