Question:
Anything happen pre/post wls that was embarrassing/uncomfortable that U DIDN'T EXPECT
I am someone who wants to know everything to expect. Did anything happen pre/post wls that you wish someone told you about just so you could prepare yourself for. anything really uncomfortable? embarassing? PLEASE THINK!!!!!! — krissy F. (posted on July 31, 2001)
July 31, 2001
I always read that we should use our morphine drips to keep ahead of the
pain , but I didn't realize what that actually meant and why. I wish I
would have known about the intense stomach spasms so I would have been
better prepared. they scared the heck out of me , I thought I was gonna die
or that something went horribly wrong. When the nurse explained it to me I
was able to calm down . I guess not everyone has them but prepare yourself
for some pretty intense pain and if It dosen't happen to you consider
yourself lucky ! In any event use that drip, and get up as soon as you can
it will help. Luckly these spasms only lasted one day.I hope I didn't scare
anyone,but it is better to know.
— Rose A.
July 31, 2001
Hi!! I was really not prepared for the draining at the bottom of my
incision!!!!! Couldn't at the beggining figure out why my clothes had an
oily stain in the middle of my tummy until I actually saw the fluid coming
out!!! I freaked out ,it's very unconfortable (had to wear a kotex pad in
my tummy for 5 weeks now)and I ruined most of my big clothes (oh well they
don't fit anymore).Everything else is very bearable even the pain,I had
minimal pain after surgery and I had the open RNY.Good luck to you on your
journey to SKINNYLAND.
— Monica J.
July 31, 2001
My dog spotted my jp drain bottle and thought it was a ball. She grabbed it
and tried to take off with it. Now that hurt:( and still does the drain is
coming out a day early because of this.
— bob-haller
July 31, 2001
Hi Krissy,
embarassing, well uhm yes as a matter of fact.....when they were bringing
me back from the swallow test my wheelchair arm fell off and there were all
these people around, I just wanted to crawl off (well sort of). Also when
they came to give me shots in the abdomen for anti-blood clotting...that
didn't hurt but I was embarassed because it DIDN'T hurt=too much padding!
Best wishes ~
— Gail R.
July 31, 2001
It was about 36 hours after my surgery and I stood up at the edge of my bed
to walk to the bathroom. Suddenly, I felt this rush of fluid from my
incision and a big splat hit the floor. I froze and called for help. My
nurse came in and said, "oh, yeah, that sometimes happens". I
didn't blow any staples, but somehow, about a cup of fluid flew out of my
belly. She simply redressed the incision and assured me that I hadn't just
spilled my guts on the floor. To this day I cannot figure out where all
the fluid came from given I had staples about every 1/2 inch up the
incision. What was embarrassing was standing there holding my belly like
if I let go, my intestines were going to slide on out. Ahhh, pain meds....
— merri B.
July 31, 2001
Beware, if you experience any diarhea following surgery. Be careful when
passing gas. I thought I only needed to pass a little gas but was I wrong.
I ended up messing myself. Thankfully I was at home at the time in
happened (day I got out of hospital). Another thing to beware of. Noone
told me about getting the JP drain removed. When my doctor tried to remove
mine, it got caught on something and he had to pull really hard. It was
the worst pain I have ever felt in my life and I have had two kids so I
know pain. One good thing about the pain was that it only lasted about 15
minutes. Good Luck.
— Melissa A.
August 1, 2001
Oh, yes. I can think of two things. One was funny, one not so funny.
About three months after my surgery, I went out for chinese food with a
whole group of friends and co-workers. It was my first time eating out.
I back and work and feelig good and getting lots of compliments. I suppose
I wasn't paying much attention to how fast I was eating. Suddenly, I could
feel that the food hadn't "gone down". I did the thing my surgeon
told me not
to do if that ever happened! I downed a glass of water! Immediately the
water
just shot up and out of my mouth like a geyser!!! The stream of water went
all
over the table. I was mortified....my friends were petrified. We all laugh
about it
now; but, at the time, I just wanted to crawl under the table and die.
The second thing was something I had not been warned about. To be
delicate...when
I eat something that is very starchy and/or real high in fat
content or when I over eat...I have to go to the bathroom quickly and the
smell
would kill a bull. This happened to me for the first time 5-6 months after
my
surgery when I was at a friend's house. I couldn't get the bathroom window
open
and their was no air freshener (...it wouldn't have helped...). She has a
small
apartment and the smell wafted into the living/dining area. Everyone knew
who the
culprit was!!! Mortified doesn't begin to explain how I felt. Now, I'm
very careful
about how and what I eat in public.
— [Anonymous]
August 2, 2001
During my pre-op testing I had an embarrassing experience. I have five kids
and have been overweight for some time. Needless to say I have pretty
severe urinary stress incontinence. I leak a little every time I gag, or
sneeze, or cough, or even laugh to hard. I also have a hyper-sensitive gag
reflex. My upper endoscopy was no big deal and the desentitizing meds wore
off quickly. I thanked the Dr. and got up off the table. Woops! While
"under the influence", and retching as the tube went down, I had
completely wet myself! Because I live in Connecticut and my surgeon is in
NYC, I had to get in a cab and then take the train home in that soggy
state. I wish I had thought to wear a depends or something. Oh well...a
days worth of dignity is a small price to pay for the 50 pounds I have lost
since May 15th!
— blank first name B.
October 7, 2004
The fact that food didn't taste good, even foods I had always loved that I
could still eat tasted horrable. The first year I kept thinking not only
can I not eat much i can't even enjoy the little I eat. It frustrated me
to no end to think nothing would ever taste good again, but by the second
year foods started tasting better. I was able to enjoy shrinp again a food
I always enjoyed and had thought I'd never enjoy again. Never heard anyone
talk about that happening even with all the reserach I had done pre op. I
am now happy and enjoying life for the first time. I have lost 130# and am
going in for my tummy tuck in a couple months. My last goal is to be able
to wear a swim suit and feel confident in it. It was well worth every
thing I've gone through. I was referred to as onw of those people that
would never understand being over weight the other day, you know the ones
we always hated that never dieted a day in their lives. ;)
— Linda H.
October 7, 2004
Hey this is memory lane:) Its a old question from 2001 and I already
answered it at just as few days post op. I have fond memories of that time
the beginning of my new life:) I still remember the pain of my dog susie
trying to run off with my JP drain bottle:( Jen didnt know I could scream
that loud.... ahh the memories...
— bob-haller
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