So, I'm post-op day 6. The gas has been exhausting. The lack of regular sleep has me exhausted. I can't get more than an hour or 2 in any given position, and cannot lie down fully, because of the gas bubbles. Ditto the sudden sternal pain. Yes, I'm taking Gas X. My husband has pointed out that my tongue is green.

I occasionally (when lying on my left side) get a ripping burning pain to the left of my belly button that makes me need to get up right away. I am like a miserable zombie.

I have lost 5 lbs since the surgery, but it feels like 10 lbs of life-force. I don't want my calorie count to get any lower. I'm taking some Omega 3-6-9 oil and today I ate 5 olives (pureed) and loved every second of them. They went down great and felt like life itself. They were also the first non-sweet/ non-fake-sweet thing I've ingested in a week. I'm definately adding a couple of olives to my daily regimen. That aside, It's a battle to get down the Protein shakes and Fluid I need. I feel like I'm getting the minimum in, but the effort it takes is demoralizing. It was literally easier getting the olives down (and less painful) than just some Water.

I had some definate "buyer's remorse" yesterday, and couldn't even give in to crying, because it's too hard to get liquid in to let it go in tears and snot.

My husband has been very supportive, but he's worn out with not having enough time to decompress himself (encouraged him to go to the movies this morning, and he's at the gym now).

I went to the ER yesterday, because I have a gradually spreading patch of redness on my belly that is unassociated with the incisions. It started like a weird bee sting post-op and is red, puffy, and itchy as all hell. They gave me hydrocortisone cream and a heavy antibiotic (that is really fun to swallow crushed, twice a day, and is supposed to be taken with a lot of fluids- HA!). The red patch is just getting gradually bigger. Great.

So, I see my doc tomorrow and am counting the minutes. I'm wondering if I need to go back in-patient to receive IV antibiotics and hydration so I can beat this infection/reaction I'm having. Being a nurse is both a help, and a hinderance. Meanwhile all I can do is outline it in permanent marker and date the lines, so I can chart it's growth. That's what they'd do in the hospital.

Bottom line, I'm bummed. Isolated. Hurting. I know that most of this is 'normal,' but I still feel like I've irreversably mutilated myself because I'm too weak-willed to get my ass to the gym and eat better. Whether or not this is or isn't true, it's how I feel. I feel pretty depressed. I'd rather be healthy and fat, than malnurished and miserable. Granted, I wasn't healthy or getting any healthier, but so far, this just sucks.

Sorry if I'm too pooped to shake my pom-pons right now. This is the reality for me right now. Hopefully I'll be posting a more up-beat reality this time next week.

Thanks for listening.

Edited August 22, 201015 yr by pcindy

All I can offer you is hugs. <hug>

Seems like the gas is lasting a little longer for you. Sorry to hear that.

Just do the best you can - continue the Gas-X strips and walk, walk, walk.

If you are anything like me, you will be amazed at how much better you are going to feel in just a day or two - I PROMISE!

I've done a fair amount of walking up until today when the exhaustion and malaise took over. You're right though; I do need to take a walk this evening. Thanks for the reminder.

I feel like an alien is trying to force it's way out of my sternum and go skittering across the room.

Edited August 23, 201015 yr by pcindy

I've done a fair amount of walking up until today when the exhaustion and malaise took over. You're right though; I do need to take a walk this evening. Thanks for the reminder.

I feel like an alien is trying to force it's way out of my sternum and go skittering across the room.

Well, tell that alien that it's time to go. :001_unsure:

A heating pad can also help.

I'm sorry you are having a rough time. I do understand. I had complications and I did have buyer's remorse for a while. I had even made a post a while back asking folks if they thought it was worth it. Now that I am on the mend, I can tell you that it was worth.

I'm still not 100% but the light at the end of the tunnel did make it's appearance and yours will too.

I hope all goes well at the dr and that he can give the answers to ease your mind. Don't throw in the towel yet.

I can tell that you still have some spark inside you...the line about the tears and snot cracked me up.

Hugs,

Maddie

Thanks for the cyber-hugs, girls. They do help.

Feel better soon!

I hope you start feeling better each day! (((hugs)))

Am sending you good vibes and hoping you are feeling better soon!!

You might be right about needing some IV fluids. There have been a few others who had really rocky starts.They ended up needing IV fluids.

