Question:
I have been home from the hopital for 3 days and today I feel like something

is wrong. I can't even describe it...it's just this funny feeling. I feel blah, yucky. I didn't feel this way when I came home. I felt great, was eating all my meals, walking over a mile, getting plenty of water, controlling my pain, having bowel movements. Today, I had to force myself to eat and I couldn't even finish. I had to force myself to drink, and I know it wasn't enough, I didn't have a bowel movement, exhausted, forced myself to walk one mile. I don't know whats wrong. It's kinda like nausea, just yucky feeling. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I had lap gastric bypass w/gallbladder removal.    — Lori M. (posted on December 12, 2001)

December 11, 2001
Personally, I would think getting even a 1/2 mile in at your post is too much walking.Takes time for body to adjust. As for bowel movements, I was very "un regular", and at 3 months, still am. I had a friend who this happenned to. She had a stricture very early in the game, and it took a while to get it figured out, After they took care of that, she did great. Ask your Dr.
   — Marie A.

December 11, 2001
I agree with Marie, you are getting in too much excercise. At 3 days post op you should be moving around, but not walking a mile. According to my doctor and my personal experience exhaustion and your 'yucky' feeling is normal this early post op. You should start to feel better over the next few weeks, but I didn't start walking that much until after the first 2 weeks. Also I had no appetite at all. I don't think you have anything to worry about right now. I will be three months on the 17th and I my energy level is doing great. Just don't push yourself right now, give yourself some healing time!!!
   — blank first name B.

December 12, 2001
Gee whiz!!! You just had major surgery!! Walking is the best thing to do but you still need to take it easy, you need to let your body heal. Instead of a real long walk once a day, take frequent small walks,even if its to the mailbox or around your back yard/house its really better at this point to keep the blood from stagnating in your legs. You should still be resting/napping in between. I recommend sipping water & protein drink throughout the day/night. At this point you can't hold very much at a time so just take baby sips and sip,sip, sip throughout the day. When you wake up at night to turn or go to the bathroom, take a few sips before going back to sleep. The fluids are the most important at this time. With the limited amounts your stomach can hold at this time you are probably consuming next to no calories, making you feel even yuckier when you are taking mile walks. I found the bottled protein drinks were like koolaid and I was able to sip them easier than the shake type, if too sweet tasting I diluted them with water. The pain meds in the hospital and what you take at home are VERY constipating. Not enough water/exercise are also constipating. Milk products/cheese products and bananas are constipating. It seemed like the replumbing really confused my intestines, I used milk of magnesia in the hospital and then glycerin suppositories at home, now I just use colace pills(stool softeners) everyday. I'm 4 months out and still need the help for normal bowel movements. I don't want to use anything my body will become addicted to. I think it not only takes us time to find out how to use our new plumbing but it takes our bodies some time to get used to it too. Give yourself some time, you just had major surgery, it will all start coming together. Just be patient.
   — Helen B.