Tomorrow will be one week since I had RnY Gastric Bypass...to say I'm struggling is a total understatement. I have this tightness/pressure in my belly (still have my drain in...pulled Tuesday hopefully), diarrhea (how does that happen when I'm barely putting anything in my body), and nausea...really, it's only when I try to get my Protein shake down which is unbearable. I can't finish one. I'm tired and weak too. Is this normal? Tell me it will pass! I need some light shed. Everyone tells you their horror story and I'm tired of hearing them because so far, I feel like I'm living in one. I'm sure much of this is emotional too. I worry I'll never eat normal food again! I've never been so excited to advanced to pureed foods so I can have yogurt! Any suggestions or advice anyone could give would be appreciated. Also, is it painful or bad when they pull your drain? Please say no.

I am scheduled for RNY on 7/9/14, this is my first time hearing about a drain!! Do all gastric bypass patients have a drain?

No I didn't have one. Good luck with your surgery

I had surgery 7/19 today is first day with mp pain medication. I had the runs the first 5 days.

I had surgery the 19th. I had it all. Today is the first day with no pain medications it is getting better. Using high protein nonfat milk in place of water in the shakes helped them be more tolerable. Three more weeks of shakes per my doc then a move to soft foods.

I experienced a lot of the same thing after my surgery. I had diarrhea the first week,then nothing!!! CONSTIPATION!! Oh, it was horrible, nearly impacted. I also tried to go back to work too soon. I ended up dehydrated, and had a bladder infection. Soooooo after all of that (plus constant nausea) passed....I am now back to work full time. I take 2 stool softeners a day. Have been moved to soft foods and they added lettuce! I have some every day, and my bowels move pretty good now. I did not have a drain..no problems there. They are right, you could have become lactose intolerant. That does happen. Just keep sipping the water, try crystal lite for a change. The one thing that helped my nausea was and is pink lemonade crystal lite. I have no idea why, but it worked. Hang in there, you can do it,

It will be behind you before you know it.

I am scheduled for RNY on 7/9/14, this is my first time hearing about a drain!! Do all gastric bypass patients have a drain?

So I was told about the drain as well I am 4 days post op and DID NOT get a drain have no idea why though

I had no drain. Some docs do it, some don't. I don't know what determines if you need one. My surgery was easy, no complications, quick recovery.

You'll be just fine few days pain and a new life your already in good luck - keep track of what you eat and how you eat that's all

I am scheduled for RNY on 7/9/14, this is my first time hearing about a drain!! Do all gastric bypass patients have a drain?

I didn't have a drain.

Thanks for the replies. I confirmed with my doctor at my Pre-Op appt I will not have a drain. He did inform me about a catheter. He said that won't hurt when they take it out... But I was wondering how do you walk with it????

I think by the time you're up and walking, they'll take the catheter out. I have heard of people having to have them back in if they couldn't pass urine without it.

I'm seeing this original post about a week after you wrote it, so I pray that by now you have had some significant improvement in how you feel. My first 10 or so days home were rough. Not pain related, just completely overwhelmed with everything!! I wondered if I would EVER eat normally again. Honestly, I wasn't hungry, but I missed eating. Just the action of being able to put something (anything) in my mouth I was missing. That's probably half the reason I ended up having surgery in the first place, though! I still get strange bouts of diarrhea or loose stools, but that is getting better. I battled horrible fatigue and headaches for about 3 weeks, but that has also passed. I think as we begin to feel lots better we have a tendency to forget everything our bodies have been through. As of right now, I can eat pretty much anything I want to. I have had NO problems at all, but I went super slow all through every food stage. I will not even try anything sugary, as I don't want to go through dumping syndrome!! I also haven't tried steak. I can eat regular food, but get full really quick. I think that is the grand plan of this surgery, so I'm happy! I still have a long way to go, but I make progress every single day. I pray that you will begin to experience these feelings of health very soon!!