Question:
I'm 5-weeks post-op, I have so far experienced an itchy rash all over my body

Not only do I have the rash but I have gained weight and not losing weight I'm now eating soft foods and it's still hard to digest food can I get some food ideas as well? I'm soo tired of refried beans and cottage cheese I also had water retention but they have given me water pills and I also suffer from insomnia if anyone is experiencing any of this please answer my question    — jewely75 (posted on May 15, 2011)

May 15, 2011
I got an unbearable rash about 2 weeks post-op, ended up in ER once because it was so bad. I used children's liquid Benadryl through my g-tube for relief. They never figured out what it was from.
   — JoyMac

May 15, 2011
Hi, Sounds like you are having an allergic reaction to something... are you eating something new? I personally would go back to liquid until the rash resolves then introduce things one a week. As far as the weight gain and water retention check the sodium content in what you are eating... many pre packaged and canned foods have a very high sodium content. Good Luck!
   — fortywhat2

May 15, 2011
Call your surgeon!
   — Charlene R.

May 15, 2011
i gained on refried beans too. They are a great alternative to meat in most cases, just in mine my body processed it differently. I also had a hard time with cottage cheese for some reason, tho i loved it pre surgery. A blender was my best friend for a while. I pureed what ever i ate. I didnt do very well with the shakes and as soon as i could, i went for soft foods...lol. So i love my blender. As long as you have it "we" enough you can puree lots of meats. Some other soft foods that i did well with include hard boiled or soft boiled eggs that i turned to mush, eventually tuna in a can (low sodium of course) most fish (i baked it and pureed it) Concentrate on those proteins and get those in first! my doc recommended 60 grams. If you do that, i think you will like your results! As for the rash, it could be something you are eating or putting on you (soaps etc.) that your body will no longer tolerate. Remember that this was not small surgery no matter what anyone says. Another thing that will help is to weigh your food. I know that a serving is 4 ounces, but for my new stomach, i still struggle with 2 ounces. Which means that i still have to eat more often. When i can, i need to try to get to 3 meals and a snack, to avoid grazing. However, right now, my body is calling for smaller meals more often. My hunger has not returned as of yet. If yours has, please see your surgeon or doc. they can help. Take good care and dont give up!
   — lady_myst

May 16, 2011
Change your clothes soap to All in the white bottle. I had the same problem. Of course, check with the dr to see if it is anything else.
   — pcannedy

May 16, 2011
Definitely mention the condition to your doctor, whether it be your surgeon or your primary care. Make sure you are getting enough fluids in each day. I developed very bad, itchy dry skin shortly after my procedure; what you have may not be a true rash at all, but rather dry skin. Moisturize regularly and drink plenty of water and that might help.
   — Elizabeth T.

May 16, 2011
I too got a rash all over my body two weeks after my surgery. I called the Dr.'s and they explained to me that it was the pain medication that was given to me in the hospital. I have been taking Benadryl and Zrytec and it is slowly going away.
   — Priscilla V.

May 18, 2011
I had the same thing, make sure you are also getting your water in-take. It could be that your skin is drying out. I had what I would describe as sloughing. My skin was just flaky off but it turned out to be a good thing because it was in my stretch mark area and I ended up with not so much. I know they say it's genetic but I had to wonder if it wasn't the new skin being made. Definitely keep your doctor aware of the situation and document it in the event you need to get your insurance to pay for plastics later. Like someone else said, go to All Clear Laundry detergent. It's kind of like you are a brand new baby. Your hormones are changing quite rapidly so things we once could tolerate we don't tolerate so well anymore. Good luck. Best Wishes. Hang in There and Stay Positive!
   — Corina C