Kinda depressed today
8 weeks, 4 days post op
I need to do something to cheer myself up as I feel very tearful and bummed. Last week was so awful (3 days and then 2 days) in the hospital after such excruciating pain and then having to get a drain inserted after surgery was tough to take. Now I'm stuck home from work again for the next 2 weeks and still need another laparoscopy and EGD, probably next Monday.
I'm stuck with this drain plastic pouch thingy hanging off of me and pinned to the inside of my clothes. I have to strip and empty it 3-4 times a day. Try to find clothes that will accommodate this nasty thing. I still can't have anything to eat except for thin liquids so I'm super sick of broth. And I took my oral meds yesterday and threw up really hard so now I'm a little leery of taking them this morning.
I know I'm just feeling sorry for myself and believe me, I will fight it every step of the way, but just woke up feeling depressed and tired of the hassles.
Anyway, it's good to have somewhere to vent, and I appreciate all of you.
I need to do something to cheer myself up as I feel very tearful and bummed. Last week was so awful (3 days and then 2 days) in the hospital after such excruciating pain and then having to get a drain inserted after surgery was tough to take. Now I'm stuck home from work again for the next 2 weeks and still need another laparoscopy and EGD, probably next Monday.
I'm stuck with this drain plastic pouch thingy hanging off of me and pinned to the inside of my clothes. I have to strip and empty it 3-4 times a day. Try to find clothes that will accommodate this nasty thing. I still can't have anything to eat except for thin liquids so I'm super sick of broth. And I took my oral meds yesterday and threw up really hard so now I'm a little leery of taking them this morning.
I know I'm just feeling sorry for myself and believe me, I will fight it every step of the way, but just woke up feeling depressed and tired of the hassles.
Anyway, it's good to have somewhere to vent, and I appreciate all of you.
Sparkle Plenty 
Thanks for the support. I had some egg drop soup before these last 2 surgeries, and it got stuck because of my opening being too small--result--in the restaurant bathroom of the restaurant throwing up. Last night I had a sugar free popsicle and that was nice to have, for variety. I can also have Jello.
I don't think it's the food that's causing me to be depressed, I think it's all the hassle. I need to take a shower but I don't know how to do it with this drain and all.
I don't think it's the food that's causing me to be depressed, I think it's all the hassle. I need to take a shower but I don't know how to do it with this drain and all.
Sparkle Plenty
(deactivated member)
on 3/13/12 4:40 am
on 3/13/12 4:40 am
About the drain - if you surgeon okays showering otherwise, you can get a lanyard (from an office supply or FedEx store) and put it around your neck and pin your drain to that while you take a shower. Just be careful with the area while you're washing, those buggers hurt if you pull on them.
Hang in there, I can't imagine what you're going through but it'll look better when it's all behind you!
Hang in there, I can't imagine what you're going through but it'll look better when it's all behind you!
I am sorry sory you are feeling so down - I probably would as well. It is a tough thing you are going through - keep your chin up. Do you have anything you can do like a hobby to keep your mind off of things? Maybe that would help.
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RNY: 01-23-2012 Weight day of Surgery - 286lbs ~ Weight as of 09-13-2013 164lbs
Sweets,
My heart feels your pain. The JP (jackson pratt) drains that you have are only sewed in with one stitch...so be very gentle with them... I also had a pin rose and a JP drain to bring home with me from the hospital -
I had a Molena Band put in 17 yrs ago...When I went to surgery it turned into a complicated surgery, thank God I had a knowledgeable surgeon. The band was embedded into the liver. I had the RNY, and now I am back to where I brought the drains home with me...
When I was in my gown I would always make sure that I had enough slack to not pull when pinned to my gown. Now in the shower I had to hold the JP to ensure that - it didn't come out.
All of your emotions are normal. I as well am going through good days and bad days...
If you can just remember that every day is better than the day before will help you. I am here.. Off work another 2 weeks. [email protected] is my e-mail.
God Bless!
Susan
My heart feels your pain. The JP (jackson pratt) drains that you have are only sewed in with one stitch...so be very gentle with them... I also had a pin rose and a JP drain to bring home with me from the hospital -
I had a Molena Band put in 17 yrs ago...When I went to surgery it turned into a complicated surgery, thank God I had a knowledgeable surgeon. The band was embedded into the liver. I had the RNY, and now I am back to where I brought the drains home with me...
