Question:
I work in a surgical site where I have to stand and cannot leave for upto

2hrs. Is this going to cause problems with eating, drinking, or other problems like gas and diarrea?    — carolyn *. (posted on July 26, 2001)

July 26, 2001
Hello. I am 1 month post and so far have had no problems with diarrhea. I would think that within 2 hours I would probably be craving something to drink. Yes I do have gas from time to time so that may be an issue but I think everyone is different. Good luck!
   — Kimberly L.

July 26, 2001
Standing for two hours would have been a problem for me the first 4-5 weeks after surgery. After that, I regularly am on my feet (although walking, not standing), and typically go for 4 or more hours without using the bathroom or having any gas. As always, though, YMMV. I think I would look at a back-up plan for work in case you are one of those folks plagued with diarrhea for a longer period of time. -Kate-
   — kateseidel

July 27, 2001
I never had a problem with diarrhea and neither has anyone in my support group. You can definitely work out an acceptable schedule for eating since hunger isn't usually a problem at your stage. Everyone's body is different; but, drinking all the water we're advised to drink means frequent trips to the bathroom....I think I have a child size bladder....I could never last two hours. Gas is only a problem when I eat certain foods....I just avoid those foods when I know I'll be in public.
   — [Anonymous]

July 28, 2001
Carolyn, I had a revision from VBG to a proximal RNY last year. Although I had diarrhea in the beginning, when I started back to work at 4 weeks post-op I only had a couple of incidents where I had to get to a bathroom right away and that went away after a couple of months. Now at over a year, I usually have one (occasionally 2) BM's in the morning after my coffee has kicked in and well before I go to work then I'm good to go til the next morning. Although I drink throughout the day I can easily go two hours without a potty break and I have a tiny bladder. Here are my suggestions and I hope they help. Try to train yourself to have a BM in the morning before work (which is the only reason I drink coffee LOL!), try to keep protein snacks at work with you and eat protein just prior to going into surgery so you don't get hungry or have your blood sugar drop. If you work with a surgery schedule (ie planned surgeries) try to get your fluids in during the non-peak times (ie before work, if there is a lull in the schedule and when you get home). I am sure it will be tricky in the beginning and you may want to communicate your concerns and possible problems you may experience so that people working with you are aware and maybe institue a back-up plan with another co-worker in case you absolutely HAVE to leave for a restroom break. I think this will probably get easier the farther out you get. As far as gas, I find that I don't have problems with that until the evening and it is directly in proportion to how many carbs I've had. I have much less gas when I eat primarily protein and horrible gas when I eat a lot of carbs. Anyway, I hope some of this helps.
   — Kellye C.