HOME after surgery

[shutterbug 1]

I am home today after having the sleeve on Tuesday. My surgery went well but I was in recovery for over 10 hours.. NOT due to a bad recovery..the hospital I was at didn't have a bed for me until after midnight it was horrible being down in recovery that long..and I was so grateful to get into a room. I'm doing ok, however, I am really tired and though the surgery went well, my stomach pain is like a bad bruise I am experiencing nausea and chest pains. It is hard to get in 50+ oz of Fluid, as it is now it's going on 5pm and I am at about 22 oz.. Has anyone else out there had the chest pain.. sharp..when you drink or try to even nibble on Jello. I'm told it can be from the gas and esophageal related.. how long does it take to subside? AND how much fluid were you able to get in the first few days after surgery?

Please pass on some words of encouragement I know this is the hardest part, the first few days but anyone who can relate to these things please share your information...

Also.. did anyone else have to bring home injections for blood thinners? I am home with 2 weeks worth of injections into my tummy (dont' get scared..really easy to do)..and nausea medicine as well. Just never read anything on that before so was curious ... one good thing my surgeon was able to do surgery without a drain tube... so I wont' have to go back (2 hour trek) in a few days to have that taken out.

Hugs to all and thank you for sharing!

~Chandra

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I can certainly relate. I just got home from the hospital from having pancreatits. I sat in the waiting room for a couple of hours and on an ER bed for 6 hours because there weren't any beds available in the hospital. It's horrible to be in pain and be stressed out on top of it.

Try drinking something warm. Some of the people who were having a hard time getting fluids in, said warm liquids were easier to drink.

I hope your pain goes away soon and you're feeling better.

[Tracy46545 6]

Chandra,

Glad you're home and the surgery went well. I've never heard of having to have injections for blood thinners after surgery.

Everyone says drinking is hard, my friend said it was like trying to swallow gravel! ... so just sip...(think in teaspoons) ....decide what works best for you whether it be room temperature, cool, cold or warm drinks. Keep yourself comfortably warm and don't be afraid to use a heating pad on the shoulders or chest to ease that ache.

Walk at least every hour even if it's just from the front door of your house to the back door! This will help move that gas they used to inflate your stomach, up and out of your body. (the reason your shoulders and chest will hurt more is because the gas moves UP and out of your body...). I would stick to liquids only...probably too soon to even nibble the Jello.

You're on your way now and you can do it!

Tracy

[EasttoWest 0]

Hi Shutterbug

I came home with 2 weeks worth of injections as well. I think it is more common for those of us who travel for surgery, and I appreciated the caution!

[Malaika 50]

Chandra -

I can feel your pain - not from having to be in recovery for that long as I had a room before I even went to surgery - that would so suck.

As for the pain in your chest - that is more than likely from the gas - I kept moving my heating pad from my left shoulder to the front, right over my breasts -- it really helped - walking will help, too.

As for getting in 50+ oz of liquid, I didn't even try to get that - I knew there was no way that was going to happen. Drink what you can -- I found warm things went down easier than cold, especially the first few weeks. Also, if you want something cold, but it hurts to drink it, suck on ice cubes - you get the cold without the pain as the ice melts and trickles down your throat -- I still do that today because I can't drink anything iced cold without it giving me spasms.

Hang in there; this too shall pass.

[sweetie333 3]

what you are going through is just normal. I had chest pain for 2-3 days and ofcourse it was so difficult to get in my fluids. I did not even try. I was on IV fluids for 2 days. I am still struggling with my Water intake but it will get better by time.

[Bee 0]

Hi ,

I had my op 16 days ago, and I was sent home with injections to thin the blood for 10 days, ended up bruised but no probs other than that, I liked to drink warm skimmed milk I found that very soothing.

good luck with the rest of your journey !!

Bren

[stoongal 10]

I remember having those injections after my knee replacement surgeries last year!

