Post Op Observations - 1st 3 days

Arrived on time at 5:00 am, in to surgery a little before 7am. No anxiety or thoughts of backing out. My mind was made up!

First memories were in recovery around 10:00 am. I did not expect the pain. History has shown I have a high pain tolerance but I was miserable and worried. I rated my pain a 8 and could have called it a 9. It felt like someone had stabbed my chest and then was sitting on me to stop the bleeding. In addition to 200 lbs of pressure on my chest, I was to parched to swallow, dry heaving, and for the first time wondered what I had done to myself.

Made it to my room around 11:30 am. Pain meds helped and hovered around 4-7.

They let me sleep some, first walk around 3:30 pm. I would describe standing up as though someone ran fish hooks through my stomach (incision points) then hung bowling balls on the end of them. The incision points themselves didn't hurt, especially not when laying down, but when standing my huge stomach tugged like an anchor.

When laying, I think it was my new stomach acting up. Right below my ribs, it was tight and sore.

Sorry to scare any pre-ops about pain, I was just caught off guard. Maybe because I wasn't worried about pain,  I read through any posts that talked about pain? 

That first night/next morning pain meds were under control and I could rate my pain a 1 or 2. Just uncomfortable. 

Drinking - went slow at first. I'd sip about 5ml and need to wait a minute in-between sips the first day. It was easer to sip when on pain meds. My meds lasted for 4 hrs, I'd wait 5 hrs for more meds. The 2nd day my pain maxed out at about a 6. I was on liquid tylenol with vicatin (sp). They also gave me an IV to help reduce inflammation and some oral meds to help w/gas. 

Gas - never really went to my back shoulders (at least not yet as of 3pm friday - surgery was tuesday morning). My stomach was bloated and became uncomfortably bloated when I drank water. I managed a tiny fart Thursday morning before going home. Feels like I have/need to go diarrhea now, but only gas comes out when on the throne (6x since coming home)

Walking - 4 walks Tuesday, 6 wednesday, up and about 8-10 times with getting discharged Thursday. 

Swallow test - Did one 24 hrs later. Unlike the pain, I was prepared for the bad taste and worried about swallowing that much liquid. I have a bad gagging response to taste/textures. Didn't taste that much different than water to me (even the person who gave me the barium (sp) said it tasted bad). Anyway, no problem, swallowed about 15-20 ml for each picture.

Water - hardly could drink my meds on Tue, maybe drank 30 oz wed, got up to 72 oz thur. 40 oz so far today.

Stamina - a get a couple hours of tv/computer, take a walk, then sleep for an hr or two.

Hunger - nothing at all. tried a bowl of jello wed. just had my first syntax nector isolate - tolerate it fine.

Hospital staff - most great - some Nurse Assistants were in training and didn't know to unplug my iv machine when i went for a walk, didn't know what a c-pap was, spilled water on my cellphone, those and other things heightened my alertness and kept me alert to take care of myself. Nurses and surgeon were fantastic.

Supplies - took fresh undies and socks - could have worn what I wore into the hospital (for all of 3 hours) back home. chapstick - never use it now, didn't need it there (and hospital provided it along with toothbrush/shampoo/comb/etc.. And my cellphone. Didn't need/wouldn't have used anything else. 

NUT - not from the bararatic center, but hospital (see saw all types of patients) stopped by. Total joke. She said this week I should shoot for 120-140 carbs daily and use the protein my body stored up from my preop shakes - smh.

Work - I took 4 weeks off (good disability coverage and work on commission and work is slow now). I wanted time to go though the food phases/introduce new foods, work on exercise, be able to nap, and work on any bowl issues. Day 1/surgery (tue) I didn't think that 4 weeks would be long enough. Day 2, I was glad my COE keeps patients 2 nights as I didn't feel ready to go home. Day 3, ready to go home. Day 4, today - I think I could have worked if necessary. Not comfortably or at full capacity, but I can shower and dress and am amazed about how quickly I am recovering.

Glad to be on the losers bench. Time for a walk. Then a nap :)  Feel free to ask if you have any questions!

Congrats on your surgery and new beginning! Yes, the 1st week is a drag, but it totally gets better with each day! Your going to do great! 

Thanks for posting this.  I went on Monday.  I was surprised by how few posts I had read about the pain.  I wish I had known in advance b/c it spooked me.  Each day I notice that something is a little easier.  I still ache, but getting up is not as hurtful, etc.

Thanks, again.  I felt alone.  I found the groups late.

Thanks for posting this.  I went on Monday.  I was surprised by how few posts I had read about the pain.  I wish I had known in advance b/c it spooked me.  Each day I notice that something is a little easier.  I still ache, but getting up is not as hurtful, etc.

Thanks, again.  I felt alone.  I found the groups late.

This post is awesome! My surgery is this Tuesday and reading step by step what to expect is so helpful!

Thanks for the detailed post. I received my letter today for my third time being approved. Now the butterflies have started. I know I can't continue on my path but surgery scares me.  Take care < I will continue to follow your journey.  

Thank you so much for your informative post!!

Im having my surgery on Monday.

What I'm freaked out about is that I'm in at 7am and out by 4pm. Then home to 5 kids and little help .. 

Im dreading it! Wish I would at least stay over night! 

Thanks again for info! 

Thanks for such a great post, with all the details!  I don't have my date yet, so these things are very good for me to read!  I hope you continue to do well!

I had surgery 10 days ago.  For me, the pain was more "discomfort".  Of course I used pain meds in the hospital (I had my surgery around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and was discharged by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.  I felt great in the hospital.  Up and about walking with no issues. They sent me home with a prescription for pain meds - I took two a day for two days.  The first week I was uncomfortable and hungry.  My stomach growled and gurgled constantly - I'm on a liquid diet for three weeks:  Carnation Instant Breakfasts (all chocolate), water or crystal light), broth, sf jello and sf popsicles.  Can't even have creamed soups.  Finally, after a week, my stomach settled down and the hunger passed - it was a tough week.  But I feel fine now - so looking forward to Stage 4 - pureed food!  I had no problems getting fluids in.

The hospital staff, from doctors to nurses, to aides, to lab techs, etc. were all great - I can't say enough good things about them.

So one week of discomfort and hunger - not a bad price to pay!  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  I felt confident in my surgeon and never had any fears about the surgery itself.  

Good luck to all who have upcoming surgeries!

I had surgery Tuesday; today is Saturday.  I am allergic to all narcotics and even Tramadol, so all I could have/can have for pain is tylenol (just plain tylenol, not with codeine).   People talk about pain, and I am wondering if you are referring to pain when you swallow anything--even a sip of water.  My stomach spasms (ouch!!!) with every sip of anything.  And when it got really empty (like at 3 AM this morning), the pain from my stomach churning woke me up out of a sound sleep.  Are you having this kind of pain?  Has anyone?  If yes, how long does it take for the spasms to stop when you try to ingest anything?  It makes it really really hard for me to get in the amount of water and protein drinks I'm supposed to take daily.  Every swallow is torture.  Right now I'm SO sorry I did this.