Shell88

Thanks everyone. I have an appt w my pcp so I'm hoping he can prescribe me something. I gained about 50lbs being on meds for a year. Then i would drink or smoke cigarettes to get my nerves in check. Now i have none of the above and the stress has not gotten easier or gone away... I'm not to the point of hurting myself or others- but i can't take the always crying and wanting to stay in bed feeling. When I'm ready to quit my job and turn off everyone around me, it's been my cue over the years to get help

I have a history of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. Even with the stress of pregnancy, and losing my daughter to foster care, and years of relationship issues with her father, I have still managed to deal with life without being hospitalized or put back on medicine. Post op - I feel my world spiraling again. My insurance in NJ doesn't cover psych - so I would have to go to a hospital and do the outpatient interviews. My PCP is booked for a while, and my surgeon thought cracking jokes about him not practicing psychiatry in this country would go over well. I don't want to battle the meds that cause me to gain weight again - hence why I had the surgery to begin with. Anyone who went through or is still going through this that can shed some light and advise me where to turn or how to handle this?

Same! I'm less than a month out, but should have had mine on April 2nd.... Just making sure it's normal - thanks!

@@dar81 I'm sorry you had such a hard recovery - it does make me feel better to know it's not just me. It was really difficult going from feeling really well the first few days to being dehydrated, severe side pain, and now lactose intolerant. I'm trying really hard to re-situate my diet plans and remind myself to drink enough while getting prepared to return to work next Monday since I've already been out for 3 weeks. Any advice or tips from your journey post op?

It'll be harder to take it down quick, but you have a one up on is non liquid people - you won't get dehydrated! Continue loving your liquids... I wish i did

I'm losing weight really quick but i think it's negatively effecting my body. I can't keep anything in. I'm also getting some back drip from my sinuses. But currently at the hospital again. Couldn't get in touch with my surgeon. They are shooting me up with liquids- they put it on the pump so i get them quicker

@ Elode no I've tried Powerade, Water, chamomile tea, and ice pops. I was able to get about 4oz in this morning - but I'm still feeling really awful - the water is causing some massive gastric reflux, and the headache won't go away. And of course I can't get in touch with my surgeon's office - mail box is full.... go figure.

@@Elode I'm beyond dehydrated. I got sick on an ounce of pureed crab Soup yesterday and wasnt able to keep any liquid in all day. Woke up with a migraine, itchy skin, dry mouth, and pain in my back. If i can't get anything down this morning, i may need to go back to the hospital for IV fluids- I'm just avoiding it like the plague. I guess I can't handle crab

It's gotten a lot better.... it's a dull discomfort of know there's something not the same - no longer an ache or a pain. At 10 days I was hospitalized for dehydration and pain, but by yesterday - I feel about 85% which is a huge jump! Waiting for this glue to come off on its own even though my surgeon wants me to take it off myself. I just feel better not playing with it lol

Thank you!!!!!! @@B-52 !! Newly sleeved and still healing, so questioning my choice until reading this - many reasons why I will be glad I did this. And adding:: Getting on to theme park rides with my very young daughter without being kicked off for not being able to use the safety belt!!!

Mine aren't as dark, but they have been popping up sporadically around the same area. Not directly on the incision, but below and to the left of the largest incision. It's not even on the indent that is below the big incision. But they are cascading down my abdomen - it's been the most uncomfortable part and range from brownish purple, to greenish yellow.

@@ProjectMe @@JamieLogical Thank you guys so much! I really do appreciate the positive feedback. I just want to get the most out of this and know I'm not hurting myself in way with what I'm doing. I think I am going to go back to liquids full time and just know that I can handle the purees, but that I'm not ready to totally incorporate yet. Definitely need to find a way of sleeping though. The body aches are making it very difficult.

I'm proud of myself for not overdoing it and feeling nauseous or vomiting - I think I am going to go back to liquids and slowly bring in my Protein shakes - I am definitely not ready for much more yet. The pulling is mostly when I'm sitting or looking to get up from laying in bed. It's all at the point of the bigger incision and indent that pulling my stomach had left. It definitely feels better when I hold on to that part of my stomach when I go to stand up - almost like I'm helping it stay in place as I'm moving the rest of me.

I am 8 days out and my doctor has already put me on pureed foods. I feel like it is impossible in a single day for me to get my 48-64 oz of liquid plus 1200 calories, 100 grams of Protein. I'm able to choke down almost a whole Protein shake with powder added to it over a couple of hours, and about 6-8 ounces of food pureed throughout the day but that's still bringing me to about 75grams of protein and 600-700 calories with 30 ounces of liquid. I'm taking all of my Vitamins too. I am off pain meds and only taking the omeprazole now. I am also finding myself to have a lot of soreness, and what feels like pulling, around the area of the biggest incision where they pulled my stomach out of. It just feels like the skin is stretching - no redness, no bleeding, no fevers. Just soreness and like my skin is adhered to something thats trying to pull away. Any ideas what this is and to stop myself from doubling over in pain?

