So, I'm trying to keep a level head, here...

...as this is only my second full day at home.

Following the diet guidelines provided by the medical staff, here's what I've experience thus far:

-The first night involved alot of lying down in bed and getting back up to figure out what was most comfortable...was afraid that I might do some internal damage as I later felt some "pain" in areas I hadn't earlier...but frequent monitoring of my body temp indicated nothing unusual and so I figured that if there WAS any internal bleeding or anything else wrong, my temp would have risen significantly...also came to the conclusion that if I freak out over every new sensation I feel in my abdomen, I will do more harm than good...this is essentially a new internal organ configuration and I will need to get accustomed to it...

-First full day involved the first bowel movement (wonderful) and I've been taking the stool softener that was prescribed along with the medication for pain (which is a narcotic and has some properties that make it act as a stool hardener). I was told to no longer take the stool softener if I had diarrhea...well, I do now and so the stool softener is out but I'm still taking the pain meds to see if that helps clear up the diarrhea...it's diminishing somewhat, but not completely gone...

Read a post yesterday about someone whose diarrhea (among other complications) persisted after the surgery and am trying not to freak out and assume that mine will persist as well...I've yet to take an Imodium (chewable) and I've also begun to take the calcium citrate that my nurse practitioner recommended in hopes that these measures will eliminate the diarrhea.

Panic accomplishes nothing, I'd rather be rational about this.

Can anyone offer any encouragement?

Thanks so much in advance.

I think we had surgery the same day! Today is my first full day home too.  I am also monitoring my temperature lol so your not alone! I am trying to walk and sip my drinks all day.  I was trying not to take my pain meds because I hate the feeling they give me and they give me strange nightmares.  Anyway that was a mistake because the pain started creeping up on me a little.  So I'm taking a half of dose and feeling pretty good.

Like you I'm worried about my insides and making sure that every things okay.  Sometimes when I sip it hurts a little going down.  I always feel full so drinking is hard.  I haven't had a BM yet so I think your lucky. 

Although I've been through WLS before (this was a revision from band to bypass) I've never had my insides cut so I'm so worried I really want it to all heal okay.  Anyway I just wanted to say that your not alone!!  Karianne

Congrats on your surgery!

The first few days can be challenging. You don't know what's normal and what you need to be concerned about. And our imaginations can do amazing things!

Checking for your temp is somewhat normal. But then, so is pain and tenderness in your abdominal. Take your time walking, standing, moving positions. Take is very easy, this is a major surgery. You will feel much better in a couple days.

The bowel movement thing, is different for everyone. If you had one liquidy stool, stopping the softener is the right thing to do. But, you are also probably only taking in liquids at this time. It's not uncommon to have soft stools for a while. The whole bowl movement thing is a tricky balance after surgery. You will put more thought into how often you have them, and the consistency than probably you ever have before. While you don't want to dehydrate from have watery stools, you also don't want to go too long without any bowl movements, Dont worry about asking 'poop' questions. We get a lot of those.

Most importantly relax. Not everything you read on the boards is common. People who are early out come here for support. So you see the post that express some kind of concern. The folks who don't have complications or things go smoothly for, don't really post. But they are out there.

Best of luck to you. The first 3 weeks were my hardest. I am not quite 11 months out now, and life is amazing!

Thanks so much for the reply.

What I have is definitely diarrhea...not just a soft stool...it's mostly water...I'm now going to take a chewable Imodium to see what that does...I'd like to think that this eventually passes, but my history prior to WLS tells me otherwise...

I had a soft stool bm yesterday and was so relieved (no pun intended)...this is just almost all water...

 if only liquids are going in, liquids are what's going to come out...

You shouldn't try to stop the diarrhea.. It is very normal..Liquids in means liquds out.. Stopping it up can lead to constipation and dehydration...Let nature run it's course.
Julie