When I was in my gown I would always make sure that I had enough slack to not pull when pinned to my gown. Now in the shower I had to hold the JP to ensure that - it didn't come out.
All of your emotions are normal. I as well am going through good days and bad days...
If you can just remember that every day is better than the day before will help you. I am here.. Off work another 2 weeks. [email protected] is my e-mail.
God Bless!
Susan
Well, of course you're tired of it! You've had an extremely rough time and while you might not have expected it to be easy, I'm sure this wasn't where you were expecting to be at two months out.
I get it. I developed very severe pneumonia after my RNY, ended up in the hospital for 21 days, actually had to have surgery to clean all the fluid out of my left lung. Then the incision didn't heal right (maybe because I was getting almost no protein?). When I came home from the hospital, I was so weak I could not get up off the couch without help. A nurse came every day to clean and pack the wound from the lung surgery. According to my bariatric surgeon's plan, I was supposed to be exercising for at least 45 minutes a day at that point - instead, I could not stand up long enough to shower! Yeah, I got to have a home health aide come to my house to give me a sponge bath. Fun stuff.
Oh. Plus I actually gained weight while in the hospital due to all the IV fluids they pumped into me. That was especially fun.
When I look back on that time, I'm still glad I had my RNY but if I'd known I would have pneumonia like that, I don't think I would have had my surgery. If I had it to do all over again, I'd still have RNY because I know the chances of having that complication that bad are very, very slim. But if someone told me, you can have RNY if you're willing to have pneumonia and lung surgery and all that, I might well turn them down.
The problems do pass, though, and the memory of the bad times fades. I still remember parts of it very clearly but once it's over and you're losing weight and starting to do all these things you couldn't do before, it fades. The hard part is not giving up while you're waiting for that to come.
You're allowed to be depressed or in a bad mood. Who wouldn't be after all you've gone through? Just try to remember this, right now, is not all there is.
I get it. I developed very severe pneumonia after my RNY, ended up in the hospital for 21 days, actually had to have surgery to clean all the fluid out of my left lung. Then the incision didn't heal right (maybe because I was getting almost no protein?). When I came home from the hospital, I was so weak I could not get up off the couch without help. A nurse came every day to clean and pack the wound from the lung surgery. According to my bariatric surgeon's plan, I was supposed to be exercising for at least 45 minutes a day at that point - instead, I could not stand up long enough to shower! Yeah, I got to have a home health aide come to my house to give me a sponge bath. Fun stuff.
Oh. Plus I actually gained weight while in the hospital due to all the IV fluids they pumped into me. That was especially fun.
When I look back on that time, I'm still glad I had my RNY but if I'd known I would have pneumonia like that, I don't think I would have had my surgery. If I had it to do all over again, I'd still have RNY because I know the chances of having that complication that bad are very, very slim. But if someone told me, you can have RNY if you're willing to have pneumonia and lung surgery and all that, I might well turn them down.
The problems do pass, though, and the memory of the bad times fades. I still remember parts of it very clearly but once it's over and you're losing weight and starting to do all these things you couldn't do before, it fades. The hard part is not giving up while you're waiting for that to come.
You're allowed to be depressed or in a bad mood. Who wouldn't be after all you've gone through? Just try to remember this, right now, is not all there is.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
You are an inspiration for me to just work through the times when I feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Usually I am pretty upbeat and thankful for the opportunity to get my health back on track. I think the last straw for me was having to take a shower with that nasty drain that is hanging off of my body. I hate that drain with a passion and hope the doctor will take it out when I have my third round of surgeries.
Your experience sounds far worse than what I've been going through. Kudos to you for being such a strong woman and being such a tremendous support to all of us on this board.
Your experience sounds far worse than what I've been going through. Kudos to you for being such a strong woman and being such a tremendous support to all of us on this board.
Sparkle Plenty
I dunno... yours sounds pretty bad to me! And it's especially hard when you don't know when it's gonna end, you know? I felt so bad for you when I heard about the perforation because an EDG is usually such a simple procedure.
You don't have to be upbeat all the time. Just don't get stuck in the discouraged place. Because a year from now, this will all be behind you and you'll be feeling good and you'll have lost a lot of weight and life will be totally different.
You don't have to be upbeat all the time. Just don't get stuck in the discouraged place. Because a year from now, this will all be behind you and you'll be feeling good and you'll have lost a lot of weight and life will be totally different.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
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