5 days post op....bitch session! - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Shiggy · 12-23-2008, 05:12 PM

Hi,

I knew I could come here. I'm 5 days post op and feel like shit! I can barely get my meds down. I had my first dumping today with a low fat vanilla pudding. My stomach is extremely bruised and my back hurts like crazy. Everytime I wake up I have a pounding headache and can barely get my head off the pillow. I knew this was going to be tough, I just feel like I need to bitch a little. I have a 16 year old son who is not being very helpful at all and I can barely get up and down to get my drinks etc...

Top it all off today I couldn't stop crying. Not sure why I'm just sad for some reason. Everything is irritating me right now, my son is playing a game on his Xbox where he talks constantly into a microphone and he just won't shut up!

I don't think I'm eating/drinking enough. I am trying BIG TIME but I feel like I have constant heartburn and it feels like everything is stuck!

Are we allowed to take Advil gel caps for headaches do you know? I took one today, headache was soooooo bad and thought about it afterwards, oh shoot, I hope I was allowed to take that

Marella · 12-23-2008, 05:19 PM

Beware, NSAID's are a No-No for life! Tylenol only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by another site

Stomal ulcer is an acid-peptic ulcer that occurs on or near the anastomosis (connection) between the stomach pouch and the bowel, “the stoma”. An ulcer may also rarely occur in the usual duodenal ulcer position. There is a higher risk of developing ulcers after bariatric surgery. Patients who use non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, Aleve®, etc., and smokers have a even higher incidence of ulcers. For this reason, all bariatric patients are instructed to avoid the use on all anti-inflammatory medications containing ibuprofen (i.e. Advil®, Nuprin®, Haltran®, Midol®, Motrin®, Aleve®, etc.) after surgery and for life.

I know that you feel totally yucky, but the news is, it will pass. You probably cried because somewhere you wondered why you did this, and it gets depressing if you overthink it cuz you couldn't lose weight on your own.

I think that 99.9% of the people who ever chimed in here at TT would echo the overthinking part, and many would echo the "why did I do this?" part.

Please be aware that this yucky part WILL pass.

I accept your bitchiness... many have been there and understand. And it's often difficult for those who are close to you to understand your feelings. You know, if you haven't walked in those shoes, you just don't know.

Feel better.

nittinnana · 12-23-2008, 05:43 PM

feel better soon--was the lf pudding sugar free? If not that is what caused the dumping--if it was sf--that sucks!

Shiggy · 12-23-2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks for the information on the Advil, I had no idea about that. I am definitely going to need some Tylenol then

That's exactly how I'm feeling, like why the hell did I do this! The more I read, the more I realize stuff I will NEVER be able to eat again and I'm not talking about fast food stuff either. I just figured I would eat a lot less of it. I guess I didn't really realize that a lot of foods would just not agree with me at all.

So because I had a bad reaction to Vanilla low fat pudding today, does that mean it's always going to be this way, or is that just because it's the beginning.

I have a lot of people in my life who didn't agree with my decision for the surgery and I wouldn't dare tell them how I'm feeling. I'm not into the "I told you so's..."

Right now I find I'm not craving anything, I don't feel like eating period! Anyhoot, hopefully this will get easier as the weeks go on. I read that some people go back to work after 2 weeks and I was like

I don't even think my bruises will heal by that time....

Shiggy · 12-23-2008, 05:51 PM

I just went and checked the pudding and it's Healthy Chocie Low Fat pudding. It says it's artificially flavoured but then reading the label it says....

100 calories
2 g of fat
Carb 20 g
and it say Sugars 15 g

so I think that is not the right kind at all

foxyfuzz · 12-23-2008, 10:47 PM

No unfortunately it doesn't sound like the right kind, get all sugar free stuff.

As far as the drinking issue, you are drinking too much and too fast that is why you are having that pain. I did this myself my first day home. I can safely drink a teaspoon (at most 1 and 1/2) without hurting. I actually had to get one to re train my mouth. I have had to do this several times also. So drink as measured as often as you can, try room temp, try cold, whatever you find that is the easiest.

Take your pain meds on time, even if you don't need them. I waited to long the trip home and ended up being without them for 12 hours and it was very pain full.

Try these suggestions and let me know if you need any other advice and I will try, good luck!

Marella · 12-24-2008, 02:14 AM

I thought I'd never be able to eat a lot of things every again, especially meat and Italian. I successfully ate a 4 oz ribeye over a month ago, and beef is still doing OK with me by way of hamburger, meatloaf, and pot roast.

Funny, I can't eat spaghetti, but lasagna is OK... 4 to 6 oz though, so are tortellini and stuffed shells.

Because I have to choose my foods wisely, portion it out and eat slowly, I find myself enjoying the taste of my food more. I'm no longer scarfing it down, finishing it and wondering how it tasted. I hope to continue to refine and enhance my new habits so that I can keep them for life.

Early on it was tough. Do Sugar Free on everything you possibly can. My NUT told me that not until at least 3 months out could I add sugar, and no more than 12 grams in one sitting. I don't challenge this since it has worked so far. I've only dumped on fat because that's hard to gauge and a dump hasn't happened in months.

Relax, get better, take it one day at a time... In no time you will be saying, "I told you so." to your nay sayers with your new and improved body.

LisaM · 12-24-2008, 06:28 AM

First, you will NOT FEEL LIKE THIS FOREVER. I'm shouting, 'cause I remember having the same buyer's remorse that you do now--what the hell have I DONE to myself...and that voice in your head that's telling you that you screwed up is loud, loud, LOUD. You did not screw up! You made a rational decision to risk the pain, nausea, etc., of hell week in order to save your own life... so hang in there. It does pass. Swear

You are also going to be able to eat many, many things. From three year's post-op, I will tell you that I can eat almost anything except sugar and potatoes, lettuce and dry chicken... I still focus on protein first. I'm not as anal about it as I once was. I don't count every gram, it's just automatic...

