5 days post op and i'm feeling...

[tiffany1521 96]

WINDED, WEAK, SLEEPY, SORE AND TIRED!!!!!!!!

I am going to list off the few things that have been going on since surgery and maybe you guys can help me: THIS WILL BE LONG SO BARE WITH ME.

First let me start off by saying that the pain is decreasing day by day which is a plus. Now, ever since i got my surgery i haven't been able to drink Water like at all.. It hurts to drink Water. I've been living on G2 for the past couple days and it's been a lifesaver but i am craving and yearning for water and it annoys and saddens me that i can't down a bottle or glass of fresh water. My mouth tastes funny and i feel like i have bad breath all the time and i can't kill it with water because MY STOMACH WON'T TOLERATE IT!!! ( can you see how upset i am? )

Second, i've never had acid reflux or dry heaves in my life so i'm not sure what that feels like but the past couple days i've felt like my stomach has been burning and it's been happening a few times a day so today, i went to the store and picked up some acid reflux meds and after popping one into my mouth i haven't had that uncomfortable feeling all day ( Thank God!). My question is, does this last a lifetime? i went into surgery healthy as a newborn and i would like to remain that way.

Third thing on the list, my stomach has been extremely gassy. It rumbles as if it's hungry and 98% of the time i am not hungry so i don't know how to get rid of the gas in my tummy. Also, since surgery i haven't been hungry.. like at all. I've tried to have broth but it doesn't taste good and after a couple spoons of it i end up tossing it. My head hunger is nonexistent and cravings are kept to a minimum. My cravings include things like strawberries and pineapples ( weird i know!) . Please tell me my appetite will increase and i will have the urge to eat as oppose to eating/ drinking/ sipping out of pure necessity.

I am fully aware that all this will eventually pass but i'm just a bit freaked out and feeling like i shouldn't have done this. Can you guys give me some insight on what i can do to feel normal again? i feel like i can handle anything but not being able to drink plain water is just about killing me! i loved water before surgery and i don't want to have to drink flavored water for the rest of my life.

Thank you!

Tiff

[magpie30 187]

All the things you have listed are totally normal, and nearly all of us have experienced them the first few weeks after surgery. Though i have to say if you were "healthy as a newborn" i don't think you would have been needing WLS ( but i understand what you meant). Most people have trouble with Water the first one or two weeks. Try adding some Mio drops to add flavor and help break up the surface tension. Again most people are on some type of antacid the first few months, and the gassy stomach and grumblings are also perfectly normal and there isn't much you can do about them. Just give your body time to heal and recover. You will slowly get your appetite back, though it will be different than before surgery. Instead of feeling the traditional "hunger", you will more feel 'empty', that it's time to put some food in your body. You will feel more normal again, you just have to give it time. While some folks are feeling much better at 1 week out, most need 2 or more weeks before they feel like themselves again. Hang in there, it will get better!!

[browniejan 20]

Hi Tiff, My surgery is next week, but my daughter had hers 4 years ago. About the 3rd week she was hunting things she could eat. Now she eats whatever she wants. My dr gave me a list of things to buy before the surgery to have at home when I got there. Beside the scripts for nausea and spasms, he said to get tylenol gel caps Imodium, Gas-X or Mylecon (chewable or liquid, and Milk of Magnesia.Hope this helps

[bradycone 94]

I'm 5 days out too. With the gas, rumbling, my doctor told me as soon as I get out of hospital to start taking Gas-X. It really does help.

I definitely have more hunger than I thought I would, but it sounds like your experience is more normal. I wish my hunger didn't come back....it was that hunger that got me to this spot in which I needed WLS to begin with.

[aquitenonnymouse 206]

My surgeon had me on Prilosec for 6 weeks post-op even though I had never had acid reflux before. He says he does it for all of his patients.

I found popsicles to be really really helpful in getting in my liquid. I had sugar free popsicles, crystal lite, and milk with Protein powder for most of my liquid phase. The way I made sure I got enough food was to set a timer to go off every hour. When it went off I had to drink 1/2 cup of crystal lite, iced tea, whatever, or eat a sugar free popsicle. No ifs, ands, or buts. It worked really well for me, even though I didn't want to!

[aquitenonnymouse 206]

Oh! I also took gasX chewables (some sort of creamy mint flavor) and they seemed to help the intestinal gas that I had.

[Kellylynn 56]

Yes! sugar free popsicles have been a life saver for me too.

Tiff, I am having the same relationship with Water as you are. Even when i mix it with crystal light, I can't get it down without a burning and a ton of pressure in my chest.

Are you taking B-12? I just started this because I read it helps the tired and weak feelings.

Today is now day 6. I hope it is much better for you today!

[Bamafarmchick 16]

I'm 2 1/2 weeks post-op and I have problems with Water as well. I still drink even though it's so painful. However I'm just about to stop since I'm learning my lesson- water equals pain. I can drink thicker things almost pain free now. But I have burps which omg make me want to pull my hair out. I still have the rumbling and have just started with the reflux. I also think i had some energy store that i have finally depleted -because this is my first week to crash and feel like blow drying my hair is too much work! Also- no hunger or appetite. So you sound exactly like me. I had 1 week of Clear Liquids and was anxious to start my 2 weeks of full liquids. Now that I'm almost ready for soft foods and i thought i would be so ready to chew! I'm freaking out because I don't feel ready at all! I know I don't have to eat, of course but this week was harder than the previous one in terms of pain eating.