jdemzi

Posted an update on the original post. I will post it here too.

Still having left kidney pain. Urologist thinks it's just hydronephrosis from having that kidney stone lodged in my ureter for several months. Shoulder has been bothering me big time. The Flector Patches (NSAID) are usually not very helpful.

I have. They were not helpful and did not provide with any information besides what I have already been told.

UPDATE: Still having chronic pain with my left kidney and my shoulder is very flared up. Seeing pain management doctor on Thursday. My medication options are severely limited and that worries me.

I had my surgery 3 1/2 months ago. Since my surgery I have been taking pain medication daily (Oxycodone). I had some for the post-op healing and then we discovered an obstructing kidney stone. So I was on pain medication until I had surgery (which took a month to get me scheduled). I had a stent post-op for two weeks, so I was on pain medication for that. A lot. The stent was awful!!! Despite the laser lithotripsy and stent, I am still having daily pain and needing to take medication at least a few times a day, everyday. I do feel like the pain medication goes through my body quicker so that is probably why I am needing to take it more often. I also feel like I need to take more because my tolerance is higher.

So my questions are about what others have done for pain. Not necessarily chronic pain, but at this point (stone has been bothering me since LAST AUGUST, it falls into the chronic pain category. I would say it is a temporary chronic pain problem. I see my PCP today and want to be put on some type of medication regiment until this kidney stone issue is resolved. I had an ultrasound yesterday to get a better idea on why I am still having pain. Currently awaiting those results.

Any other stories, tips, recommendations, or advice is recommended. I know liquid is preferred over pills/tablets, etc. I know no NSAID's

I do work in the medical field (not a nurse or dr).

Thank you in advance.

This is probably the biggest worry for me. I have osteoarthritis and tendonitis in my right shoulder. I also have some back issues. I work in a hospital and I am on my feet and in not so comfy positions for 12 hour shifts. Plus I play softball and ski in the winter. I had been on chronic NSAID's for 5 years up until my surgery. My insurance denied the lidocaine Patches (which did provide relief), but I am hoping they approve the Flector (NSAID) Patches. Tylenol is an inferior medication to an NSAID, and I believe the science/research is backing that up. However, Tylenol is what we are left with.

You could see your PCP and ask if they would prescribe something stronger for those times when Tylenol just won't cut it. A lot of PCP's won't have any qualms about prescribing Tramadol (pretty weak med for me personally, but better than nothing). Or maybe they could give you a small prescription for something stronger, like Hydrocodone/Vicodin. Try googling, I found some interesting info on other possible options, but I just don't know enough to even want to try explain. Best of luck.

Just bought some of the Piping Rock on Amazon. They had some deals (one of which was a coupon code, the other automatically gave a discount once you had the minimum amount in your cart) if you spend a certain amount of money. I ended up saving quite a bit.

I just made some refried Beans with a tiny amount of cheddar cheese. It isn't sitting well with me. What alternatives do I have to mix in with the beans? I might be having some lactose intolerance, hoping it is just my body adjusting to foods again. Thanks everyone.

I don't know how RNY differs, but after I had my sleeve many of us misinterpreted extra stomach acid as hunger. Once I doubled my PPI, it went away. BUT, since you had a different surgery you might want to check with your surgeon to see if this is OK.

Also agree that just because you can, doesn't mean you should! If you are having trouble with eating smaller portions, talking to a therapist who is knowledgable about weight and food issues is invaluable. I couldn't have been as successful as I am without therapy!

I had RNY and had hunger pangs a few days post op, but was never satisfied, no matter what I did. I was getting enough fluids and Protein, so I took my GERD medication (that I haven't been on since summer) along with the prescribed Nexium I was given post op, thinking it was probably an acid issue. That seemed to do the trick. I only had that problem one day where it was pretty bad.

Yes, it is awesome!

I had a baby about 15 years before I got my Mirena. It still hurt like hell. I was even prepared for it to hurt bad and had taken some NSAID's and a percocet. Still hurt. Dr. said just some cramping. Yes, horrible cramping.

I had lots of bleeding and spotting for several months after. But I had been bleeding for the better part of 6 months before the IUD. Just over the past 2 months, the bleeding has changed to a few days/month. First month, I had about a 5-7 day period. Really heavy for 1-2 days, then pretty light. This past month, my period came a few days before my RNY (UGH), but I only bled for 3-4 days. So I am hoping it continues to minimize until I don't bleed at all!

I am craving PB too and was gonna try some next week when I can move to soft foods. My NUT said stick to one of the all natural types.

I'm a respiratory therapist so this is what I do for a living. Ideally people are being prescribed machines that offer an auto titrating setting so your machine will titrate down your pressures as you lose weight, provided you aren't needing as high of pressures.

