A few questions...

[supershae]

So I am 4 days post-op and I came home from the hospital on a full liquid diet. I'm concerned that I'm not getting enough because I can't tolerate more than just a few tiny bites out of a baby spoon and then I feel like I'm going to throw up. I'm trying to take in as much fluid (water and G2) as possible with an occasional popsicle, but I still haven't had a BM yet since the day before surgery. I have the gas though. Is this anything to be worried about? Thanks!!

[bb212]

Food, even mushy soft stuff, will give almost everyone trouble when they're healing from surgery. At the moment just focus on staying hydrated!

Has your doc given you any anti-nausea meds? If so do take them, they really help you handle food while the stomach heals.

[hoosiermama]

Jan 1, 2012 23:45:51 GMT -5 supershae said:

So I am 4 days post-op and I came home from the hospital on a full liquid diet. I'm concerned that I'm not getting enough because I can't tolerate more than just a few tiny bites out of a baby spoon and then I feel like I'm going to throw up. I'm trying to take in as much fluid (water and G2) as possible with an occasional popsicle, but I still haven't had a BM yet since the day before surgery. I have the gas though. Is this anything to be worried about? Thanks!!

Hey Scottsburg,

You have my closest Walmart
Everything is swollen and you've got a lot of gas. Get your fluids and it will happen. Who was your surgeon? Also, get some anti-nausea drugs, it will help.

Walk, sip, then walk some more

Welcome,

me

[supershae]

I was getting Zofran in my IV while I was in the hospital, but he didn't send me home with anything other than my pain meds and prilosec for heartburn, which I have been taking. He also said I could take tums and/or pepto bismol, which I have done.

[supershae]

Dr. Cooper did my surgery as well!! Thank you! Everyone keeps saying just to keep hydrated and everything else will come.

[hoosiermama]

I was sent home with Pepto 30ml 3 times a day and tums 3x a day. I'd call tomorrow and get some zofran. If you are like me, you are going to have acid soon so I'd start with the Pepto now, no matter how gross it is.

[bb212]

Jan 2, 2012 0:01:28 GMT -5 supershae said:

I was getting Zofran in my IV while I was in the hospital, but he didn't send me home with anything other than my pain meds and prilosec for heartburn, which I have been taking. He also said I could take tums and/or pepto bismol, which I have done.

Your surgeon should have no problem giving you a prescription for Zofran, I'm a little surprised he didn't send you home with a prescription for it since nausea is so common right after surgery. Call your surgeon and let him know you are experiencing problems with nausea so he gives you a prescription- and ask for the chewable kind, if you're tummy is a little queasy it might be hard to take normal pills.

I had lots of problems with nausea early out from surgery and the zofran was a lifesaver for me.

[hoosiermama]

Look at your release paperwork..start on the Pepto and the Tums. That's a must. Are you taking your Omepranazole stuff?

Yeah, right now just worry about not getting dehydrated...you've got enough stored that you don't have to worry.

Isn't he just a love

Oh, and the hospital keeps releasing and not telling people to start their iron....when you start chewing your vites...start the iron too

me

[supershae]

Did Dr. Cooper give you Zofran as well?? I think I will call tomorrow and see if he will call some in for me. And I will start with the tums and pepto. Pepto is so gross, but I'd rather down that, then be sick to my stomach.

[hoosiermama]

You going to the meeting this month? I'll see ya there

[hoosiermama]

I didn't need Zofran. Never had the nausea. They said to call if I needed anything for nausea. Your stomach is producing lots of acid. The Pepto protects that raw skin so you can heal. It's awful but it's worth it. Even if you only take it for a while. Are you walking? You got Walmart...I burned up those aisles everyday after my surgery LOL

[supershae]

Yes I will be at the meeting this month! And yes I am taking the omniprazonole (sp?) stuff too.

[hoosiermama]

Oh and it will make ya' poop even blacker LOL

[supershae]

I didn't go anywhere today, but I walked the length of my house ALL day long lol. I am going to Walmart tomorrow to walk. lol

[hoosiermama]

Well we'll have to sit together

I hope they are in tomorrow but if they are in surgery, they'll call you something in when they get out. Surgery is Monday and Wednesday but doc checks in when he can and they'll get him if it's an emergency.

[hoosiermama]

Walmart is great because there is a bathroom in the front and in the back of the store heheheh. The more you walk the quicker that gas will leave you. The swelling will just take time and are you taking the pain meds as often as prescribed? I know they told me that nausea was the stomach way of telling you it's in pain (of course, maybe because you haven't put any Pepto down it, it might be in pain). Make sure to take your pain meds and the yuchy Pepto. I'm almost 2 months out and I'm still taking the Pepto occasionally.

