Question:
Am I supposed to feel this crappy or what?
(OPEN RNY w/ Transection/Gallbladder Rmvl) I am 5.5 days post op.....was on table longer than the surgeon had planned on.....he said I had alot of lesions to cut thru from prior surgeries including incisional hernia repair.....instead of bein on the table for 3-4 hours.....I was on the table for over 7.....nothing tastes good.....always thirsty.....throat hurts STILL.....maybe Maybe I'm in a hurry to feel better or something.....am definitely not hungry.....but try to take my vitamins, protein, and drink water.....I don't know you guys.....I'm going for a walk in a couple of minutes.....but I am emotional about this crap.....I know.....what a wuss......but I want to feel better! — Robert B. (posted on March 31, 2002)
March 30, 2002
Hi Robert. NEWS FLASH!!!!! You had MAJOR surgery less than a week ago!
You are NOT supposed to feel like dancing on the tables!!! Some folks on
this site jumped up out of bed, felt no pain and went off to save the world
48 hours after their surgery. NOT ME!!!! (Okay, please don't be insulted
all you super people -- I admire you even if I don't understand you :)).
Anyway, the point is this...take your time. Everybody is different. You
are entitled to be a wuss if you want (and I'm sure you aren't -- 5 1/2
days after surgery I didn't feel like doing diddley!). Take your time.
Don't push it -- you'll heal and start feeling better soon, I'm sure. In
the meantime, walk, drink your water, try and get your protein and vitamins
in as best you can. And most of all, take it easy on yourself. This is
called "recovery time" for a reason. Take care.
— Pam S.
March 30, 2002
Robert,
Don't worry, you are perfectly normal! Most people don't start to feel
'normal' until about 4-6 weeks. The first few weeks, it's almost like a
full time job, trying to get in your water, as much protein as possible,
plus your meds! You said you were going for a walk in a few minutes and
that's great..not only does it help clear that anesthesia out of your
system, it quickens your recovery, stimulates your appetite and generally
helps you feel better! Hang in there, it does get better! :) If you were a
DS'er, you'd see most of the whining is from people from the first month
post-op! I know that was me! *grins* Believe it or not though, the walking
will help increase your energy.
You will feel better soon! :)
— Anita N.
March 31, 2002
Robert, first let me congratulate you on being post-op. It is so easy to
compare your progress to others, we all do it but DON'T. No matter how
quick people bounce back it takes 6 weeks for the body to heal
proper-minimum. Lap patients tend to be back on their feet quicker do to no
big incision but it takes their insides 6 weeks to heal too. Please don't
be inpatient w/yourself. We all want to "hurry" past the "I
feel like #@$!" phase. It will happen, I promise!
— jsuggs
March 31, 2002
Hey there!! go easy on yourself. Everyone wants to feel normal again after
this surgery!! BUT!!! it takes time! Hang in there and don't over do it.
Relax and let your family members spoil and pamper you!!! It took me a full
6 weeks to feel better enough to actually say I was glad I had the surgery
because for a while there I thinking what in blazes was I thinking!!! Take
your pain meds, and rest, rest, rest.Best wishes to ya and happy
losing!!!!!!!
— Laura G.
March 31, 2002
Robert,
I am almost 3 wks. post and still feel crappy!! I feel like I can't put one
foot in front of the other. It is a major deal to make myself go out and
walk in front of my house!! Go easy on yourself.....let your family spoil
you for now, it's great!! LOL I had a Lap but my recovery is going slow.At
5 days, I was only doing the best I could with water, etc. Everyone tells
us "that we WILL feel better"! Hang in there!!!!!
— Bonnie H.
March 31, 2002
Robert my dear..you are definitely NOT a wuss! I am 7 weeks post op, open
RNY, transected w/gallbladder removed, and no doubt about it, the first 2-3
weeks are rough. I never thought I would feel normal again. It is very hard
to keep your eye on the big picture when it is so difficult to keep your
brain anywhere except the here and now. It will get better, it really will.
Congratulations on taking this step..it takes a lot of courage to put
yourself through MAJOR surgery. Good luck and email me anytime if you would
like (that goes for everyone else too!)
— Jennifer G.
March 31, 2002
Oh Robert! I am so glad I journaled this experience. The first four weeks I
felt like absolute doggy doo! I cried, wished I hadn't done this, went
through a mini depression... it was horrible, and yet here at 6 months I
don't even remember it unless I go back and read it and think "wow, I
wrote that, I was miserable" It will get better! You've had major
surgery, anesthesia is coursing through your body, your starving, it's a
really hard thing! Give yourself a break and know that time really is all
it takes to feel better. Good luck
— Becky K.
March 31, 2002
I know exactly how you feel. It took me about 4 weeks to feel better then I
still got sick alot. I am now 5 months post op and feel wonderful, so be
patient you will feel better soon. Open RNY (w/ gallbladder removal)
11-12-01 down 155 lbs:)
— Lynda T.
March 31, 2002
Every day for 2 weeks i said ,"What have I done??!!!" After 6
weeks I felt as good as I did when I went into the hospital.8 weeks out I
feel GREAT. Better than I have in years. People have even said that my
personality has improved.------ Good Luck
— Robert L.
April 2, 2002
Hi Robert! Hang in there it will get better from here. I had a rough time
at first too and asked myself why I did it. I then reminded myself that it
was to save my life and to have a better life. Positive thinking will do a
lot for your mental state so try to think ahead and focus on your goal. I
couldn't sleep in my bed for 6 weeks, I had to sleep sitting up with my
feet propped up on a footstool, it was very hard to get comfortable and I
had my moments of crying and thought I was never going to feel better. But
every day gets just a little better and I went back to work after 7 weeks.
I am surprised at the people who are able to go back after only a few
weeks, I had the open procedure by the way. I needed all the recovery time
that I had and would have taken another week off but I was needed at work.
But the pounds will start to come off and you'll be feeling better soon. I
wish you the best of luck!
— Monica F.
April 7, 2002
Hi, I too felt horrible after the surgery. I didn't even want to talk to
anybody on the phone or anything. I knew I had made the wrong decision. I
did start to feel 'human' as I call it after I started to eat. It has been
uphill since there, so it does get better. Just hang in there.
— Dana R.
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