Believe me, when you are thin wearing sizes you haven't worn either in a long time or maybe never, you will be so happy you did this. You will be rejoicing!

I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Sending my best wishes that the gas is gone and the allergic reaction subsides.

Lily

Hugs from me too. Big hugs. All these things will pass. IV hydration and antibiotics sound like a grand plan though. Hang on in there.

Jane x

I hear ya, big time! I had the buyer's remorse weep-a-thon 3 days out from surgery, and the gas pain when I tried to sleep those first couple of days - identical to what you described. I slept on a futon-couch because the deep fold kept me in a snug sideways position, that was the only way I could approach comfortable. In that first week there were days when I got in maybe 15 ounces of water/protein. The exhaustion and malaise were intense. Once I was able to handle sipping the hideous protein shakes I noticed an increase in energy and once I was able to approach 60 ounces of fluids/70g's protein I noticed a huge mental change for the better. Your stomach rash sounds similar to something I have suffered from on and off for years, mine is actually due to stress. Itches terribly, spreads from a center point on my stomach, raised red, did I mention itches like crazy? Mine is stress related and wont go away till the stress is handled. I had one pretty bad in the weeks before the surgery before I could calm myself down. This is the physically miserable part and you just gotta get through the days. The good news is that you will, even though it sucks.

So, I'm post-op day 6. The gas has been exhausting. The lack of regular sleep has me exhausted. I can't get more than an hour or 2 in any given position, and cannot lie down fully, because of the gas bubbles. Ditto the sudden sternal pain. Yes, I'm taking Gas X. My husband has pointed out that my tongue is green.

I occasionally (when lying on my left side) get a ripping burning pain to the left of my belly button that makes me need to get up right away. I am like a miserable zombie.

I have lost 5 lbs since the surgery, but it feels like 10 lbs of life-force. I don't want my calorie count to get any lower. I'm taking some Omega 3-6-9 oil and today I ate 5 olives (pureed) and loved every second of them. They went down great and felt like life itself. They were also the first non-sweet/ non-fake-sweet thing I've ingested in a week. I'm definately adding a couple of olives to my daily regimen. That aside, It's a battle to get down the Protein shakes and Fluid I need. I feel like I'm getting the minimum in, but the effort it takes is demoralizing. It was literally easier getting the olives down (and less painful) than just some Water.

I had some definate "buyer's remorse" yesterday, and couldn't even give in to crying, because it's too hard to get liquid in to let it go in tears and snot.

My husband has been very supportive, but he's worn out with not having enough time to decompress himself (encouraged him to go to the movies this morning, and he's at the gym now).

I went to the ER yesterday, because I have a gradually spreading patch of redness on my belly that is unassociated with the incisions. It started like a weird bee sting post-op and is red, puffy, and itchy as all hell. They gave me hydrocortisone cream and a heavy antibiotic (that is really fun to swallow crushed, twice a day, and is supposed to be taken with a lot of fluids- HA!). The red patch is just getting gradually bigger. Great.

So, I see my doc tomorrow and am counting the minutes. I'm wondering if I need to go back in-patient to receive IV antibiotics and hydration so I can beat this infection/reaction I'm having. Being a nurse is both a help, and a hinderance. Meanwhile all I can do is outline it in permanent marker and date the lines, so I can chart it's growth. That's what they'd do in the hospital.

Bottom line, I'm bummed. Isolated. Hurting. I know that most of this is 'normal,' but I still feel like I've irreversably mutilated myself because I'm too weak-willed to get my ass to the gym and eat better. Whether or not this is or isn't true, it's how I feel. I feel pretty depressed. I'd rather be healthy and fat, than malnurished and miserable. Granted, I wasn't healthy or getting any healthier, but so far, this just sucks.

Sorry if I'm too pooped to shake my pom-pons right now. This is the reality for me right now. Hopefully I'll be posting a more up-beat reality this time next week.

Thanks for listening.

Wow i'm so sorry you are having these problems. . glad to hear your heading to the doctor. . i can however, relate with the buyer's remorse, at 8 months out I still have those days. . .but you know what, it's done and there is no turning back. . we have to make due now. . . i just hope you'll be ok and be able to carry on with life as you should. . know that we are here for you and will try to answer any questions you may have. . keep us posted on what's going on, sounds like an abscess to me. . . but that is my opinion only. . . let the experts take over. . . good luck

{{{{Hugs}}}}

Deb