Question:
Can somebody tell me when thing will begin to look up?

I am 1 week post op. During my last day in the hospital and the first couple days I was home I was fine. Now I am in this deep depression, I'm constipated, dehydrated (went to the ER to get re-hydrated) and I get waves of nausea and feeling flush. I'm eating what I'm supposed to...not eating anything bad. I just really feel terrible and can't see a light at the end of this tunnel. When will it pass??    — Deniece H. (posted on March 15, 2001)

March 14, 2001
I am 4 months post op. It sounds like the flush feeling and sickness are what we call dumping. Dumping is when the drink( you are only on liquids RIGHT!)you ingest goes through the intestines very quickly. Suggestion---go a little slower on whatever you take in. I still watch tv when i eat Bad habit! but ill take a drink or bite and sit the plate/cup next to me. It might take 30 min. for me to eat and thats about 1 cup or less of food. good luck things did get more comfortable after the second and third week!
   — christine B.

March 14, 2001
I am three weeks post op today and I had the same problem as you. At 1 week post op I was constipated, nauseated, depressed. It's probably not dumping- as it wasn't with me. It's just your body re-adjusting. Now I am feeling about 95% normal. Hopefully, you will begin to feel better in a few days. Take it easy and get alot of rest. You have made the right decision!
   — Stephanie E.

March 15, 2001
I too was deeply depressed at 1 week, I found sugar-free popsicles helped with the nausea, and helped with getting in my fluids. I know someone saying it gets better means nothing when you feel so bad. I have found a great drink diet snapple cranberry/raspberry and that has helped me get my fluids in too.
   — acluff

March 15, 2001
Hey - what you are feeling is totally normal among new post-ops. I felt completely and totally miserable my first month after surgery. I was terribly depressed, cried a lot, and just generally felt sorry for myself. I thougt for sure that I had made a HUGE mistake! Well, it all passed..things got better when I was able to get out more, and they got MUCH better when I returned to work. As for the nausea - it may be the dumping, or it may also be a residual effect of the anesthesia... Just keep drinking lots of fluid - water, Crystal Light, Iced ot Hot tea unsweetened or w/ artificial sweetner, or any other non-calorie drink. And certainly fllow your surgeon's protocol - whatever it is. Some surgeons have you on liquids only, some, like mine, have you on solid food from day one. Just follow your instructions - you will be fine! One year post-op, lost 265 lbs....
   — Holly G.