IrishEyes

Today I am 13 days post-op and experiencing pain. Up until the night of day 10 everything has been going pretty smoothly. Then in the middle of the night (3 nights ago) I woke up out of a sound sleep with doubled over pain. Took about 45 min for it to go away. It was strongest when I woke up and gradually faded. I was able to take liquid pain mess (hesitant to swallow ANYTHING) and used a heating pad on my belly. I also took gas-x strips and had to pass a lot of gas. The 2nd night it happened twice and the discomfort stayed with me a bit yesterday. Luckily I had my first post-op appt yesterday as well. Driving to the appt I was talking to my Mom (she is a nurse) about it. After ruling out things like I am tolerating food fine and no acid issues, she found it strange it only happened when I was sleeping. She guessed it had to have something to do with my bi-pap. After telling my surgeon about it he immediately said "yes, I believe it to be you bi-pap and I need you to STOP using that until you can get the settings adjusted. I fear it may be pushing air into your tummy and extending it and you are still very much in the healing process right now." Last night I slept without the bi-pap and no waking up with pain at all. I placed a call to my pulmonologist and they are sending the settings to the bi-pap distributors. Just waiting for the call to take it in and get it adjusted. It has the capability of being programmed to adjust to my body changes but the Dr never sent in the prescription for that adjustment to be made prior to surgery. I haven't ever had any pain eating since surgery. The same thing I had for dinner monday, I had for lunch today and it was so painful I had to stop and lay down with the heating pad. I am doing that now and it is feeling better. Guess I will go back to basics for awhile. I had been able to progress to soft food, which is only a few days early by my Dr schedule. I'm afraid some damage may have been done. Praying it isn't too bad and subsides in a few days. No other trouble so not too concerned to call Dr just yet. If it gets worse or anything else changes I will. He didn't seem too, too concerned yesterday as long as I stop bi-pap and I have. I am posting this for mostly post-ops that use any machine for sleep apnea. I wish I had known this was a possibility. I would have stopped the first night it happened. Thanks for your time. Hope this helps someone and spares them pain and possible complications, that would have been worse for me had I not caught it so soon.

Omg, amw, that is EXACTLY what happened to me! Since I didn't know what it was at the time it happened two nights. It did take hours for it to ease up enough for me to go pack to sleep. Thank goodness your 5 weeks out. You have some major healing behind you. Since I had only been two weeks out when it started, it did cause some lasting pain for a few days. I do think it bloated my tummy and bothered incision site. Feeling a little better now. I am still waiting to hear about adjusting mine. I am ok with the wait because I want to be a little more healed BUT man, I am getting crappy sleep!!! Really crappy sleep. No energy again, lack of concentration. And I have to go back to work on Tues. Was hoping to feel good first day back. Glad your able to adjust yours!!

Today I am 13 days post-op and experiencing pain. Up until the night of day 10 everything has been going pretty smoothly. Then in the middle of the night (3 nights ago) I woke up out of a sound sleep with doubled over pain. Took about 45 min for it to go away. It was strongest when I woke up and gradually faded. I was able to take liquid pain mess (hesitant to swallow ANYTHING) and used a heating pad on my belly. I also took gas-x strips and had to pass a lot of gas. The 2nd night it happened twice and the discomfort stayed with me a bit yesterday. Luckily I had my first post-op appt yesterday as well. Driving to the appt I was talking to my Mom (she is a nurse) about it. After ruling out things like I am tolerating food fine and no acid issues, she found it strange it only happened when I was sleeping. She guessed it had to have something to do with my bi-pap. After telling my surgeon about it he immediately said "yes, I believe it to be you bi-pap and I need you to STOP using that until you can get the settings adjusted. I fear it may be pushing air into your tummy and extending it and you are still very much in the healing process right now." Last night I slept without the bi-pap and no waking up with pain at all. I placed a call to my pulmonologist and they are sending the settings to the bi-pap distributors. Just waiting for the call to take it in and get it adjusted. It has the capability of being programmed to adjust to my body changes but the Dr never sent in the prescription for that adjustment to be made prior to surgery. I haven't ever had any pain eating since surgery. The same thing I had for dinner monday, I had for lunch today and it was so painful I had to stop and lay down with the heating pad. I am doing that now and it is feeling better. Guess I will go back to basics for awhile. I had been able to progress to soft food, which is only a few days early by my Dr schedule. I'm afraid some damage may have been done. Praying it isn't too bad and subsides in a few days. No other trouble so not too concerned to call Dr just yet. If it gets worse or anything else changes I will. He didn't seem too, too concerned yesterday as long as I stop bi-pap and I have. I am posting this for mostly post-ops that use any machine for sleep apnea. I wish I had known this was a possibility. I would have stopped the first night it happened. Thanks for your time. Hope this helps someone and spares them pain and possible complications, that would have been worse for me had I not caught it so soon.

And try a heating pad on your tummy for the gas pains....

Valdosta, are you still in the hospital?? If not, I think you need to call your doctor immediately. In my opinion. That's alarmingly low. Please, take care of yourself!!

