pholsch

I love that you thought it smelled like flea soap. I am nine days out, feeling REALLY GOOD. The first few days at home were a bit rough, but allow yourself time to get used to the HUGE CHANGE!!!! Good luck tomorrow! Patti

I am feeling a bit better today. Only three or four runs to the bathroom yesterday. And I have not experienced any "dumping", so I think I'm okay. I live in Lincoln. Lived here for the first 20 years of my life, then back six years later, moved away three years after that, then settled back when my husband got out of the Army in 2000. Went to Pius X High School. Great to connect!!!

I am sad that everyone seems to think the reason for the shower soap smelling bad relates to money. In truth, and speaking as a Surgical Technologist with 17 years of experience scrubbing on procedures from Hysterectomies to Craniectomies to Tonsillectomies to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms to Face Lifts to Cataracts, the reason they have you shower with a specific soap is it's antiseptic abilities. The reason it smells bad? In order to kill bacteria and the like, it takes chemicals. Safe chemicals. Some of the soaps have simple chemicals like rubbing alcohol in them. There is nothing that will harm the skin, if it did, we wouldn't be using them in the OR. Cleanliness may be next to Godliness, but nobody said it had to smell like Heaven!

I am 8 days post op. This is the 4th night in a row that I am unable to get to sleep. I am ready for bed when my family goes to bed, around 9:30 - 10:00. But I cant get comfortable, then when I do, I just lay there and nothing happens. I have no idea why. It's now 2:31am. I have a son to get up at 6:30, physical therapy at 8:30, and a job interview at 10:30. I have been unemployed for over a year now, and I am needing to be bright eyed and bushy tailed. I am not doing much each day on my own. I had my right knee replaced two months ago, and getting around can still be a challenge. My goal for tomorrow, after the interview, is to visit my parents, maybe a friend, go to the library, keep myself out of the house as long as possible. I guess I just want to wear myself out a bit. I also have not yet driven since the surgery, but I haven't really had anywhere I have needed to go. I am hoping this insomnia will end soon. I have never had it before, do not take anything for it (nor do I want to), and about all I can do to get sleepy enough to eventually fall asleep is play angry birds until I can't see straight. Any other suggestions? Not into meds for that kind of assistance. I have coronary artery disease, so I take enough pills as it is Sleep tight!!

I just found this site and I think it's awesome. I am a 8 days post op. I had surgery May 10. Woke up in Recovery, pain was managed. Less than an hour later finds me in my room and in pain, with the Dr. having the one pain med I am allergic to on order. So I refuse it. Took them over two more hours to contact him. They put me on Dialaudid. After every IV injection, I threw it up. They did this for 24 hours before putting me on good old Percocet. Had to stay an extra day. Got home, my stomach is quite loud. I attribute that to the bowels moving around and nothing much in them due to the liquid only diet. I haven't had the feeling of being really, really hungry, unless I am late getting my "meal". The diarrhea that I have has gone from liquid to petrified wood looking. Weird to say, I know. However, my theory is that once I am able to eat pureed foods, and actually get something into my stomach, my stools will settle. I finally felt like doing something yesterday, only to suddenly, without warning, No energy. Had to sit down. Sweats. I am a little concerned about this, however, I remind my self that not only am I just a week out, I also had a hiatal hernia they discovered and repaired, AND my surgery was completed on my 9 week post op for a right total knee. I have put my body into the blender. I am interested in what type of nutrition schedules everyone is following. Mine seems like it's too much, and I can't get through it all each day.

OMG. I almost thought I had typed this in my sleep. I am a 8 days post op. I had surgery May 10. Woke up in Recovery, pain was managed. Less than an hour later finds me in my room and in pain, with the Dr. having the one pain med I am allergic to on order. So I refuse it. Took them over two more hours to contact him. They put me on Dialaudid. After every IV injection, I threw it up. They did this for 24 hours before putting me on good old Percocet. Had to stay an extra day. Got home, my stomach is quite loud. I attribute that to the bowels moving around and nothing much in them due to the liquid only diet. I haven't had the feeling really hungry, unless I am late getting my "meal". The diarrhea that I have has gone from liquid to petrified wood looking. Weird to say, I know. However, my theory is that once we are able to eat pureed foods, and actually get something into our stomach, our stools will settle. I have also finally felt like doing something yesterday, everything was going fine, then boom. NO ENERGY. Sweats. Have NO IDEA how I will end up feeling before my job interview tomorrow. Please let me know how you are feeling as the days progress. Where are you located? What type of diet schedule are you on? I am having trouble getting everything in me.