Hey everyone! I'm in the hospital recovering from my surgery that I had done on Tuesday.

Today I started the first phase of my diet (water and crystal light). I am so very thirsty, but each sip feels awful in my throat. The Fluid sits there causing pain all over. I also had a hernia repair which they didn't know about until they were in there. My surgeon said it was so big, he had to have another surgeon help him fix it. I have 7 incisions too.

I'm afraid I'll become dehydrated when I go home without the IV tomorrow :/ Did anyone else go through this sort of pain?

YES! Sipping for the first few days was more like just barely dipping my upper lip into water and getting a drop or two. All. Day. Long... it gets a little better every day:)

Also your throat is sore from the breathing tube placed there during surgery.

I also had an undiagnosed hiatal hernia repaired during surgery. I'm 8 days out and now able to swallow without too much pain. My understanding is there is a lot more swelling in the esophagus because of the hernia repair. I shed some tears of frustration the first few days because of how difficult it was. Just do your best and ask for pain meds to help. It will get better.

Edited April 10, 201412 yr by mon_jam74

It gets easier. I kept on coughing after the tube which was more painful than the surgery itself. I am 9 days post op and in drink soups and jello and no more problems. You will be fine. I thought I couldn't survive after day 2.

Hey everyone! I'm in the hospital recovering from my surgery that I had done on Tuesday. Today I started the first phase of my diet (water and crystal light). I am so very thirsty, but each sip feels awful in my throat. The fluid sits there causing pain all over. I also had a hernia repair which they didn't know about until they were in there. My surgeon said it was so big, he had to have another surgeon help him fix it. I have 7 incisions too. I'm afraid I'll become dehydrated when I go home without the IV tomorrow :/ Did anyone else go through this sort of pain?

Oh no, I'm so sorry you're in so much pain:( I'm 3 days post op and am also struggling to get enough fluids...it's so hard!! My doctor told me only room temperature or warmer for all my liquids and that has really helped. My stomach seizes up anytime I had anything cold. Good luck!

thanks guys

I am almost ready to go home, I just have to get a Protein shake down. The nurse took me off morphine and gave me a different liquid painkiller. I feel 100x better!

Maybe try some sugar free Popsicles when you get home they melt slower so your "sips" are smaller and maybe they'll help numb your throat. I had them a lot in the beginning as another method to get fluids in! Good luck and hang in there I'm pretty sure the hernia repair was the most pain I experienced and mine wasn't even that big!