GeminiSky

Yeah its literally almost between the "girls" but more towards the left barely almost under it. Its driving me CRAZY!

So I had bypass with hiatal hernia repair and now have a JP drain which is driving me nuts! Did anyone have one of these also? He put it near the hiatal hernia site so its a bit higher on my abdomen, and man I can feel it. Im like what is that feeling? Kinda feels like something is stuck in my esophagus. Im not sure how deep the drains go but im definitely starting to think thats what it is. I get it removed on 8/7/18 and the day cannot come fast enough! Did anyone feel like there was something stuck in that area or restrictions? As ive been healing the more I can feel it.

Same with me! Its my main incision that hurts like crazy! Ive been using a pillow or pressing my hand when it happens god it hurts! Been coughing up mucus since I left the hospital. Im really hoping this will eventually go away. Using my spirometer like a maniac LOL!

I read a few things last night about breathing deeply, make sure to use your spirometer it breaks up the mucus so you can cough it out. Anyways I read about the "correct" way to cough after surgery apparently this is pretty common. Inhale deeply and while exhaling slowly at the end the mucus tends to come up and you cough it up and spit it out on the exhale. Where ever you are have a paper towel or a napkin ive gotten used to just spitting right into it and throwing it away. I dont have time to run to the sink especially when you know you gotta get it out immediately. Definitely don't shy away from using the spirometer. Ive been doing mine every hour x10 inhale. If I really have to cough I hold my hands over my main incision and press holding it in place, man it hurts but it braces the tissues. Also I havent had an issue with BM's which is super common. I've passed very watery stools and lots of gas. Burping too, getting used to what my pouch is telling me now. I think I might even be able to come off my Tylenol Codeine after today for the pain. Day 5 is tomorrow. I hope youre starting to feel a bit better. Today was a little different. Actually got some rest last night. CPAP machine 5 hours! To me thats an accomplishment. Ill tell you the first few days have been ultra rough for me.

So today marks my 3rd day post op. I guess I just have a few things of concern and wanted to see if anyone experienced this also. Near the main incision where most of the work was completed there is swelling above it, a few inches. I know a lot of his work was done there, bypass and the hiatal hernia repair the rest of the incisions are fine. It almost dents downwards like in a slope to the incision. Of course im going to see him on Tuesday for my drain removal and I will ask again. Did anyone experience more swelling in other areas? This area always feels "tight" too. Also before I went into surgery I was having a bit of a sinus issue, when I got out I noticed I had phlegm. Using my spirometer every day but I cough once in a while usually when I use my CPAP and man does it hurt. Im so scared im going to pop or rupture something when I sneeze or cough. Im concerned enough to ask them to check to make sure I havent done so. Or I feel if Im dragging myself out of bed or from the place that I choose to sleep im not using my arms enough and stretching too much in that area.

May I ask about the "dent"? Im 3 days post op and the main incision where he did most of his work is a little dented in and above it is swollen. Apparently this is normal for the "main" area of work. Im very very sensitive here. Not anywhere else really where the other incisions were made. I had bypass with hiatal hernia repair and man does it hurt on that dented side. I wonder if thats just a normality and takes longer to heal because there was so much being done. Ive been worried myself as if I pulled something because I accidentally rolled off the bed too hard, coughed a few times, freaking myself out if I did something. I would definitely check with them hopefully they will call you back soon. I might even ask them to take a look at me later this week when I go in for my drain removal.

Im only 3 days out post op and I can take down 2OZ of protein water like a pro. I got to the cottage cheese and chewed that up hardcore but even at the same 2OZ I got so full it made my eyes cross.

OH YEAH! I saw that post you did earlier about the log roll I totally tried it and its fantastic. I wish my bed was lower set, I have a pretty high up bed due to the pillow top and memory foam. Either way it works. Plus im getting upper body strength going here with utilizing that only and no core at the moment. I had a morphine pain pump and used that a lot while I was there. Come to find out im allergic to it, I started itching later the next morning. They had to give me some benadryl. My sister is also allergic which I find kinda weird, maybe its just my family and genetics. TY3 is what im taking now and it definitely works. Im pretty happy about it. No nausea medications for me either. I can keep food down, water down, im pretty lucky with that. Ive seen all the issues people have run into with anesthesia and I didn't get nauseated. I will say before I went in I was having sinus issues, and when I came out I had lots of phlem and I started using my spirometer like crazy. I called my drs office and asked them how much I have to use it. Hes like for you 4x each hour. Im like ok, and I do it 10x LOL!

