HELP!!!!!!!!!!

I am new to this website and bariatric surgery. My husband had surgery 8 days ago, and still feels horrible. He is tired, depressed, nauseated, and has diarrhea all the time. He did manage to do a two mile walk yesterday, but is still not feeling well.

Has anyone else had these feelings after surgery?  I am not sure if he has a touch of the flu since his doctor did his surgery, and then was unable to see him in the hospital since he was sick.

Any suggestions to help him get through this would be great!  BTW, this group is wonderful, and I haven't even been able to read all the postings!  What a great way to support other people!

Welcome to the group IKJ, what is your first name?

Congratulations on seeing your husband through this surgery, welcome him to the losing side of surgery for us.  The feelings of tired, depressed are normal.  Many of us go on antidepressants, at least for awhile after the surgery.  I was on one before surgery, and plan to continue to use it.  Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Surgery is major and being tired is part of the recovery process, 2 miles is a long walk for just a few days out.  Short frequent walks, lots of sipping on fluids, especially protein loaded ones will help.  I used sugar free popsicles when I needed to get fluids in and nothing else worked.

Not sure which surgery your husband had.  They all adjust the size of the stomach, some surgeries also alter the digestive tract.  It takes time to recover from the surgery.  Do contact the surgeon or their office for assistance with the nausea and depression.  There are things available.  Not sure about the diarrhea, may be a bug your hubby got.  Many of us, me included had issues with constipation after surgery from less food/fiber/fluids than our intestines were used to during our former overeating days.

Feel free to ask any and all questions.  No topic too far off.  We discuss lots of things during the monday chat sessions too, you are both welcome to join the chat sessions, lots of caring and sharing happens there.  I agree about the group being great.  Somedays more posts than others, I am trying to catch up myself.  Hugs

Irene, After I had my surgery I was a mess. The Anesthesia really messes you up for several weeks. Just keep giving him positive support, plenty of water and lots of TLC.

Dani

I had diarrhea for about the first 10 days.  Started in the hospital.  Then things got better for a few days.  Once I started pureeds in week 3, I got constipated for a few days.  Now things are much better.  I had my RNY 01-03-11.   
  
I would also get nauseated when I tried to drink the protein shake and take my supplements for the first 2 weeks.  What I did was just concentrate on the fluids.  Getting dehydrated can make you feel sick as well.  My NUT said that she thought that the nausea was because I was a bit low on the fluids.  Buy some sugar free popsicles (most are 3-4oz) and let your husband suck on them.  Also his sodium being low may be causing him to be sick,  Get some chicken broth with sodium and let him sip it.  Hot tea would settle my stomach as well.  Still does. But I would let the surgeon know because they can prescribe him some medications, most likely ZOFRAN.

As far as the depression, I am sure that most of it is coming from the fact that he feels like crap after surgery.  Most of us go into surgery hoping that once its over we will instantly feel better.  Sounds like you are being supportive.  That is all that you can do. Tell your husband that these feelings are temporary and that he will begin to feel better soon.  Take one day at a time. 

Welcome to the group!!!!

Irene and Jeff - welcome both of you.  I am waiting for surgery and will have the gastric bypass done so I can't answer the post-op questions you asked but there are lots of ladies and men who are here that can :)

We are here for you and your husband so feel free to ask and join in on any posts.

Teresa

My first name is Irene. This website was recommend to us by my husband's doctor. Jeff, my husband, had gastric bypass. I am familiar with the surgery from having friends who had it done, and also being a nurse. However, I never realized the emotional roller coaster some patients can be on after surgery.

Thank you for the encouragement, and I am really encouraging my husband to be part of this group once he is up to it.

Thanks for the information

~Irene~

Hello, Irene, and welcome.

I am seven weeks out and lately have been feeling like you say your husband is feeling.  I felt fine after surgery.  I had some pretty bad pain the first week but after that I was great.  Until about two weeks ago.  Since then I have been having a lot of nausea and now have a raging sore throat.  I spent most of yesterday ar the hospital getting fluids.  I am told that things will work themselves out and get better.  You husband will be fine.  Lots of TLC and support.  

Hello Irene, love to get to know folks a little better.  I too was encouraged to use this site by my surgeon's office.  I found lots of positive encouragement here with the bariatruc buddy group.  Enough encouragement, that I went on to take the leadership training offered here at OH and, tadaaaaaaa.  Here I am.

Love to pay is forward to others travelling the same path.  I am proud that you are here for your husband.  I have tried to get mine to check out the site, not yet.  But he does attend support group meetings here in town when he can.  Nice to have some of the spouses attend.  Eating patterns are lifelong and family is involved in food choices for at home.  Thank goodness you are here for Jeff.  Love to get to know Jeff too, as he is feeling better.  There is an article on hormones and depression located in the blog area (over to the right, above Patrece's pic), several articles that are good reading.  Check them out.  Hugs

Thanks for the information. Jeff finally joined the website last night looking for some help. He can't stand the taste of the protein shakes and was looking for other recipes that people had used. I can't find his post, so I am thinking he may have posted in another group. I will have to check with him.

Thanks for the advice. It's a bit frustrating around here right now as Jeff can't stand the taste of protein, and me encouraging him to take it since the doctor says he needs it. I just hope we can find some type of protein that he is able to tolerate.