Gas Pressure and excess fluids

well it is almost 11 pm and I need 8 more ozs before 64. I am sipping sipping sipping.

WooHoo!!!  You are doing so much better!  I'm SO proud of you!!

You are going to be a great DSer.  I can already tell.

How are you feeling today?  Is the gas pain any better?

~Becky

The gas pain is much, much better today...I even drove myself to the supermarket today and walked around a whole lot. I am pretty tired now. I have started coughing a bit. I am using my spirometer. One more thing is, I am hungry. I wonder why?

Probably because you aren't eating !!!  lol.  Good for you for going to the store and walking!!!

Every day will get better.  You are doing great.

~Becky

Each day seems to be getting better.  I think I will venture out to church this evening. I know you said to stay off of the scale but I am excited, and I can't lol. I have lost 15 of 18 pounds of the excess water weight that I gained while in the hospital. Pretty soon I will be looking at losing some real weight! :D Yeah!

I didn't poop until a week or week and half after surgery.   I was getting worried as well.    Now.....I poop more than I EVER wanted to.  

it seems like i have put sooooo much in and would be natural for something to come out soon but i guess not. :)

 The gas you has isn't all intestinal, it's more from the gas they used to inflate your abdomen for your lap surgery.  Gas-X won't help this...  Moving and time are really the only solution.  Try getting on all fours and rocking, then sticking your butt up high as you can and resting your head on your arms as low as you can (like when a cat stretches), and also lay on your left side with your knees pulled as far up to your chest as you can.  Also, stretching your abdomen GENTLY by reaching up over your head and gently twisting at the waist back and forth.  This will help move the trapped air (these also help for intestinal gas BTW).  The gasses just have to be absorbed by your body.

As for the fluids- to rid yourself of those, drink more fluids.  Fluid flushes fluid.  It will just take some time here as well.  If you aren't drinking enough, your body will hang onto you stored fluids...

And the poop- I would expect to have some type of bowel movement by tomorrow or Sunday.  What diet does your surgeon have you on?

thank you so much I am walking a whole lot but will try those other exercises to help as well. My surgeon has me on two weeks liquid just as before surgery, but after that two weeks pureed foods, the 2 more weeks of soft foods before progressing to full foods. He explained that the part of the intestine where the food comes out has never seen immediate digestion and has to have time to learn how as well as the stitching and stuff needs a bit to heal. I have read on dsfacts.com where people are eating like bran flakes and eggs the first two weeks...what's up with that?

Congrats on your new life!  I am only one day behind you in surgery- that bloating has been seriously frustrating but I realize things will change and change and change again.  For me- I have found that I have my moments of moving right along with the fluids- while three hours later I want to zonk out and only get tiny sips of fluid in.  

I think it's trial and error with what you are comfy with- perhaps even freezing a protein shake or making them into small popsicles could help or trying a pre-made mix that may be more tasty?  I love everything cold- cold-cold.  Overall, I have been told by several medical people at the hospital to take it easy and get in what you can get in- it has not been a week yet- so don't worry yourself as much.  My only worry would be that you do not hydrate well enough.   You will have your golden day of being amazed when you can actually drink a cup of water (crystal light) in less than 30 mins!  Worst case scenario be in touch with the on-call doctor/surgeon or whomever else if you are worried you are seeing signs of poor hydration or any other problems.  I wish you the best- you are not alone!

Sheilagh

*please note I am not a medical p