May I ask what they sent you home with? I have the Tylenol 3 (with codeine) they also called me in some relaxants but I feel like they are too big to take so im going to bring them up there with me and ask. The T3 definitely works. I take it every four hours at the moment. I might move it right before bed so I can sleep with it. Did you have to wear plasmaflow boots while sleeping? I have those too. Kinda crazy that you didnt have to take them much at the beginning. I figured most people would have the same amount of irritation, swelling and pain as what Im feeling atm.

@Matt Z Yeah thats another issue. Trying to get in a few hours here and there but im just so uncomfortable any which way I lay down on my couch, bed, chair. UH! Super frusterated at the moment. I know I need time Im just wanting the initial pain and bullcrap to be over so I can get to the great part

@Matt Z Hi Matt! Thanks for chiming in! I think im just being a baby whiner and expect to be some type of super human with crazy awesome healing powers. Possibly just my mind giving me a hard time thinking im some type of useless blob at the moment. I do get up and walk around, will hop on my treadmill later today for about 5 mins here and there. I walked to the parking garage today! Moved my car to empty the trash (which wasnt heavy it was very light) so I was super proud of myself. I figured the incisions will be there a while. I guess the main thing im concerned about is pain and swelling. Im kinda embarrassed because I think my surgeons office is like "is she serious right now"? With some of the things I said LOL!

Maybe I took it literal, or maybe too literally when they said walking is super important. So of course my ass calls my doctor post op day 2 and Im like "can I get on the treadmill if I have it at the lowest setting"? They were a little taken back but I dont understand why I guess. Maybe they just meant get up and walk around sometimes. Im afraid of popping something on the inside now that I think of it and they told me to "relax and take it easy". I just feel like everyone has made such a big to do about walking and omg you have to walk and omg this and that. So now when I mention a treadmill its like im insane. The max I did was 15 minutes broken up into 5 min increments. I do suppose I was pushing myself though. Im trying to be careful but ive always been a very independent, self sufficent type. Cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, drives me up the wall now that I need help with it. No bending over, no lifting, pulling. I felt ive struggled a little bit getting out of bed and I feel if I strain im going to mess something up. Any time I get in and out of a chair I use all upper body strength and lower legs. Still feels like im going to tear or pop something. Wearing my stomach binder now, left hide hurts as usual, but im post op day 3. Coughed a few times trying to keep that to a minimum, lots of phlem and im using my spirometer every hour. BM's arent solid, but at least thats happening, lots of gas, lots of burping, tons of noises. Called my drs office again and im like "listen why am I still not getting better" I think they probably think im crazy LOL! Im on day 3 and I cant fathom why im still in pain, why im still bloaty, why this and that, seeing that others seem to recover quickly. Maybe im being a big baby, and upset that I cant do anything. Bruises are now starting to form from all the happenings the day of my surgery. Incisions look great though. Im able to keep down 2 OZ at a time which im excited about. Cottage cheese has never tasted so yummy! I have marks all over me though and an annoying drain still in. Marks from the electro pads, where they stuck me several times for blood thinners, swelling in the upper area where most of the major surgery was done (main incision, incision is fine its just swollen area around it further in where everything was done). Ive read that if you did tear something on the inside you would KNOW. But how can I tell the difference between over exertion and just post op pain? I need to slow down.

I was just cleared to do 15 on my treamill, slow and steady, VERY slow. Because they said "just do what you can handle because we know youre in pain".

Was just discharged earlier today. They put me on liquid Ty w/codiene, and also Flexeril muscle relaxer.

Holy crap your surgery is early!

Was wondering what your doctor prescribed for pain medication after surgery? I'm a little concerned because after the surgery you can't really take any pills. So far i've hard tylenol elixir with codeine is the normality?

IM SO MAKING THIS!

Yes I have to force myself to drink my shakes now. I think its because you get so used to the taste and sick of drinking the same thing over and over. One day I didnt drink any at all because the thought of it just turned me off entirely. I also have OCD and its to the point that I get angry as hell if im not in control of something lol! Believe me I understand. Monday is my date too, I will arrive at 5:30am 2 hours ahead of time since they require that, and my surgery is 7:30am. You excited? Im kind of nervous

@lviz Omg youre so lucky look at that buffet of choices! My surgeon is strictly 4 protein shakes a day, calcium chews 1500, and my chewable vitamins for 3 weeks.

I actually don't like bananas at all, however banana flavoring I love. LIke banana puddings, protein powders, etc. Weird huh? LOL