I hated them too as they left so many bruises. I know I stopped them long before I was told to (the rebel in me) and now I have a stockpile of them here (in case - I tell myself - of a heart attack or something like that) That scares me a lot because my dad had his first heart attack in his late 40's and died at 56 after a massive one. Mom died of congestive heart failure at 75 after years of poor health with kidney dialysis among that so am determined to outlive them and maybe even my husband who is a year younger than I am. I want to live to be an old, old woman - and a slim healthy one!

Cheers,

Donna

[shutterbug 1]

Thanks everyone.. doing much better today, day 3! Have gotten about 30oz of liquid down (including popsicle) and was able to add Protein today to some milk! That was yummy.... today is the first day I could eat COLD anything and it was great.. wow those sugar free popsicles are good now after surgery .. previous to that I think they would have not seemed sweet enough for me! I am down 12.5 lbs since surgery and I know it's Water weight but it's WONDERFUL to see the scale move in that direction!

Have a good day!

~Chandra

[Lee 19]

Chandra,

I did a month of the shots last year after my ankle surgery because I was completely off my foot for a few months. It was great to not worry about blood clots.

I'm here researching the various surgeries and it's great to read how much better you're feeling on day 3.

[cajun 46]

Glad you are better Chandra. I found warm Decaf tea and warm broth very soothing...tiny sip then burp then another sip, burp...I had to wait to let the burp come up, then the chest pain was not so bad. A heating pad helped me too...and the walking. Be kind to yourself...healing thoughts coming your way!

[paula 0]

Hi again chandra, I too have shots but mine are for 4 weeks. I think Im going to try something warm to drink see if that helps. cause this pain is just awful. makes me not want anything.

[shutterbug 1]

Hey Paula,

My chest pain is almost gone today but was really bad too.. I wanted to cry it would hit me so hard, actually I did cry in the hospital. What I just learned on the boards that no one told me was to use warmth on your chest... like a heating pad or if you don't have one of those .. something you can make at home is to take white rice.. put it in an old sock... you can microwave it for about 3 min..and it holds heat for about 30 minutes... reusable... try that... I feel for you because I was thinking what did I do.. did I make the wrong choice with surgery... and no one else on the floor where I was had the chest pain so I really felt all alone.. I have had some today but not nearly as bad.. tolerable.. and I did find that if you drink warm ..it's much better.. try warm milk... that made me feel better.. if you are still on clear.. try broth or tea....

Hang in there.. keep me posted!

~Chandra

[chooisnghappiness 0]

I am home today after having the sleeve on Tuesday. My surgery went well but I was in recovery for over 10 hours.. NOT due to a bad recovery..the hospital I was at didn't have a bed for me until after midnight it was horrible being down in recovery that long..and I was so grateful to get into a room. I'm doing ok, however, I am really tired and though the surgery went well, my stomach pain is like a bad bruise I am experiencing nausea and chest pains. It is hard to get in 50+ oz of Fluid, as it is now it's going on 5pm and I am at about 22 oz.. Has anyone else out there had the chest pain.. sharp..when you drink or try to even nibble on Jello. I'm told it can be from the gas and esophageal related.. how long does it take to subside? AND how much Fluid were you able to get in the first few days after surgery?

Please pass on some words of encouragement I know this is the hardest part, the first few days but anyone who can relate to these things please share your information...

Also.. did anyone else have to bring home injections for blood thinners? I am home with 2 weeks worth of injections into my tummy (dont' get scared..really easy to do)..and nausea medicine as well. Just never read anything on that before so was curious ... one good thing my surgeon was able to do surgery without a drain tube... so I wont' have to go back (2 hour trek) in a few days to have that taken out.

Hugs to all and thank you for sharing!

~Chandra

I was sleeved this past Monday and I know what you mean about the pain in your chest. I have to take deep slow breaths often almost like childbirth class. I too am struggling with liquid, I had a problem with nausea and threw up almost everything the first 3/4 days. Finally I tried some lowfat vanilla yogurt and the consistency of that seemed to settle my stomach. Best best wishes.