feeling full

I'm gettng worried about dehydration. According to the rules for my surgeon I'm suppose to be getting 64 ounces of water/clear liquids in today. Yesterday I was to get 52 and Friday I was suppose to get 42. Well I have fallen shy each day by about 10 ounces. I try and try to the point that I'm in tears and I just can't fit anymore in. My body is just so full. I can't seem to get the gas out of my abdomen. All I really want to do is sleep a night in my bed and that can't even happen. I really wonder if I did the right thing having surgery???

Even though I am only 3 weeks out I am sure others will have more helpful info for you, but I still haven't gotten in the 64 oz. yet as of date. I did go back in for an IV last week, I think sometimes that is kinda normal not to get the whole 64 in, but just trying is what counts. I  was low all the second week and I think it finally caught up with me. I was maybe only getting 20-30 in each day. At times I just plain forget to drink and at other times I feel full. And I think having the thought about if you did the right thing is also normal, I told myself I wasn't gonna second doubt my decision for at least a year, and either way it's too late to change things, but I knew that at times it would be 2 steps forward one step back and I am prepared for those challenges. Give it some time and you'll start feeling better and moving around more and of course you'll see the scale move and that will make this O so worth it!! Good luck and just keep doing the best you can!!!

I am only 4 days post op and getting the water in is IMPOSSIBLE! Just try at least get the 48 oz in to start and work your way up I am having trouble just doing that right now myself! Good Luck!

I see that we are actually on the same day 4/15. I'm glad to hear that you are having the same issues. I just really don't want to get readmitted to the hospital. I will just keep on sipping and walking I really think the gas has a lot to do with how full I'm feeling.

Hello and congratulations!  As long as your are slowly sipping & trying to get in as much water as you can you will be alright.  I wouldn't stress too much about it, stressing about it does not help and may make it worse.  Just get in what you can.  It takes a while before all the swelling goes down & your able to get the recommended amount in.  Good luck to you!

I am sure you newbies are all doing just fine. Signs of dehydration would be peeing DARK yellow-orange all the time. Watch your pee...if it is pale yellow at all during the day you're ok! Carry a water bottle around all the time and sip, sip, sip. You will find that you can only swallow tiny sips, and as the swelling goes down the sips of water feel like they go down a bit easier.

When I was newly post-op I was only supposed to drink room temperature fluids. Everybody is a bit different and sometimes temperature makes a difference. You could try slightly warm or slightly cool temps to see if it feels better and goes down a bit easier.

Walking will make a HUGE difference in helping your body get rid of the gas and bloating. Each day I would try to walk a couple of times. My only goal was to try and go a little bit further on each walk. My first walk was just a couple of blocks, and the next one was just a few minutes longer. As you build up strength, and as your body gets over the effects of the anesthesia, you'll feel better and better.

It is rough, but SO WORTH IT! Hang in there and give yourself time and grace. You can do it!

I don't know if this will help but when I was post op, for a week I had a small timer set for 15 minutes. Every 15 minutes I drank 1 to 2 oz of water. Kinda a pain in the but to do, it was worth it!

I was the same way, Jamie. I would sip my water and be so full that it just sucked to try and drink more. So a couple days, I would just sleep. Don't do this! Dehydration is not something to mess around with because if you're well hydrated, you will heal faster and feel much better quicker.

Do get out and take a walk. I know you may not feel up to it, but the more walking, no matter how slow it might be right now, will help get that surgical gas moving the right direction. During the day, if it was too cold out for me to walk, I would just take small walks around my house every half hour. At the end of the day, I could honestly say it helped.

Also, try to take everything in 12 hour increments. That was the best advice given to me. Every 12 hours, you will improve over the previous 12.

And in about 3 months, you'll change your tune - history predicts it.

Hang in there, Jamie!!!

I would agree that the GAS was the WORST of the immediate post-op time period!  I'd have just about paid someone to poke me in the belly with a pitchfork, I felt so bloated!  You might ask your Dr. if you can try Gas-x?  To this day, it helps when the gas makes me uncomfortable.

As for the fluids, I would suggest you treat yourself to a purdy water bottle - find one you like, and keep it with you all the time.  Mine is 32oz., so I know I need to go through two per day AT LEAST.  (More, actually, because I do drink coffee.)

Don't go second guessing yourself at this stage - know that what you're feeling and experiencing right now is pretty darned typical for EVERYONE immediately post-op!  Once the gas is resolved, and you get into a habit of keeping water with you all the time, you'll begin to experience the weightloss and WOW moments we put ourselves through this for.   Getting in 64 oz of fluids and as much protein as your program recommends is pretty near impossible at this point.  But you'll get there!

You can only do the best you can - relax and take a deep breath.....

Better now?  OK, now try taking some Gas-X - it really helped me a lot.  Walk as much as possible.  It will get better, I promise.

Perhaps trying different temps (warm, hot, cold), different flavors (Crystal lite), different forms (popsicles, sf jello) will help.  Set an alarm to go off every 10-15 minutes to remind yourself to sip.

Just keep trying - it will come around soon!

Amelia