Trying to help my mother

[tryingtohelpmymother 3]

Hi my mother is post op 4 days please tell me it gets better I guess because of the long plane ride it was a minor setback. She is having bad muscle spasms but only taking ibuprofen was allergic to toroidal. So on Tylenol, ibuprofen, gas x, Prilosec and still having trouble with liquids.< /p>

[Kindle 8,667]

Can't you contact her surgeon? She really shouldn't be taking ibuprofen. And there may be something more appropriate for her muscle spasms. And What is her issue with liquids?

[tryingtohelpmymother 3]

Her surgeon suggested ibuprofen for the muscle spasms and inflammation. Liquids is still very hard 2-3 sips every 4 hours which is not good. Does not like the affects of juice. So today total intake 1/4 of Popsicle, maybe 8 sips of Water, now ice chips.< /p>

[Kindle 8,667]

So are liquids causing the spasms? Is she vomiting? She really needs to figure out how to get more in or she will end up in the hospital for dehydration. Pedialyte? Crystal light? Jello? Milk? Different flavored Popsicles? Has she tried warm liquids? Maybe chicken broth? Camomile tea really helped sooth my tummy early on. Sorry she's having such a hard time.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Kindle

[thesuse2000 698]

That sounds like far from enough fluids. Where was her surgery? Does she have a doctor nearby she can talk to? Dehydration can be dangerous. If your description is literal, that sounds like less than a cup of Water a day, that's very low. Please contact a doctor. She may need to go in and get IV fluids if her stomach is too swollen to hold enough. She should be getting 6-8 cups of Fluid a day. I know some struggle with that the first week, but it sounds like she's drastically below that.

Agree with above - warm liquids can be better. Some also have an easier time getting Water with crystal light rather than plain. Good job coming on here to ask for tips! I wish your mom the best.

[tryingtohelpmymother 3]

Surgery was 30-45 minutes longer than expected so more anesthesia, no vomiting, she does not like milk, had a little Popsicle, a little Jello, ice chips seem to be the best. Just trying to keep her hydrated. Fluids may be causing spasms but think it is something else too.

[tryingtohelpmymother 3]

Her surgery was done in Mexico, we do have local doctor. I believe the long flight back home didn't help cause she was doing better before the flight. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better after the adjustment of being home. Thanks so much all for the advice and tips, I need all the help I can get.

[LuvDaNuMe 53]

Please stop the ibuprofen, it affects the kidneys. If she can't get in adequate liquids she will dehydrate very quickly and possibly her damage kidneys.

[thesuse2000 698]

I was prescribed a drug to help with spasms - I didn't have any, but I took as prescribed and it may have prevented them. It's called Levsin-SL, 0.125 mg tablets that I took every 4 hours the first week. Just throwing it out there - maybe you can get a local doctor to prescribe that or something similar to help.

Was also given Zofran for nausea and Reglan (can't remember what that was for) - and prilosec.

[SherB 220]

I couldn't get fluids in either, next to none. She may need to be put on iv's until she can tolerate them. I was on iv's for 5 days. I am just over 3 weeks out and am not even close to what I need in Water. I am lucky to get in 16-24oz but it is getting better. Dehydration is nothing to mess around with. See a doctor asap and best of luck to her.

[Kindle 8,667]

I was prescribed a drug to help with spasms - I didn't have any, but I took as prescribed and it may have prevented them. It's called Levsin-SL, 0.125 mg tablets that I took every 4 hours the first week. Just throwing it out there - maybe you can get a local doctor to prescribe that or something similar to help.

Was also given Zofran for nausea and Reglan (can't remember what that was for) - and prilosec.

The Reglan (metoclopramide) increases GI motility. (anesthesia, pain, pain meds and surgery trauma can decrease motility). It increases upper GI contractions so things pass through the stomach into the intestines better. It can help decrease nausea and reflux. I was given a similar drug to take for 2 weeks postop.

[tryingtohelpmymother 3]

Thanks everything helped stopping ibuprofen and just doing Tylenol for pain. She able to tolerate ice chips better so is taking 3.5 oz of crushed ice roughly ever 4 hours. Going to try and freeze juice and make it into slushed form and going to try chicken broth today. Did start Multivitamin yesterday as well. I know with each day it will get better.