musicdiva
New Member
Posts: 17 
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 3/05/14
Surgeon: Dr Daniel Cronk
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Post by musicdiva on Apr 1, 2014 11:49:38 GMT -5
Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since I had surgery. My procedure was suppose to be a Lap DS, but there was a small complication, so they had to open me up fully. The first two weeks after surgery were great. I was drinking over 60 oz of liquid everyday, along with 60 oz of protein a day. At my 2 week Dr's appointment I was down 13 lbs. I switched to the blenderized part of the diet, and never knew tuna could taste so good.  I did notice that now that I am "eating" (can 1- 2 tbls really be called eating?) I was having issues getting my water in. Was only doing about 40-50 oz a day. Not nearly enough. About 5 days ago I started to not feel so great, which made eating hard as well. Constant Nausea. The worst day was Sunday, I was only able to get 10 oz of water down all day, and didn't eat anything. Monday started better, but got worse. Saw the doctor yesterday, and I am now doing IV fluids at home once a day, and he is checking my B1 levels, along with some other things. He also gave me stronger anti nausea meds and started me on heartburn meds 2x a day. Has anyone else had similar issues? I am feeling a little discouraged and to be honest, scared that I am not getting the protein and vitamins I need since I can't get anything down. On a positive note, I am down a total of 25 lbs. |
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Post by Taterweight on Apr 1, 2014 12:05:11 GMT -5
Yup! I had nasty nausea until about two weeks ago. Couldn't eat or drink and felt awful. Went to the ER for iv fluids. What got me through was switching from zofran to phenergan, drinking a glass of Lactaid whole milk upon waking to put some protein on my stomach immediately, then nibbling on protein every hour. I've discovered that if I haven't eaten any protein, regardless of how much water or fluids I'm drinking, I get nauseous.
I hope you feel better soon. I hate nausea!
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Post by deedee484 on Apr 1, 2014 12:58:56 GMT -5
Sorry you are having such a rough time! I dealt with a lot of nausea and dehydration too. I am over 3 mos out (14 weeks) and still struggling with getting in all my fluids, protein and vits a AND still eat! It takes time. I agree with Resa....when I am not getting in near the protein I need my nausea gets worse! Also even mild dehydration makes me weak and nauseous. Keep pushing ahead...it gets better every week! |
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Post by Happy DSr on Apr 1, 2014 13:15:52 GMT -5
many doctors prescribe anti-nausea and heartburn meds as a preventative measure, so we don't start to experience these kinds of things. Then a couple months out, we are weaned off of them, unless we really need them. As a result, I had no nausea or heartburn during my recovery.
to help control nausea, make sure you are getting enough salt - salty foods/fluids, like broth or egg drop soups may help. And help your fluids too
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Post by meq815 on Apr 1, 2014 13:48:47 GMT -5
I had horrific nausea, starting at about 2 weeks post op. No vomiting, just constant nausea. The worst. I probably should have gone for IVs, but I didn't. Zofran didn't touch it. It was such a bummer bc I felt so good the first 2 weeks. It will pass. I wish I had a secret formula for you, but I can offer nothing but tincture of time.
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musicdiva
New Member
Posts: 17
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 3/05/14
Surgeon: Dr Daniel Cronk
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Post by musicdiva on Apr 2, 2014 10:35:29 GMT -5
Thanks for letting me know I am not alone in this. The IV's are definitely helping. My goal for today is to get 50oz of liquid in on my own.
The extra nausea meds are helping, and so is drinking hot liquids.
Thanks for the support!
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Post by teachermomolp on Apr 2, 2014 11:20:21 GMT -5
Man- this is happening to me too. The doc said to stop worry about eating and drink, drink, drink. Good luck!
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Post by jpcello on Apr 2, 2014 14:13:09 GMT -5
Don't worry too much about protein. You should be aiming for 30 grams of protein per day by 30 days post-op. Also don't worry about vitamins right now. Start with one or two and work your way up.
You had major open surgery and your body needs time to heal.
The most important thing right now is staying hydrated. You're being helped with IV, which is great. Get the nausea under control and everything else will come - slowly but surely.
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Post by goodkel on Apr 3, 2014 1:17:27 GMT -5
Dehydration puts you on a vicious cycle. It makes you feel too nauseous to drink and the less you drink, the sicker you get.
You need to force yourself to take tiny sips constantly.
Your IV should definitely help you with this.
