1 Week PO update

[KimA-GA 540]

hey there!

been healing away. since i am now one week post op, thought i would give an update!!!

was doing well overall with lots of soreness and some actual pain. had trouble getting liquids for about three days but finally am doing a lot better. (did about 23-28 oz those three days sipping as much as i could… then have been increasing since) was burping with every single sip for three days. also had issues with gas pains that would randomly come on and feel like my sternum would rip in half. moving makes such a big difference !!! i

Tuesday and wednesday i started to have a lot of pain/tugging and difficulty with my main incision … the bruising around it spread like deep healing bruises do and i think that was part of the issue. it also felt like a hard lump under the incision area there. i talked to my surgeon and said that was all normal and just keep at it as long as i didn’t get fever over 100 or it started getting red… this morning it feels a lot better, but still hurts…

big victory for today is that i can sit and stand more comfortably than the last two days!!!

i was finally able to “go” 5 days po.. no real problem but had the runs yesterday… i know, tmi but it’s what we go through

zero real hunger and no real desire to even drink but doing it because I have to …

i am only down 4.4 lbs so far (actually went up for the two days i was in acute pain this week) … but i am ok with that because my body is healing and know that is more important during this first healing stages…

i am wary about going back to work next week part time. know i am going to be slow and really take it easy… i should be fine but know how doing nothing exhausts me lol (i am in bed before 830 every night… used to be 11 easy)

hows everyone else in the early stages of post op????

[kcuster83 1,504]

Great news! Glad you are doing well.

You are going back to work quick. I don't know your job duties or anything but try to take it easy.

I was exhausted when I went back, half way into the day I was so tired I couldn't even function. It passed as I got back into the swing of things. Luckily my boss allowed me to come back and "work as I could" so me leaving early wasn't an issue.

[Tomo 1,193]

Sounds like everything is going pretty smoothly. I also had a huuuuge lump under one of my incisions this last surgery. It was the size of an egg. I thought it was a hernia or something. I do everything not to go to the doctor's but I was so concerned I went in ASAP, and let him squeeze and manipulate it, and then to ultimately tell me "That's normal" lol. Been looking for your update the past few days, and hoping you'll get a speedy recovery. If you don't feel like going back, I hope you can take another week off. The post-op exhaustion is real.

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,637]

Hey there girlie!!!! YAY, I'm so happy for you!!! You're on the other side of it now and will just get better everyday. Your first week sounds a lot like many of us, so you're right on track. I work from home and still took 2 weeks off. No way could I focus or stay awake or sit in 1 position before that. The main incision gave the most trouble and hurt the longest. Took about 3ish weeks for the pain to stop, but it's because that's the biggest incision and that's where they pulled the stomach from. You're doing great.

[SpartanMaker 780]

Glad you're doing okay! Was becoming a bit worried about you since you went "dark" after surgery!

Deciding when to go back to work can be hard. My advice would be to make sure you're consistently getting your fluids in before you start trying to work again. With work "distracting" you, it can be a lot harder to get enough Fluid in.

[Old Salt 64]

2 hours ago, KimA-GA said:

Was doing well overall with lots of soreness and some actual pain. had trouble getting liquids for about three days but finally am doing a lot better. (did about 23-28 oz those three days sipping as much as i could… then have been increasing since) was burping with every single sip for three days. also had issues with gas pains that would randomly come on and feel like my sternum would rip in half. moving makes such a big difference !!! i

Tuesday and wednesday i started to have a lot of pain/tugging and difficulty with my main incision … the bruising around it spread like deep healing bruises do and i think that was part of the issue. it also felt like a hard lump under the incision area there. i talked to my surgeon and said that was all normal and just keep at it as long as i didn’t get fever over 100 or it started getting red… this morning it feels a lot better, but still hurts…

hows everyone else in the early stages of post op????

Thanks for posting. I am now 2 full days past my Gastric Bypass surgery and also have this hardness lump under one of my incisions and was worried.

Still no problem drinking but now know what "foamies" are. No real pain in the abdominal just what I would call a discomfort. Ony taking tylenol for pain managment. But my back does hurt which might be the remaing gas.

Overall pretty good but definitely fatiqued.

Edited November 10, 2022 by Old Salt

[qtdoll 535]

I'm glad you're able to recognize that focusing on your weight on the first week isn't ideal. I did not weigh myself at all that first week because we're sooo swollen & healing.

[KimA-GA 540]

@Old Salt glad you are doing so well overall!! i was a little concerned by the warmth and hardness but felt so good when dr said it’s normal…. don’t over do - i think that is what got me so sore… lol too many nut walks lol

[KimA-GA 540]

i have a desk job and only plan on making a few phone calls and answer emails and go home - maybe 3-4 hours a day all week even if i feel great by then. i will have to help people that come in for me, but that just involves standing for 5 mins and right now i can handle that!

(as long as no one cussed me out to get my blood pressure up- which happens sometimes because i work in a local government tax office lol)

honestly expect Monday to be a lot of chattering and a little work lol

[MountainClover 81]

I am so glad you are doing well.

[Spinoza 1,399]

Really good to hear your update. I took two weeks off after my sleeve but I know lots of people go back sooner. Please do look after yourself. Can't wait to hear how you do post-op!

[Voogs 41]

As Spartan said, I too got a little worried when you dropped off for a bit. Work will still be there when you decide to go back. I'm scheduled for Dec 5. Plan to take the week and "work" from home for the rest of the month.

[KimA-GA 540]

Quick update … the pain and hardness in incision area increased and started to get red too.. had fever climb up to 101 degrees with Tylenol. Surgeon is calling me in antibiotics and wants to see me Monday morning. If it gets worse/doesn’t improve I am to go to the hospital emergency room. Might have to cancel my Saturday plans… which sucks lol

[Spinoza 1,399]

Oh no! I hope it isn't anything serious. Sounds like you did exactly the right thing.

[Old Salt 64]

My prayers are with you. Stay positive . 🌞