day 4 post op

The mornings have been really hard for me.. Extremely sore and the part of my belly that hangs down is pulling on the sutures.. I feel like I need to wear a girddle..  The pain meds burn going down and take a while to kick in.  Still have not had a BM but also have not been able to consume very much at all.  Water and broth and a little bit of Jell-O to take my crushed up pills.. I am scheduled to return to work on tuesday and am really wondering if I will be able to.. I lost the 5 pounds I gained in the Hospital plus 2 more so the weight is going in the right direction.  I will be under 300 probably in about a week

I know it sucks when it hurts to drink.  I had the worst chest pain every time i took a sip.  I could literally feel it going down, and when it hit the bottom of my sternum it would burn.  Just try to sip your way through it.  Try different temperatures of water...I like mine extra cold but some like it warm/hot with tea.  Do your best to get hydrated it will save you in the long run.  I'm only 10 days out and I rarely get the chest pains while drinking anymore.  

I hope you feel better!!   

You probably do need some type of abdominal binder or some support garment like Spanx or any other brand.  Just make sure you get one that goes up far enough under your breasts to cover the whole area that hurts.  It will help with the pulling and the pain.  I promise.  Also, get one of those peel and stick type heating things and put that on under the garment.  That will help too.

I hope you feel better really soon!

This too shall pass, I promise. The first few days were just sucky all the way around. Concentrate most on getting water/fluids in. Not getting dehydrated should be your #1 concern. Don't worry about the pooping - you'll be doing that soon enough. I had completely liquid BMs for the first week and a half. Liquids in - liquids out. 

Walk as much as you can, and if you need some support for the sutures there is nothing wrong with talking to your doctor about a compression garment/bandage. 

Do you really ned the pain meds? Or are you more in discomfort? My doc sent me home with a prescription for liquid hydrocodone, which I never used. I was more uncomfortable than anything else.

Walk a much as you can and drink as much water as you can. Just sip all day long. I was back to work a week later and felt fine, if a bit tired.

Just as morgan wrote, This to will pass.   I started at 359 and had a very big belly that hung and it was so much eaiser to wear my support bandage the doctors sent me home with.  Walking really helps get up and move this is so important along with the sipping that takes some time but it will be so worth it.  I am now down 52lbs and feel so much better.  I will stay in contact and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Luck kiddo, Carm 000

I totally understand as I had my surgery this past Tuesday.  My whole abdomen just plain hurts.  On top of the VSG, they also repaired a hernia that I had no idea that existed.  I am trying walking multiple times a day and that seems to help a little but it exhaust me.  Nothing sounds good for my liquid diet and can barely get down more than 1 ounce at a time.  Liquids are also hard to tolerate; I am constantly sipping something to keep from getting dehydrated.  My wife had the same surgery a month ago and she says it gets better each day but I cant wait until next week to to see.  Good luck.

I also had my surgery Tuesday and am experiencing similar things.  It's my first day on full liquids and it's been difficult to enough protein and stay hydrated.  Several times today I've felt very nausiated (and a little discouraged.)  At this rate I don't know how I'll be able to tolerate two weeks of full liquids and get recommended protein and stay hydrated.  Can anyone further along tell me when was the "turning point" where they felt like things started to fall into place with the diet and  fewer side effects?

I'm five days out and am experiencing all of the same things.  I stopped taking the pain meds because the discomfort of taking them wasn't worth the discomfort they got rid of.  I just try to look at every day in comparison to the day before, and there definitely is improvement.  I have been walking but mostly have been resting and getting fluids.   It will be better every day.

more of the same today I am afraid.. was able to take in a little more broth today but still total liquid consumption is minimal.. still have alot of pain and still on pain meds.. ordered some spanx online to help with the pulling belly ...this recovery road seems much longer and harder than I thought