Orchids&Dragons

I don't think you'll completely need to start over, after all you're down 70 pounds "the hard way"! Can you take vacation in increments? Or is it too soon? Do you not have vacation yet? At my job, I couldn't take FMLA until I'd been there a year. But, anyway, you are making steady progress and that's fantastic! You may need to have the surgery later than you'd like, but nothing you've accomplished so far is "wasted", it's an investment in the new you!

I didn't know that, thanks!

I'd talk to the doctor or nurse on call. Can't hurt. Good luck, hope it gets better soon.

I know some of you have had issues with edema and I would appreciate some advice. I have been seeing a cardiologist because of some other issues, but one of the things that worries him is the swelling in my legs and my shortness of breath (which has been getting worse.) I have been on 2 different oral diuretics which didn't seem to have any effect. Now, the cardiologist is putting me on IV lasix and having me continue the oral diuretic too. He intends for me to get another IV treatment every day until the edema goes down. (This is basically a shot of lasix into the vein, not a big bag of IV fluid.) I drink plenty of fluids, so I guess my question is this: Can you get dehydrated at the same time you're carrying 30-40 pounds of excess fluid?

Well, talked the cardiologist out of the second IV lasix today. He was pleased that I lost 5 pounds overnight, but wants to continue for at least another 10-15. My breathing was easier today but I stayed dizzy and wobbly all day. I told him that I got too dizzy to drive a couple hours after the injection yesterday. He wanted to do it again and let me go home and be dizzy for a while. But I had taken today off to drive to the town my mom lived in before she passed so that I could set up an estate bank account. It's about an 80 mile round-trip. Then I also had an appointment this afternoon at home. So he said that he would prescribe another diuretic to take with the one I'm already taking for the weekend and re-evaluate my progress next week. Apparently, the pharmacy called this morning and spoke with one of my boys to say they'd need to order the medicine and it won't be in until Monday. No, my son didn't call me. I found out when I went to pick up the prescription around 5. Too late to call the dr. office and ask them to phone it in somewhere else. UGH! I forgot to ask the Cardiologist when I was there about exercise. He's got me nervous now. I'll wait til I talk to him next week. My surgeon was ok with the diuretics so long as I keep my fluids up and take a potassium supplement.

I'm surprised you didn't go all out with a "Bless your heart!"

Yes, definitely call the doc. It could be something easy to handle, like too much acid, or it could be something major. In the meantime, try changing the temperature of your liquids. Try warm (not hot) tea or broth. Try adding your protein shake to decaf coffee. Once you can handle the liquids and especially once there's something in your stomach (like the protein shake), the meds will go down easier.

Wow! You win the "Sucks to be me" prize!

I'm at 58# lost since Feb. 16, if I get to count the 5 since yesterday on diuretics!

I get ya! I won't wear the compression hose because they bunch up like rubber bands at the ankles, which is more uncomfortable than the swelling

Thanks, @MIZ60. I did not have shortness of breath before the surgery except when I dragged my fat azz up a flight of stairs, but I did have a lot of swelling in my legs. The doctors had always blamed it on my salt intake (it's my favorite food group) and since I had no other issues, they pretty much ignored it. However, my salt intake is now <800mg most days, so that isn't it. I was actually shocked at how low it was, but since I'm still living on yogurt, protein water and minced tuna salad, it's not hard to explain. In the last month, I've gotten progressively worse. Kinda scary. I get super dizzy every time I stand and I'm nauseous all the time. They did an upper GI on Wed. and found severe reflux. On top of all that, I have a Grade-A case of the stupids. People literally have to ask me the same question 2 - 3 times before I get it. UGH! Because of a family history of heart problems, the surgeon referred me to a cardiologist before surgery. He thought I had a blockage from the nuclear stress test so he ordered a heart cath. I was already 6 days into the pre-op diet at that point and he cancelled my surgery until after the cath could be done. Turns out, my heart was fine, I just have super skinny veins, but no blockages. Wouldn't you know, I had one really skinny part of my body and no one could SEE IT! Anyway, I left a message at the surgeons office about the IV lasix. Hopefully they get back to me before I get another dose in about an hour. I appreciate your concern!

I'm in pretty much the same boat. That's all I could eat at 6 weeks and now, at 12 weeks, can still only handle a tiny bit more than that. Maybe 1.5 oz (by weight). At 6 weeks, my surgeon wasn't concerned, just said I was on the slow end of healing, but at my 12 week checkup he did get concerned. I am basically still on mushy foods, can't tolerate solid meat protein at all, although I can handle fish. Hopefully, you're just a slow healer and it will all resolve itself. Just pad out your day with extra yogurt or protein shakes/water until you can eat more at a sitting. Hope you're doing better soon.

Sounds to me like you just followed different medical advice - your own. Hope all goes well.

I'm glad to hear it's something relatively minor. Hope you're feeling better soon!

Sorry, I didn't explain well. I'm not on IV fluids. I'm getting shots of lasix into the vein (so that it doesn't have to travel the long way around through the stomach.) I drink around 100 oz of fluids per day and the cardiologist would like me to reduce it to 64. But I crave water, so the lowest I'd been able to do was about 80. That's why he's increasing the diuretics.

Maybe your hubby is just lop-sided? JK, congrats on the inches! That's what shows. Nobody sees your scale!

Hope all goes well! Sorry about the detour on your journey.

YEAH!!!!!! Congrats!

Do you want different levels of experience or just veterans? Sorry, didn't mean to post in the Men's room!

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'll have better questions for the doctor next time!

I got a big No from my doctor and I have a sleeve. Guess it all depends on your doc!

I would have thought the swelling should be gone by now? No? I'll be 12 weeks on Monday.

What issue is there with NSAIDS that is not the same for sleeve and bypass? I thought you had to stay off NSAIDS for both procedures.

I had an upper GI yesterday and they found severe reflux. Haven't spoken with my doctor yet to see what he wants to do. They tried to take me off omeprazole a month after surgery, but I only made it 4 hours before I called and asked them to give me a new prescription. Within a couple of days, I was back to twice a day, where I am now. Even with that, I take a fair number of Tums, like at 5am this morning because the acid is still too high. UGH!

You can try ice packs if you're home. That will help with inflammation. Mine bothered me for about a week.