Instead of CPAP, it would be an APAP, and instead of being put on a pressure, you are prescribed a range, such as 5-15. Our pressure needs are always changing, so everyone should be on such a machine, IMHO. If you eat a big meal, if you are sick, if you gain weight, if you lose weight, different sleep stages, etc, all could cause us to need a different pressure than what was prescribed at the sleep study. So my advice would be to make an appointment with your Pulmonologist and asking about this possibility. I know for CPAP machines, an APAP machine is the same Medicare code, so the cost isn't any different. APAP is simply a mode available, as is CPAP. I can't say for certain if this is true for BiPAP. You can usually get a new machine every 5 years per insurance/Medicare guidelines.

Only preop I had was 6 days of lean cuisine (1 LC/day-yuck) and Protein drinks (3/day). Day before was bowel prep and Clear liquids. This was a liver shrink diet a lot of doctors want and of course the bowel prep and Clear Liquids was to make sure my system was pretty cleaned out.

The dr I saw (not mine but one of his partners in the practice) didn't congratulate me either. He said don't be alarmed if you've gained or stayed the same weight as that is common. However, I have lost. He also said getting in fluids is very important to help flush.

I do half plain greek yogurt, half mayo. Same taste, half the calories with a tiny Protein boost.

Oh wait. There's such a thing as a single serving crock pot. You can bring your own food without having to heat up in the communal area. I'm deathly allergic to seafood and never ate in the office lunch area because if someone heated up seafood I could have a anaphylactic episode. I became a master at bringing self contained lunches.

I have one of the single serving crock pots. It doesn't cook food. Only warms it.

Just an update. The doctor did give me another prescription for pain meds. I am very glad for this because I did utilize this. My first prescription only covered meds for a few days, even when taking as ordered, and not more frequently.

You should be drinking Protein drinks to get your Protein in.

Mine is 190, which is what I was my senior year in high school. Back then, I could've lost 10-15 pounds, 20 at the most. So I figure at age 34, I would be pretty happy at 190. However, 190 sets me 40 pounds over my "ideal body weight'. I will reevaluate once I am closer, but I can't imagine anything under 170 as being realistic for my frame and body type (muscular).

As another poster wrote, it is normal for a liquid diet!!!

Working in the health care industry and at a hospital, you have to advocate for yourself because a lot of times, no one else will. Best of luck.

I just had surgery on Monday. Good luck with yours!

Some of this will be what other people recommended:

Extra pillows. A lazyboy was the only way I could actually sleep for any length of time the first night out of the hospital. Only now am I getting comfortable enough to really move around in bed.

Loose clothes

Heating pad

Gas X (may or may not help. Didn't help me)

Drink options as far as what your post op diet will be. I'd imagine Clear liquids then full liquids. Have choices available. I loved propel, no sugar added apple juice, sugar free popsicles. Now I am full liquids and trying more things.

Chapstick

iPad/laptop

Tylenol (if it isn't given with your prescription medication)

I have not had issues with Constipation. Everything coming out is pure/mostly liquid. My Dr's office says that's normal on liquid diets. I actually used some Kaopectate today, so I would recommend having something for constipation and diarrhea.

Thanks everyone. It has been a pretty painful post op experience, but I do think a lot of it is the gas pains. The pain medication does help. The hospital didn't have me up and walking until 9 hours after my surgery. I think I had inexperienced RN's in regards to bari patients. The pain is getting better. My surgery was a bit long at 4 hours, but I am unsure if he had to deal with a lot of adhesions. I will find out at my post op appointment.

I've seen it at Walmart.

I have been reading that a lot of people have pretty minimal pain post RNY, even post revision from band to RNY. My own information from my doctor says that after 3 days, taking Tylenol PRN is usually only what is needed to manage pain. I find this odd and I personally find Tylenol pretty useless. My mom found it odd and she had RNY a few years ago and is an RN who regularly has post op bari patients in her care at work.

To me a revision would probably be more painful just because you are removing the port and the band plus any adhesions. I was told the port removal pain is usually the worst pain post op. Then you have the actual RNY. After my band was placed, I was in a good amount of pain for at least a few days, and still taking my pain medication PRN up to 2 weeks post op.

Am I crazy to think that only having pain for 3 days seems overly optimistic and quite frankly, unrealistic? This isn't even taking into consideration the different pain tolerance levels of each person and what my surgery will actually entail (no adhesions, lots of adhesions, complications that could cause more pain post op). I am not located close to my doctor and I will not have anyone to drive me up there if I run out of medication before my post op appointment. No more calling in refills on controlled medications!!! I'll need the refill on paper in hand. I know I am being a worry wart, but working in the health care field, I just find this a bit odd as do other people I have spoken with who have had surgery.

Thank you for your time and invaluable information on this board and website.

I am scared too. My revision is next week. I would guess most of us who are doing a revision are scared of failure. How could we not be? But it is also exciting because it does have a higher success rate and gives us a better tool with which to lose weight.

I'm not an asthmatic but I am a respiratory therapist. Did your pulmonologist suggest optimizing your meds before surgery? Are you on any other medications for your asthma besides prednisone, and I assume, ventolin/albuterol/pro air? Good luck.