[Joanne]

Hi there Shae,
Great to see you posting!
Dont worry about eating now if it's not sitting well with you. The most important thing is to get in your fluids. It's totally normal to feel full after only a few bites. Your stomach is very swollen and still healing. Try very small bites, one at a time, of something comforting. Try some warm chicken broth, for example. If that sits well, then try something else very mushy, and see how you feel. My surgeon keeps people on liquids for up to 4 weeks so even though yours might have different instructions, dont worry too much about it. If something doesn't sit well with you today, try it again in a few days. As you heal you'll see you're able to tolerate more and more.

Dont worry about the BM (yet anyway). You were on liquids before the surgery, and not eating much now. There's probably not much in you to come out. Plus, the anesthesia and pain meds slow down your bowels. Have you had a watery bowel movement since surgery? For the first few months your intestines are adapting to the new configuration, and you can be all over the board in terms of diarrhea, constipation, etc. Things will level out to what is normal for you, over time.

How are you doing with fluids? That's very important. Don't let yourself get so nauseous that you cant get in your 64+ oz a day. That will dehydrate you, which will make you even more nauseous, and it's very hard to pull yourself out of that spiral.

[Joanne]

Also to add:
4 days out is such a baby DS'er. Baby yourself, and dont push yourself too hard with trying to eat. Some nausea is common now. Meds help. What helped me even more was something warm and soothing in my tummy, like the broth, a bite of scrambled egg, etc. But as I said, you're so new. There is no reason to push anything now. Your body will tell you when it wants to eat. Fluids are vital right now, food not so much.

[aa]

I ate a tsp. of scrambled eggs for a meal. Protein and food aren't as much of a consideration as liquids. Sip all the time. Walk several times a day. That's what you need to concentrate on.

If you can do a protein shake (or sip part of one) do it. If not, not.

I did the sf popsicles, too. They were excellent for me.

I didn't poop for a bit & began to have gas b/c lactose intolerance kicked in the first few weeks (then left after the first year). All of us are different. If you feel uncomfortable re: not pooping -- call your surgeon. They're there to help.

[bearmom]

I'm sorry hon, but this is normal. You've gotten great advice already, but also keep on the popsicles if they sound good. Some days I could only sip hot, some cold.

Part of the issue is swelling, and the melting ice of popsicles helped sooth my stomach a lot.

Even if a bite of something almost sound good some days, after one bite, you can not want to see it again for months. If all else fails, just get the sips in. The bites and vites can wait, but fluid can't.

[sherbearmama]

When I came home from the hospital, I couldn't eat either. I had some pain and gurgling in my gut so I sort of made myself take a bite of something--I first tried cream of wheat but no amount of sweetener could make it taste good. Then I tried applesauce. That worked well for me (plus it had some sugar to get my blood sugars up to feeling normal and it's got water in it!). At first one bite was all I could take. Then after a week, I could take 2 bites. At the end of 3 weeks I still was only taking 2-3 bites before I felt full and like after a big Thanksgiving feast. Now I'm going into my 5th week (I'm 4 weeks post op) and I find that I actually can eat more than 2-3 bites of food! It's still slow going but much better than before. I actually went out for dinner for New Years and had a 2 o 3 bites of crab cake, one escargot, then a half hour later I had 2-3 bites of lobster and 1-2 veggies.

Eating does get better. That was the worst part for me. I never thought about that before surgery. Drinking was easy for me as long as I liked what I drank. I started with water--moved to apple juice. Then diluted the apple juice, then moved to sugar free Vitamin Water. Now I drink mostly water mixed with G2. It goes down better than just water.

I didn't have a bowel movement until 5 days post op and then not again for a couple of days. I wouldn't worry about it just yet.
Keep up the good work. You sound like you're doing great! Exalt!

[supershae]

Thanks Everyone!! I'm so happy I have found this site to talk to vets and people that know what I'm going through. My mom is trying to help...but she really doesn't get it. Anyway, I'm focusing mostly on water and walking. I went to Walmart and walked today. It felt good to get out of the house and I'm not nearly as sore as I was. I slept in my own bed last night instead of in the recliner. I hugged a body pillow all night. I bought a really nice scale too to have at my house and if my scale is right, I've lost 15 pounds since surgery on 12/28. Anyway, thank you all for your responses. Still no BM...but I'm holding out that it will happen.

[hoosiermama]

I promise, one day you will poop Try not to weigh all the time, it will make you coo coo....you will go up and down all the time but ultimately down

I'll see ya at the meeting this month...which day is it on again, do you remember?

me

[supershae]

It's on the 3rd Monday of the month, right?? Which means it would be on the 16th?? I have to call them today...I will ask Sheri

[hoosiermama]

kewl

[supershae]

By the way...I just had a BM finally lol

[hoosiermama]

Now the fun begins...sometime in the next week, farting will develop a whole new meaning

[supershae]

The support group is January 16 at 7PM

[hoosiermama]

I'll be the fat one...look for me