SAH_Dog_Mom

I asked my dietician about prevention before surgery and she told me it’s just inevitable and a hormonal response from the surgery. I’m just expecting it. I’m also going to take flaxseed oil and Biotin supplements bc they’ve helped me with Hair growth in the past when I’ve had thinning hair from a hormonal imbalance.

20 hours ago, pk88 said:

I'm baaaack. Well, sort of and only partially. I had my gastric sleeve and 3" hiatal hernia repair last Wednesday, 5/12 and am starting to feel more alive today. Yesterday was a veritable **** show. I traveled for my surgery and Saturday coming home was a long, horrible day of car rides and changing planes and I was exhausted! Filled with emotional turbulence already, I came home to a sick dog and all that goes with that. But, I allowed myself to just cry, rest, sleep when I felt like it. I carried around a glass of ice Water everywhere I went and sipped on broth and Pedialyte to maintain hydration and electrolytes. I've added in some Protein Shakes today (though not what my body needs just yet) and made a cup of egg drop Soup today also to increase Protein. My belly still feels hard and bloated, but I made myself walk both yesterday and today and IT DOES HELP! I had a lot of pain in my shoulders post surgery that is starting to improve, but still comes on when I burp or need to burp. I understand it is referred pain in the phrenic nerve from the carbon dioxide used to inflate the belly during surgery. Again, the walking seems to help. I won't win any medals with these walks mind you, but was told to get up and move my body to work that gas out of the tissue. No matter how much I think I know, how much I have read, how much you all have taught me, I am still going to have to experience this all myself and learn as I go. Hang tough everybody. We can do this!!

My heart goes out to everyone who has to travel for surgery. I just got lucky and have a bariatric hospital less than 10 minutes from my house. You should feel proud of going through all that travel entails when you’re recovering. I’m very impressed. I hope your dog is okay as well.

5 hours ago, GingersnapMI said:

I'm one week post-op, too, my RNY with hiatal hernia repair was May 11.

I must say that the first two days after surgery were some of the worst I've ever been through and I've had other surgeries as well, though this is my first abdominal surgery. I really hadn't expected it to be quite so painful and difficult. That said, every day since has seen major improvement. 🙂

I had horrible diarrhea on the day that I switched from clear to full liquids (day 4) so I went back to mostly clear and decided to take it slower.

Question for you... Are you drinking any clear Protein Drinks, if you're not doing the shakes? Propel may have electrolytes but it has NO Protein. The chicken broth you mention does have Protein but it doesn't sound like you're taking in much, you want to reach at least 60g per day. I've been drinking protein Water that I found at Costco: Protein20. Each bottle contains 20g protein. Their are other protein waters on the market, too.

Congrats on your 8 pounds lost since your day of surgery! I weighed in at 246 the morning of, and today I am 244. BUT, I know I gained at least six pounds at the hospital due to all the fluids they pumped into me so I'm telling myself not to be discouraged.

I hope it gets better for you quickly!

Thank you for the encouragement! My program requires we drink 96oz/day for the rest of our lives 😳. During the first two weeks we are supposed to get 48oz of the 96 from electrolytes. Protein Shakes are allowed but they don’t county toward your 96oz/day, so you can imagine how that would just add on to the constant non stop sipping alllll day. It’s miserable so I don’t even bother with anything that doesn’t count toward my 96oz/day. Week 3 is when they want us to start meeting protein goals with soft foods. I do feel better today. I’m so glad every day is getting better for you!

My surgery was May 10th. Gastric sleeve and hiatal hernia repair. I’m one week post op today. I’ve been able to drink 48oz of propel and at least an additional 50oz of Water. It’s been an absolute miserable chore, but I keep telling myself it’s better than ending up dehydrated and back in the hospital. Over the weekend I had a total of 3 SF popsicles and 9oz (4.5/day SF jello). Today I had horrible diarrhea, so I may just go back to water, propel and chicken broth like I did the first five days. I’ve been very down. The soreness pain I felt getting up and sitting or laying down has significantly improved but internally I feel like my organs are churning all the time and my incisions will sting and hurt often. This has been far harder mentally and physically than any other surgery I’ve been through. I’ve had an appendectomy for acute appendicitis that burst on the operating table. I’ve had bunionectomy surgeries on both feet and multiple bone spurs removed from one foot. This is obviously a far more extensive surgery, but man, I keep having to fight off regret and depression. My weight right before surgery was 207 and today I’m 199. The loss feels great, but honestly, I’m so miserable right now that getting out of the 200s doesn’t even feel that joyful.