This is worth repeating... I had read preop about a heating pad. I didn't take mine because I had read the hospital has them. So I did ask for one in the hospital but it took a little bit because the nurse had to put in an order for it. But let me tell you, it should be standard for everyone!! I used it most of the 3 days and it made me sooo much more comfortable!! Then any time at home when I felt uncomfortable, only a few days, I used it and it just made me feel better. I highly recommend the heating pad as a staple for at least the first week of recovery!! It saved me!!!

Correction... Need 2 comorbities and two yr history BETWEEN BMI of 35-40.

I thought that the recorded weight history was only for those under 40. Needed 2 comorbities and 2 yr record above 35. Was it your Dr office that said you needed it or did your insurance co tell you? If its the Dr office, you should try calling you insurance company directly. I thought anyone over 40bmi didn't have to jump through those hoops. Over 40 is considered morbidly obese and I thought one of the qualifications is that you are morbidly obese. I may be wrong but its still worth questioning. Fingers crossed....

Your BMI is under 40?

@ gtracy... Did you go to ANY Dr during those years?? Even a walk-in clinic?? I don't think it has to be from your primary only. Mine weren't. I have quite a few health issues, for many yrs, and they were able to use recorded weights from any Dr... Most dr offices weigh you.. endo, cardio, pulmonary, etc...

Great! So glad it helped you!

I think as long as your comfortable, its ok. You can cushion yourself a bit with a pillow if it helps. Helped me, I am a restless sleeper.

Yes, it is! I actually asked for one while in the hospital and it made a HUGE difference for me. A few days ago I had some pain digesting something. I layed down, with the heating pad, and it all got better. I hope you have the same success with it!!

You all can do this!! We are doing it together!! I am on 3rd wk postop and have had my challenges but it gets better. The KEY is 60-80 oz of Fluid and approx 80g of Protein. liquid multi Vitamins from Walgreens (the complete & keep it chilled) 2x a day will help too. For preops, I was tired too preop, like a drained feeling. Postop its a different kinda tired. In the beginning, the healing process drains you in a different way. The crucial aspect first and foremost is hydration!!! Focus on your fluids. When you are doing well with that then incorporate the protein goal. Dehydration can show as nausea, so whatever you have to do, get in the fluids. Use Water, Crystal Light in your water, broth.. whatever it takes. You all can do this!!! Hang in there... It DOES get better...

@ashleytn, try using a heating pad on your abdomen for the gas pains.. the heating pad saved me so much discomfort! Hope it helps...

I'm pretty scared too!! I have pretty long hair too. I actually noticed a little hair lost preop. I think I am going to have to get it cut soon. Maybe that will make the loss more subtle, visually.

Yes, amw157, I too was surprised at a difference so early. I am now to follow up with pulmonologist in 3 months, instead of 6. Sounds like you could use an earlier visit too.

I had mine repaired during surgery as well and didn't know about it until they told me. I have had no feeling of pain or anything in that area. Zero impact on my recovery. I am glad he had to do it. I had been having pretty bad heartburn for a few years and read on this site how so many people have increased heartburn after surgery, which I was dreading. But because the hernia was repaired I no longer have ANY heartburn. That's really something to look forward to, if you have heartburn.

Oh, ok. hehe.. I was gonna LIVE on those if that were the case!

I have a feeling your going to do great!

Nurses really do need more time, Imo. I am not one but my mother is. You all have to hit the ground running when you work. I am glad your able to get your fluids and Protein in. With the schedule and workload most nurses have, that must be a challenge. If you need more time, you should take it. I find that nurses spend so much time taking care of others and push themselves too hard, sometimes. Nurses, of all, deserve a little TLC when they need it too. Hope it all gets better for you real soon.

Holy cow Tamara! That's fantastic!!!

Awesome!! I did the EXACT same thing a few hours ago!! I am not having much loss either. I was sleeved 9/21 and I lost 1" in a few places too. It does make ya feel better, doesn't it?!?! Way to go!! And great your focusing on the positive!!

This is a good question. Of course, go by what YOUR Dr requires and maybe consider gummies.... Chewables are good too. My nut told me that sometimes patients like the gummy things because it feels like a little treat and may make it a bit more enjoyable. Quite a few things we need come in the gummy version.

@15k, my pulmonologist sent in an order to adjust my range. Currently 14-8. And have it switched to an auto adjust so that as my weight drops and with physiological changes the pressure will adjust accordingly. The bi-pap is amazing. I had a cpap yrs ago and had a lot of trouble. Went to a new pulmonologist and she told me about the bi-pap. How the pressure is greater when you breathe in and less when you breathe out. Making it feel more like normal breathing on the exhale. I found it to be much more comfortable. And this self adjust mode is amazing too. Very handy for dramatic weight loss situations. Though I miss the quality of sleep, I may have to play it safe and wait a little bit, days, and let my healing progress. I think this all may have set me back a bit. This, too, is near the top of my list of goals. 1st NSV, lower my weight to decrease the chances of my cancer returning and 2nd NSV, get off this machine, for good!!!