Just got home from the hospital this afternoon, had my surgery yesterday morning. I am having a real hard time drinking my water. It hurts when it hits my stomach and makes me want to yack. I am having an even harder time taking meds. Any ideas on helping me get through this.

Dilute some decaf tea and drink/sip it warm

It gets better! Stay strong

At 4 1/2 months I still have to add a splash of diet low sugar juice to my water otherwise I throw up. Also if it isn't over ice or ice cold it hurts my tummy. I have accepted this is how it will be for me for a while

I spoke to my dietition about water and she told me that she does not want me to drink anything ice cold, water should be room temperature or warm. the warn water is very soothing for the stomach. She also told me to add a little crystal light to the water, stir very well and drink very very slowly. Just tiny sips all day long. I also have several meds that I need to take and they have to be crushed as finely as I can and add it to baby apple sauce (Stage one) for new borns. I really love this forum I get so many ideas. Thanks to all of you.

I thought I was going to breeze right through this operation with no troubles. I was naive. Had my surgery on Monday 3/11 and came home on the 12th. Was prescribed Vicodin but only took 1/4 of the full dose the first day home. I don't have pain except when liquids hit my stomach....but boy is that excrutiating.

I am sipping and walking but each sip is so painful when it hits the stomach. I have accidentally taken a good sized gulp and found it hurts less than the tiny sips. Do you think it's OK to take gulps instead? I am determined to be compliant in getting my Protein and fluids no matter what.

I am going to re-introduce my pain meds today at full strength to see if that will give me the relief from the stomach pain. I have a normal body temperature and my incisions look good I think it is just gas pains that are getting the best of me?

Am taking GasX strips and Prevacid. Other than experimenting with Fluid temperature and types of liquids does anyone have any advice for me?

Thank you for your help,

Carol

I also had surgery the same day (March 11th) and Tuesday the 12th was rough. It seemed like every time I tried to swallow anything I was also bringing down a cubic gallon of air with it. Walking helped, and only drinking while I was standing up helped. I think some of the discomfort in swallowing comes from residual air left in the stomach and abdomen. It has been better today.

I thought I was going to breeze right through this operation with no troubles. I was naive. Had my surgery on Monday 3/11 and came home on the 12th. Was prescribed Vicodin but only took 1/4 of the full dose the first day home. I don't have pain except when liquids hit my stomach....but boy is that excrutiating.

I am sipping and walking but each sip is so painful when it hits the stomach. I have accidentally taken a good sized gulp and found it hurts less than the tiny sips. Do you think it's OK to take gulps instead? I am determined to be compliant in getting my Protein and fluids no matter what.

I am going to re-introduce my pain meds today at full strength to see if that will give me the relief from the stomach pain. I have a normal body temperature and my incisions look good I think it is just gas pains that are getting the best of me?

Am taking GasX strips and Prevacid. Other than experimenting with Fluid temperature and types of liquids does anyone have any advice for me?

Thank you for your help,

Carol

I was the opposite, I could only do very small sips for the first week. I accidently did a big gulp and i thought i was going to die. The second week is much better. Still not getting all of my protein in, I just don’t like the sweet stuff. But i bought some non-flavored Protein powder at GNC and it is much easier to tolerate.

I was off all pain meds by the 4th day. And the drinking gets much easier every day, its just a time thing. Hang in there.

I am two weeks post op. I had a hard time with water also. Room temperature and standing up when drinking has helped a lot. Still weird as I can feel it as it goes down and then sits.

This is day 4 post op and I am still having trouble getting all the water in. It seems that it is all I do counting ozs for water and counting grams for proten. I know this is just the beginning, I guess I will feel better as I move toward stage 2. What time in the morning do you start taking in liquids? I am thinking I am not getting out of bed early enough. Thank you for your help.

Cheryl

I am 4 day post op as well. I have found that drinking Water right when I get out of bed, and not worrying about food for a couple of hours, really helps my feelings of dehydration. I feel like I am so used to treating dehydration with food that I am having to seriously relearn this signal.

I think you are right in that, right now, this close out of surgery and for the next few days or even weeks, getting proper amounts of water and Protein are the whole ballgame. Hopefully each day is bringing less swelling, more healing, and a greater outlook on the future. I haven't watched any Youtube videos of those who have been through this who say the first week is a picnic! Hang in there!!

Perhaps try ice chips and let them melt in your mouth? I sure didn't experience that so this is just a suggestion.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

BigDog, I think you are on to something. I never thought about it before but I think I have always treated dehydration as hunger and never made the connection. I am just starting to get all the water in as of today and I need to get back to drinking more. I will tell you that I feel that is all do is drink water, get protein in, it is like a full time job and it is all I think about each day. I still have a few pains left from surgery and still feel swollen for sure. Some here made the comment that she feels better gulping her some amounts of water I have to say I do to. the little sipping actually hurts more. Have a great day, Cheryl

Freeze a bottle of water and then just sip it as it thaws. I have had a hard time to with water but this does help. I couldn't drink water at first but my dr told me to do it this way so I'm not getting big drinks at a time. I would try putting your meds in applesauce and maybe splitting them before you put them in applesauce also helps. Good luck and hope this helps!!

I had and still have a hard time drinking water I couldn't keep it down a matter what.

Oops didn't finish. Okay so I couldn't drink water, warm or cold. Ice chips did not work, tried otter pops and water from that I couldn't keep down , tried Crystal Light still couldn't keep that down. Finally,I found vita-water 0 calorie and that worked, small sips for the first week or so. Also walmart sells propel which has zero calories in that and that helped as well. Good luck, I know you are probably very thirsty and I know how it sucks not to be able to drink water (I used to be an avid water drinker). When I did a Google search I found out that water is to dense for us right now and that's why having it mixed with something can help a lot.

Oops didn't finish. Okay so I couldn't drink water, warm or cold. Ice chips did not work, tried otter pops and water from that I couldn't keep down , tried Crystal Light still couldn't keep that down. Finally,I found vita-water 0 calorie and that worked, small sips for the first week or so. Also walmart sells propel which has zero calories in that and that helped as well. Good luck, I know you are probably very thirsty and I know how it sucks not to be able to drink water (I used to be an avid water drinker). When I did a Google search I found out that water is to dense for us right now and that's why having it mixed with something can help a lot.

It has gotten better, but I still have to drink slowly. Every once and while I forget and take a big glup and it hurts for a minute or two.