2 questions

[drysdale 0]

First, I was wondering when you first weighed. I am 6 days post op and haven't weighed yet. I am scared I haven't lost anything because my belly actually looks bigger than before. I am sure it's from swelling and the co2 gas, but it looks pretty bloated. When does this bloated look go away?

My second question is more personal. When did you have your first bowel movement? I haven't had one yet, so I need to look in my pprwk to see when I need to take something like MOM.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Tiffykins 672]

I weighed immediately, but that's because I had gained 30lbs from fluids so I wanted to know what I was working with. My belly stayed bloated for a couple of weeks.

My first bm was a the day post-op, but I did eat a huge dinner the night before surgery so that was to be expected. If you're pushing fluids in, and not getting a lot of substance, you won't have a major bm. It's kind of a liquids in, liquids out rule. Plus, don't trust a fart this early out. I ruined a couple pairs of panties. And don't be alarmed by the crazy color of bms. Most call them peacock poops because of the colored of drinks like crystal light, the Isopure the sugar free Jello etc etc. Some add Miralax to their liquids to help things get moving, and that's the only softener I ever used.

[Cinderella 2]

I first weighed 2 days after I got home, and was amazed by the weight loss. I lost a lot of the Fluid in urine a couple of days after surgery

My first BM was also the day after I got home, which would make it 4 days after surgery. The anesthesia, and pain pump (morphine or codine) both slow down your digestive system.

Hope this helps...

Cinderella

[mp8btpc 32]

I did not weigh until the two week mark. I wanted to make sure I had some sort of chance to lose the dreaded iv Fluid gain.

I started having loose stools on day 3 and pretty much the consistency of my stools followed the consistency of the stage of the diets I was at, around day 15 or so I started getting back to normal. I figured it was like my body flushing out all the junk.

[M2G 1,836]

I weighed a few days after surgery and had a loss, my thing with my scale is I am better off knowing (if I'm losing or stalled, etc...I want to know!)

I had my first BM 2 days post-op, but I have always been very regular. I think I would def. call and ask about protocol for going 6 days without. My NUT is a big believer in Benefiber (the powder you add to water/food to give you extra fiber) and I drink a bit of the orange flavored Benefiber almost daily.

[Eureka-C 20]

First, I was wondering when you first weighed. I am 6 days post op and haven't weighed yet. I am scared I haven't lost anything because my belly actually looks bigger than before. I am sure it's from swelling and the co2 gas, but it looks pretty bloated. When does this bloated look go away?

My second question is more personal. When did you have your first bowel movement? I haven't had one yet, so I need to look in my pprwk to see when I need to take something like MOM.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I took measurements pre-op and have measured every week since. I gained two inches after surgery. I was back to pre-op inches at 2 weeks (but I think it was still swollen as I had lost 15 pounds by then). At three weeks, I am only down 1/2 in from pre-op in my belly, so I think it is still swollen. I am down two inches most everywhere else, hips, chest, legs.

I had liquid bm's for the first week, then it stopped. I think my body ran out of excess Fluid from the IV. I started taking benefiber, but I don't think it is enough. I think I will add something else today. I am definitely constipated, probably due to too little fluids/fiber. Best of luck. Let us know what works. This is a daily battle for me.

[chilo1 62]

I was weighed at the hospital pre and post op (I gained about 4 pounds IV fluids, edema, etc) After that I waited 2 weeks to weigh and I had lost around 10 pounds from pre-op weight!

BM were really hard with me, pun intended. After about a week I had the urge to go and it was so hard it got stuck TMI i know, so i had to remove it with gloves and glyceryn supositories, just telling you this so you make sure you get in enough fluids and bebfiber if your doctro allows you!

[twoboysandagirl 109]

I weighed when I first got home day 3 and was up about 5 pounds. I have weighed everyday since and the scale is moving down every day. I was told to drink milk of mag if I didn't go after day 4 so i did and boy does that stuff work but it made my stomach gurgle for almost 24 hours. I only took one dose a day for two days and then stopped for a few days to see if i was back on track and I am now. I think if given the option I would try something more gentle before taking mom again. Good luck!

[NtvTxn 1,262]

First, I was wondering when you first weighed. I am 6 days post op and haven't weighed yet. I am scared I haven't lost anything because my belly actually looks bigger than before. I am sure it's from swelling and the co2 gas, but it looks pretty bloated. When does this bloated look go away?

My second question is more personal. When did you have your first bowel movement? I haven't had one yet, so I need to look in my pprwk to see when I need to take something like MOM.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I weighed a few days after surgery because I was staying at my dad's house and he had a scale, then the doctor weighed me at my one week post-op visit. After that we were at the beach for a week so I didn't have a scale....I weighed again at my two week visit. Now...I weigh every single day, the scale went up and down for the first five months. I'd lose a lb or two, then it would go up a lb, then back down. It would some times take three or four days before the two lbs would be gone for good. Now I'm maintaining.

It was a week before I had a BM....and for a month I only had one a week. It was horrible, I tried everything, then discovered Miralax and now I take Magnesium pills (3 per day) and that helps.

good luck!!

[hugsamber 8]

I just had surgery on Monday. I weighed in the hospital a few hours after surgery. I gained 10 pounds. As of Thursday I have lost all but 2 pounds of it. I have not yet had a BM but feel lots of gas moving around. When should I become worried about not having a BM? I am starting full liquids tomorrow, maybe that will help. I just feel bloated and gassy.