Question:
this is a multi part question:

I have a pain in my left shoulder. the dr kept me at the hospital an extra day because he was afraid of a leak. since i took my pain meds, it feels a little better. when i sleep and then try to get up it hurts and i can't get a deep breath. Part 2: I am now 4 days post op and feeling good. I have not yet had a bowel movement, is that ok? I mean, in the hospital i was given all high sugar foods (which made no sense to me), and I tolerated everything ok. Part 3: I really have no idea how much is enough to eat. I had some chicken broth, and jello, and have been sucking on ice chips, but don't think that's enough. I'm all on clear liquids still. And one last major question: My stomach growls a lot. I mean i feel like i'm hungry, but how can it "growl" when it isn't attached anymore. I find that confusing...Thanks in advance for reading (open rny 5-2-02)    — candymom64 (posted on May 6, 2002)

May 6, 2002
I don't know if I can answer all the questions but I will try. I too had shoulder and neck pain and it was pretty bad for the first few days. The doc told me that it had to do with being on the operating table for so long, but I have heard so many different reason since. But I can assure you that their are quite a few of us that go through that. You are still early on so I would advise that you not eat until you get that full feeling. Just eat enough to get your nutrients. You should feel real hungry. At about 10 days I started eating mash potatoes and cream of wheat because I was sick and tired of broth and jello. I didn't eat much but it did satisfy me, my mind anyways. If you do eat this make sure it's mushy and not thick. I tolerate pretty much everything also, that's either lucky or not depends on how you look at it. But no matter what, you eat fast you will dump. My stomach crawls also, I'm not sure it's the actual stomach or just something else in there. Oh, the bowel movement thing. Don't worry, about it yet. Some take a couple of weeks. I had one several times a day at first and then went weeks.
   — Kelly C.

May 6, 2002
Phyllis, you could me talking about three months ago. 1) I had severe shoulder pain - so bad it hurt more than my tummy and often made me cry. I am told it was likely from a gas pocket that had settled there. But alas, it went away. A week or so later it was just a memory. See if you have someone to rub it for you, or maybe a heating pad. 2)I didn't move my bowels until my fourth post-operative day, my last day in the hospital. Some folks go quite a few days longer. Give it a few more days, it will happen. Trust me - it will definitely happen. :) 3) I don't know why, or how, but my tummy distinctly growled *a lot* for the first few weeks after surgery and even now for a couple of days at a time here and there. I'll go into extra-hungry mode and she starts acting up and screaming at me for more. Don't let her get her way!! My theory, which may or may not have something to it, is acid. Stomach acid...that churning makes you feel hungry sometimes. At three months, I cotinue to have acid indigestion problems from time to time. I pop a Zantac 75 and it takes care of it for a while. Don't worry Phyllis, you will see that everything gets better and easier. I am happy to hear that you are otherwise feeling good. Keep up that positive attitude. It will do you a load of good. Best wishes!
   — PaulaM