Maybe this will help: Here's what I had last night. My fiance' cooked cheese lace appetizers (just various kinds of cheese piled in small circles on parchment paper and cooked in the oven 'til crispy). While he was cooking those he also roasted a few jalapenos stuffed with asedero cheese and wrapped in bacon for himself... not that I couldn't eat those, I'm just not into food being painful, that's his thing...

He talked me into one tiny bite, and I breathed fire for about five minutes...

Anyway, the cheese lace is crunchy, easy for me eat, doesn't fill me too much, one of the few appetizers I'll actually eat, and he knows it. He had a salad, as well, I didn't. Some of us can eat salads - for me, lettuce sticks every single time... I may try it again in six months or a year.

The main course was beef steaks, a small one for me (maybe 4 oz?), and a large one for him. That is one thing that changed... until about six months ago, I wouldn't eat beef at all--it tasted like liver to me, very dark. About six months ago, it started smelling good while it was cooking, and I tried ground beef and then graduated to steaks again about two months ago. I cut them in small bites, and chew, chew, chew. The side dish for the steak was a baked potato and corn for him, and a little bit of corn for me. Potatoes make me sweaty and pukey, and I skip them other than a bite of his if I wanted one - I didn't last night. Also chewed the corn very well...

None of the above was done with lots of thought for "oh, I can't eat that," or "oh, that will get stuck," or "oh, that will make me sweaty and swirly." You adjust, and you deal with it, and it's all just normal... and my weight stays very stable, and I love being this person.

I don't know if that's too much information--but I realized that, while we have a lot of verbal snapshots of what people are eating early on, I don't remember any of the long-term post-ops talking about it much... so there's what will probably be a typical dinner three years from now...

Red_Cricket · 12-24-2008, 07:29 AM

I haven't had my surgery yet so I can't give advice but I know you will get some great advice from others here.
I'm just going to give you a big (((hug))) and wish you the best of luck with this passing soon for you.

Shiggy · 12-24-2008, 01:26 PM

Thanks for all your input

Quote:

As far as the drinking issue, you are drinking too much and too fast that is why you are having that pain. I did this myself my first day home. I can safely drink a teaspoon (at most 1 and 1/2) without hurting. I actually had to get one to re train my mouth. I have had to do this several times also. So drink as measured as often as you can, try room temp, try cold, whatever you find that is the easiest.

I agree, that is exactly what I was doing. I was just so thirsty I felt I couldn't get fluid into me fast enough, but that was the problem. I talked to the dietician today and she told me I might need to go to emerg to get some IV fluids into me. I explained that I'm waking up with massive headaches and my urine is very dark. She said that is signs of dehydration. I told her I would do nothing today but concentrate on sip sip sipping and if it wasn't better by tomorrow I would go. Sounds like a fun Christmas

Quote:

Because I have to choose my foods wisely, portion it out and eat slowly, I find myself enjoying the taste of my food more. I'm no longer scarfing it down, finishing it and wondering how it tasted. I hope to continue to refine and enhance my new habits so that I can keep them for life.

Early on it was tough. Do Sugar Free on everything you possibly can. My NUT told me that not until at least 3 months out could I add sugar, and no more than 12 grams in one sitting. I don't challenge this since it has worked so far. I've only dumped on fat because that's hard to gauge and a dump hasn't happened in months.

This is exciting to hear. I have no issues with having smaller portions, in fact that is one of the things I'm looking forward to. It's been a lot of years of eating double of everything and thinking why the hell did I just do that! It will be a nice change to be able to just have a little bit of something and feel full and hopefully content.

I have had to pass on a lot of the groceries I bought last week to my son. The puddings are no good...I bought some frozen yogurt, I guess I bought the wrong kind cause it's full of sugar and it made me feel like crap! I'm thinking of trying Sherbert, anyone know what kind of sherbert I should get. I am getting tired of spending on this money lol I did find a protein shake I could tolerate so that good. I just cut the directions in half so it doesn't have time to get all yucky cause I can't drink it that fast. I'm learning...

Quote:

First, you will NOT FEEL LIKE THIS FOREVER. I'm shouting, 'cause I remember having the same buyer's remorse that you do now--what the hell have I DONE to myself...and that voice in your head that's telling you that you screwed up is loud, loud, LOUD. You did not screw up! You made a rational decision to risk the pain, nausea, etc., of hell week in order to save your own life... so hang in there. It does pass. Swear

You are also going to be able to eat many, many things. From three year's post-op, I will tell you that I can eat almost anything except sugar and potatoes, lettuce and dry chicken... I still focus on protein first. I'm not as anal about it as I once was. I don't count every gram, it's just automatic...

I don't know if that's too much information--but I realized that, while we have a lot of verbal snapshots of what people are eating early on, I don't remember any of the long-term post-ops talking about it much... so there's what will probably be a typical dinner three years from now...

Definitely not too much information cause when your in this first stage you honestly feel like you'll never be able to eat again, it's weird. You start thinking that everything is going to make you dump. I am finding that I am going to stick close to liquids and yogurt at the moment as I know my body can definitely handle that.

Quote:

I haven't had my surgery yet so I can't give advice but I know you will get some great advice from others here.
I'm just going to give you a big (((hug))) and wish you the best of luck with this passing soon for you.

Thanks, I will take that hug