Yes, 1-2 spoonfuls is now a "meal." You should be having them every few hours. It is not unusual to feel nauseous when your stomach is empty. You are like an infant now. Tiny meals many times throughout the day. I kept a jar of peanut butter and a spoon next to my bed because I would wake up during the night hungry and nauseous. A couple of teaspoons of peanut butter fixed everything and i went right back to sleep. If you are hungry, eat. Right away, don't put it off.
As for vitamins, you can take two chewable multivitamins. B-12 is sub-lingual and melts under your tongue. You can dissolve calcium in the water you are sipping, and the dry A, D, and K2 are very small, easy to swallow capsules. Spread them out throughout the day and you should be fine.
Protein shakes count as liquid. When you were getting in 60 oz of water and 60 oz. of protein a day, you were getting in a whopping 120 ounces of liquids. That no doubt helped you feel good. All that protein and all that total liquid. I would go back to that and restrict your food intake to 1 tablespoon at a time instead of two, if you struggle to get both food and liquids in. Liquids are always more important.
The open surgery is really no big deal. I chose to have my DS open. There is a greater risk during surgery of infection and the one large incision takes longer to heal than 5 or 6 small ones, but inside it is all the same. If your incision has been healing well, what you are dealing with now is no different than what you would be dealing with if you had had it done laparoscopically.
Everything you are struggling with is not unusual. Not everyone goes through this, I didn't, but many do.
I hope the IV is helping you. Please let us know how you are coming along.
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Post by Girlrocker on Apr 3, 2014 15:47:33 GMT -5
Hi there, good to hear from you. I was super nauseated too for several weeks, it will go away. And yes, stay hydrated, number one most important thing! It's a constant sipping motion from the moment you get up til you go to bed, that's how I got it in. It wasn't about being thirsty, we do it because we need to. It will get easier over time to get in the fluid, and you'll be able to swallow, gulp again. Take care and keep checking in!
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musicdiva
New Member
Posts: 17
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: 3/05/14
Surgeon: Dr Daniel Cronk
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Post by musicdiva on Apr 7, 2014 12:24:47 GMT -5
Wanted to update you all. We stopped my IV fluids, and I have to get AT LEAST 40 oz. of liquid a day. I am still shooting for 64, but 40 will keep me from being dehydrated. Still a bit nauseous, but if I stay on top of my meds I can push thru.
Turns out that I have a B-1 (Thiamine) deficiency which causes most of my symptoms. My doctor has now put me on 300 mg of b-1 a day. Just started taking it last night, and I already feel a bit better.
Thanks again for all the support with this hiccup.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Apr 7, 2014 12:26:08 GMT -5
40 oz is really not enough fluid.
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Post by maggiesara on Apr 7, 2014 16:01:30 GMT -5
I had pretty bad nausea for several months. Zofran didn't do a thing. Frankly, the only thing that helped was, um, marijuana. But it definitely helped. And FWIW, it was my doctor -- my GI guy -- who suggested it.
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Post by meq815 on Apr 7, 2014 16:04:20 GMT -5
Y'know, Maggie, I thought about that after I wasn't sick anymore. Coulda just called one of my nephews. Did it really help?
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Post by PrettyGirlBounce on Apr 7, 2014 18:32:18 GMT -5
Y'know, Maggie, I thought about that after I wasn't sick anymore. Coulda just called one of my nephews. Did it really help? I medicate for insomnia mainly (suggested by my PCP once it was determined that I could not take any rx sleep aids - thank you baby jesus) but during the last few weeks, I tried using it to see if it would also ease the incessant nausea I was experiencing from my kidney infection and nasty symptoms. It did...beautifully. Good to know. I only wish I had been more open-minded about it a LONG time ago. |
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Post by meq815 on Apr 7, 2014 21:01:32 GMT -5
Good to know. And glad you're better.
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Post by maggiesara on Apr 8, 2014 11:47:18 GMT -5
It definitely helped, Mary Ellen. The only problem was that it was never, shall we say, my drug of choice -- I never really liked being high -- so I'd smoke it to get rid of the nausea, and then I'd sit around being stone for four hours.
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Post by meq815 on Apr 8, 2014 15:59:27 GMT -5
I never really liked the high, either, but I certainly woulda put up with it if it eased my nausea.
(I shouldn't say never...... I enjoyed it the first couple times..... But that's a whole 'nother story.....).
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I did notice that now that I am "eating" (can 1- 2 tbls really be called eating?) I was having issues getting my water in. Was only doing about 40-50 oz a day. Not nearly enough. 