Haha @@Laureadolce i wish it wasn't so valuable lol!

You're so close @@txfirefly979! Once you are at the hospital, the anxiety slips away. I did pack gas x strips, but I did not use them (only one in fact) until I got home. The only thing that really helped to remove the gas was moving. Walking to and from the bathroom in the hospital or doing my trips around the floor did the best to push it out. Heating pad for my back also helped the rest leave my body. Helpful hint: do NOT trust a fart! Thank God I didn't on day 3&4 lol

@@txfirefly979 sorry for the late response. Make sure you have chap stick! All I had time for was chap stick and my phone. I was stuck in the recovery unit over night, so I never had my bag with me. No real need for a robe or slippers or shoes - I survived fine without them.... My lips were super chapped by next day though. Brought my old maternity clothes to change into, slip on shoes, and deodorant and a face wipe for my departure home. Just make sure on the way home you have pain meds right before you leave the hospital for the numb feeling on the way home, a pillow to grasp around your belly or an abdominal binder which i used over my shirt to hold my stomach and incisions in place. A heating pad is great to sit on my the end of the day. And I've been living off egg drop Soup broth, diet snapple, Powerade zero, vtamin Water zero, and Jello since Friday night. Don't go too crazy with the stocking and planning - you don't use most of it lol

Yeah the mall was definitely too much. Congrats on 11 days post op! I'm hoping the symptoms go away soon for the both of us

@@Wannabeskinnie the maalox lidocaine compound is the most pungent liquid i have ever had the displeasure of putting into my body. It's been helping with the leftover sore throat from the EGD they did right after surgery to make sure of no leakage and to check their work.... but besides that, it really isn't worth the nausea it creates. @@grosario288 I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one with blurry vision as well!! I started softly patting my incisions above my clothes just to get some comfort from the itchiness. I haven't slept well since the night of my surgery. The backpain comes and goes - I haven't figured out a way of getting rid of it completely. As for my eyes - eye drops haven't worked, but my old pair of glasses clear things up a little for me. I tried to walk the mall today to walk out some of the gas and get myself moving again. Bad idea - 3 days out and I feel like I used any energy I may have regained.

I've been doing my walking, but part of me is tempted to head over to the mall to just have a long, flat area to walk around on where its warm. The oxycodone has been helping with the pain, just leaves a bit of dull discomfort when it's still in effect. I hope the Tylenol is doing the trick for you @@Wannabeskinnie - does your dr have you using the Maalox lidocaine compound too? That's the most difficult thing for me to ingest, though the nurses told me it wasn't to important. I have follow up Wednesday with my surgeon - hoping to be fully functional by the time I have to go back to work at the end of the month. Congrats on your surgery, and feel better soon! The hardest parts are hopefully now behind us

@@claceywyo Thank you so much for your reply! That made me feel so much to know I'm not the only one with these post op symptoms. I've always been a tummy or side sleeper and my body is really feeling the change. I might try to venture out today to the mall or a walmart just to have the space and drive to walk a bit more. Thank you so much for the reassurance though that this is all normal!

So I am 4 days post-op. Exciting right?! The only complications I am having currently are not being able to sleep and general discomfort. I now can't fall asleep before 2am, and I'm awake by 6am.... then I find myself zoning and falling asleep for a few minutes at a time throughout the day. My incisions are all extremely itchy and the one bigger one above my belly button has been causing the most pain. I wake up in the middle of the night feeling a sharp pain at that entry point - but its not red, irritated, or infected. Last but not least, I can't really sit for too long. My lower back and tail bone are fighting me on my ability to relax. I've sat on the couch, my rocking chair, padded myself in with pillows.... I've tried heating pad, and I've been staying on top of my pain meds, but it doesn't seem like anything is working.

@@skyestarr88 I am right there with you... mine is at 245pm..... Can't sleep - coming completely out of my skin right now....

@@kyrickchick64 LOL i would not blame you one bit.....

@@cockapoomom thats all I keep thinking! I see a lot of these diets with one small meal, and how bad can lentils or veggies be for you?? We've got this - we're doing a lot better than some, and our choices are not in the least bit horrible... though I could have went for a dominos pizza yesterday at work lol. @@heav85 I started my journey August 22nd, injured myself in November a week before pre op liquid and had my surgery postponed. I began liquids on Feb 26th. 4 days to go!!!!!