Hi! I just found this forum - Had surgery 5 days ago - OUCH

NANCY C.
on 11/11/11 11:20 pm - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
 I am 58 and just had bypass on Tuesday. I came home Wednesday evening and now am healing.  I don't think I am walking enough so the hubs is getting a little cranky about that. 

I am doing well with the water drinking I think but maybe not as well with all the vitamin suppliments. Have not had a bowel movement yet and that is worrying me a bit.  

Any feedback or suggestions from those that have already gone thru this process are welcomed.
ShebasMom
on 11/12/11 4:59 am
Revision on 07/05/16
Hi, I'm 54 and 10 weeks post-op.  I stayed in hospital 2 nights. I had a knee injury (finally had that repair surgery 11-7-11) so I couldn't walk too much. But I did go to the bathroom every 1.5-2 hrs and combined that with walking a couple of rounds in the house, which my MD was happy with. They don't want post-ops laying in bed all day.  Walking is part of the healing process and over time you'll be able to increase it.  After the 5th day I was able to rely less on my hubby. (making my own protein drinks and getting my own fluids)
In the beginning, I wasn't very sociable (didn't want any visits/calls) and my hubby was cranky about that.  Hooray for a friend of ours, who had rny a few years earlier, told him to back off, that the first couple of weeks he felt the same way!!
By the 4th day, I was meeting my 64 oz fluids, but it took a few more days before I met the 40g protein. I only had to take a chewable vitamin twice a day plus my pain med and 2 former script meds.  I didn't start any other vit supplements until after my first f/u appt.
On the 6th day, I had not had a bowel movement, so I added diluted prune juice as part of my liquids and 2 stool softner/day. No relief! I ended up taking milk of magnesia twice (2 days apart) and stopped my pain med, since it was the culprit. (my knee pain came back...and we can't take advil/aleve) My poops still weren't normal, and it hit me...there is iron in my chewable! (I stopped taking them. went without mvi for 6 days)
I had my f/u appt 2.5 wks post-op.  My MD wasn't happy about the M.O.M. (it's in their handout-hello,does the right hand not talk to the left hand!) but was OK with the stool softner. I was given the OK to start the supplements and did not need to take the chewable form, if I could tolerate the pills.  Thanks to the vets here, I learned about carbonyl iron (less constipating), and centrium silver (has no iron), and using miralax and magnesium oxide for the constipation (protein shakes were also contributing. prune juice wasn't helping, so I stopped after finishing 2nd container.) Also that the vit D supplement (my level was 22) I was taking was the wrong kind (we need dry form). I ordered my iron (with vit C), vit D 50 and calcium citrate 500mg capsules (that also has some D and mag ox in it) from Vitalady.  (she also sells samples of protein shakes, so you don't waste your money on big containers, if you don't like them.  Her prices are reasonable, but shipping is only free after $300 order.
Most post-ops gain weight from all the IV fluids in the hospital, so don't get discouraged.  Also, don't be obsessed with weighing yourself a lot. Normal fluid flucuations will discourage you.  Pick one (or 2) days a week or month to weigh, and stick to it. Weigh yourself first thing in the morning after you pee, but before you eat/drink.  Measure yourself monthly. (something I wish I did) When the scale doesn't move, the measurements will, if you are following the plan.  Take pictures of yourself monthly in front of a door to see your progress. Also, do not compare your weight loss to others, that could discourage you too. Some lose quicker and some lose slower. I was told that the average bypass loses 3-5 lbs a week for the first 6 months.
Hope that this helps. Welcome to the losers bench and have a wonderful journey

HW322 SW296 GW150 LW196 

RNY 8-29-11

Revision to Distal bypass 7-5-16

SW262 GW165 

John 3:16

 

    

Mandy R.
on 11/12/11 5:53 am - Callahan, FL
I had RNY on Monday.  In the hospital I didn't walk very much, I was there for 2 nights and 3 days.  I was very  nauseated in the hospital.  Once I came home I took pain meds that night but none since then.  The more you walk the better you feel, I know this sounds crazy, b/c I thought the same thing.  I took Miralax and had a BM the same day, it was liquidy (TMI).  Good luck to you :)


HW-298  SW-251 Loss/Month post RNY(1)-23.5,(2)-23.3,(3)-9.9,(4)-10.6,(5)-8.9,(6)-7.7,(7)-4.2,(8)-7.5,(9)-1.7,(10)-10.8*first goal reached*,(11)-6,(12)-1.3,(13)-0.3,(14)+2.9-*changed scales that weigh 2lbs heavier*,(15)-0.3(16)-4.7(17),+5.8(18)-1.5,(19)+4.4,(20)-+4,(21)-1.2,(22)+3.5,(23)


 

TrueNorthFriend
on 11/12/11 11:09 am - Canada
 Hi ... I'm 59 and 2 years out.  All good advice above.  Just want to add that walking helps with constipation too...   

You just had a real body slam of an operation - so don't get down on yourself if you're not perfect about exercise and getting in ALL the fluids and ALL the protein.  It will take a bit to get there.  

Congrats and welcome to the losers bench !    I've forgotten a lot from the early days...  I just remember it was easy to get worried.  Don't hesitate to call the surgeons office! 

The folks here are GREAT.  
YankeeRose
on 11/12/11 11:40 am - Meadville, PA
Hi and welcome to the board! Lots of great info and great people here. I didn't have a BM for about 4 days and that was after doc ordered something for my IV (magnesium I think) because I was in hospital for 5 days. It takes a while for your bowels to wake-up. Plus I had loose/watery stools (tmi)in the beginning, liquid in = liquid out. You gotta figure, your body has not had any real food for days. There's nothing in there to come out. It also took me a while to be able to get in the required fluids and protein. Don't sweat it, it will come. Just concentrate on healing, get your rest.Just try to get in your daily multi, the other supplements can wait. My doc didn't have me start them until after my 3 week appt. Bariatric Advantage has some really good chewable vitamins and calcium citrate suuplements. I like their chewy bites. Just make sure you get calcium citrate and NOT calcium carbonate because we don't absorb carbonate. If you have any questions just ask. Just remember to sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk. Walking really does help with the gas.

Tammy
Luck 'o the Irish
HW399/SW362/CW219/GW130
*37 lbs were lost pre-op
       

NANCY C.
on 11/12/11 11:47 am - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
 Thank you all so much.  Just being able to talk to people in real time that have experienced this surgery or are going thru it at this same time is wonderful.

Tomorrow I am going to do more walking.  That seems to be the best advice that everyone gives. 

I most definitely am going to do the photo monthly.  What a great suggestion.  I want to use one of those things that I can update my starting weight, goal weight and current weight.  I have to learn my way around this forum first I think.

Just for the record - I started at 313 and did the supervised required 3 month diet before surgery. I got down to 285 then gained 10lbs back in the hospital!  That is back off now and my goal is 155ish.  I did splurge and bought myself a goal outfit that is hanging on my closet for me to wake up to every day.  It is a size 12.  
          

HW  313   SW  285   Goal 155
    
RainDiva
on 11/12/11 1:00 pm
My surg recommend a stool softer colace and when that wasn't enough they advised miralax


                                            
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