Day 5: miserable

[Juan2BHealthE 12]

Going into this surgery I had convinced myself I would be one of these people who felt fabulous after day 2. Well day 5 I'm still crying myself to sleep because I feel so bad. I'm walking at least 2 miles a day (spread out of course) - but admit to having trouble getting all my liquids in. I also have not pooped in about 10 days now and am wondering if a suppository would help with my uncomfortableness.

The halitosis is shocking too as I must be in some major ketosis.

Prayers & advice welcome!

[MarciaN 391]

I actually started to feel much better 6 each day will get better. hang in there. it will be better before you know it

[Juan2BHealthE 12]

Thanks Marcia! I keep hoping.

[liannatx 897]

If you are still feeling that bad, and not getting your Water in, you might want to stop the walking for a few days. Let your body heal and recover. Dehydration is nothing to mess with and can land you in the ER.

You should be at around the turning point where each day is just so much better than the one before. My first 3 days were the only ones that were difficult, but I was just exhausted for the first 2 weeks. As for the BM... it is common to not have one with nothing but liquids. If you feel that constipated feeling, a suppository (or Miralax) might help. Hang in there, it will get better.

[BarrySue 602]

Of course you feel miserable-- you're walking 2 miles a day after getting an organ removed.

I go to the dentist and let them drill without novocaine. I never take painkillers for aches or pains. I don't bother with stitches for cuts, I sterilize and glue them at home myself. But after my sleeve surgery, I was useless and in pain for five weeks. Sometimes it sucks, and there is no way to determine your body's reaction in advance.

You will be miserable, and that's okay. Use these forums to vent, cry as much as you need to. Just know it gets better, and this experience will grow smaller and smaller in your memory until you forget why it was even a big deal.

Hang in there.

Edit: For Constipation, you need tons of fluids. Meds won't work properly if you don't try to get as much Water as possible anyhow. The general progression is tons of Water, then prune juice, then milk of magnesia/dulcolax (or any laxative + stool softener combo) as a last result. Constipation is normal when you're barely eating and post-op (anesthesia also paralyzes your digestive track, so it takes awhile to get everything moving).

Edited January 24, 2016 by BarrySue

[Juan2BHealthE 12]

Thanks for the words of encouragement - it helps. My incisions all feel fine. My miserableness seems to be coming from the abdominal Constipation like pain. I have my 1 week check up tomorrow morning so I guess I'll start watching that "Making a Murderer" documentary just to get my mind off of how bad I feel.

[liannatx 897]

Thanks for the words of encouragement - it helps. My incisions all feel fine. My miserableness seems to be coming from the abdominal Constipation like pain. I have my 1 week check up tomorrow morning so I guess I'll start watching that "Making a Murderer" documentary just to get my mind off of how bad I feel.

At your checkup ask your doc what he reccommends for the constipation! I bet anything that next week you will be feeling much much better.

[Daisee68 2,493]

It could be gas also. Try some Gas-X strips or chewables and a heating pad on your stomach. Definitely see what you dr wants to do for Constipation. That was the worst part of this journey (and frankly at 7 1/2 months is still an issue for me).

[cindyw41 761]

My bowels woke up around day 5. I wouldn't try to stimulate them. You'll have to stay close to a bathroom. It lasted all day. I'm not being funny when I say.. Don't trust a fart.

[Ronjohn 84]

I'm not being funny when I say.. Don't trust a fart.

Don't be stealing my sayings... LOL

I had BM issues for like the first three weeks. Suddenly like one week ago everything turned normal. It was like a small slice of heaven...

[cpervan 1]

I did the same thing. I feel your pain. Take a stool softer everyday. I took Ducolax it worked for me. Don't do the suppository. My Dr. Said no. The Ducolax worked for me. I felt so much better after.

[theladyslipper 120]

Yes, I was alarmed by the lack of movement in the first 5 days, as well. A peri colace and adding Miralax to a Protein Shake twice a day did the trick for me.

[Chelle Bean 51]

Slow down on the 2 miles darling you just had a major surgery! Yes keep walking some but 2 miles is a lot! I hope you feel better soon!

[yerawizardamy 241]

I was horribly constipated and it was pure hell. Mine started the day of surgery due to my pre-op Atkins and liquid diet. It only got worse afterwards. Start taking Colace immediately and I don't suggest stopping any time soon. For me, I tried everything: Milk of Magnesia, Colace, suppositories, enemas, magnesium citrate, and finally my NP prescribed me Lactulose. I almost had to go to the hospital to have it "manually extracted" which would have been so humiliating. Between all of that, I finally got things moving.

My point is, if it's not improving, talk to your surgeon and ask about a prescription laxative. It is hell on earth to deal with, I would have rather gone through surgery again.

I too thought I would be one of the (seemingly many) lucky ones who had a quick and painless recovery. It was the complete opposite. I'm still struggling (1 &1/2 weeks later) and trying to take it easy. I'm barely managing a 20 minute walk with some breaks in between, I think scaling back the walking and increasing the Water intake will help you a lot. Water also helps with Constipation.< /p>

Hope you feel better!

[Juan2BHealthE 12]

Seriously, thanks so much to those that have chimed in. It's nice to know I'm not alone but seemingly in the minority (still feeling bad this far out). I called my surgeon (he gives all his patients his cell #) and he suggested an enema or suppository. He would prefer me not to take anything orally right now but I'm also still in the 1st week clear liquid only stage.

Here's hoping! ????