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Last Minute surgery.... feeling lost now



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Yay! I am finally home from the hospital! Woot Woot!

So here is the low down people:

On Tuesday my surgeon decided that because he would be performing multiple surgeries and due to the complexity involved that he would like to move my surgery date up- So I had surgery the next day (a big deciding factor in this was that he would be going out of the country the day after my originally scheduled surgery and wanted to be on call to me while I was in the hospital should any complications arise).

So we scrambled and moved stuff around and at 6am Wednesday morning I went in for surgery.

Dr Rogula performed a RNY Gastric Bypass, A midline abdominal muscle resection, removal of previous hernia repair (completely- scar tissue, mesh, everything), and hernia repair.

The open abdominal wound, mesh, and infection that has been causing me issues for months? He literally cut the whole damn thing out of me!

My stay at UH Geauga was 5 very long days- I do have to say, I AM NOT A FAN of this surgery. Not because of the long hospital stay but the pain OMG there is sooooo much pain! I thought eh itd be like a c-sec/hernia surgery MAN I WAS WRONG!!!

This surgery hurts super bad- I am not a fan.

The nausea has not been too bad, I am tolerating liquids and Proteins well, I am healing beautifully, no issues with my staples or anything :) everything is going great- ALTHOUGH I did have to have 6 IV's while in the hospital- that is normal for me my veins are fickle bitches like me lol.

All in All I am doing great, happy to be home, happy for liquid oxycodone, and happy for an awesome surgeon!

But here I am wondering 3 things...

1. I think I am constipated but not sure how I can tell...

2. I don't feel my pain meds are adequate, I got sent home with the same thing any others bypass patient would have... but I have extra incisions/staples so is it OK for me to feel more pain and not be as fully relieved as other patients?

3. While I really want to poo because I am feeling backed up, I know it is hard for me to maneuver to wipe right now... anyone else have this issue or is that one just me?

Hope Your Day is Great,

*Amber*

The Starving Mom

starvingmom.wordpress.com

“I'm not telling you it's going to be easy - I'm telling you it's going to

be worth it.” - Art Williams

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1.) Usually I can tell if I'm constipated by the lack of shits I'm taking. Don't go more than 4-5 days or so without pooping. Colace and Miralax are you friends. Walk around. You were blown up with gas during the surgery. And it cant always release via normal ways as it is not gas created in your digestive tract.

2.) Your pain meds are probably adequate-- Multiple surgeries or not. If you're really in more pain than you can bear, contact your surgeon or visit the ER. Extra incisions probably add to the pain factor.

3.) I never had issues wiping. But you might if you have extra incisions. It might be more painful. I would assume.Hopefully someone who you dont mind seeing you in a vulnerable position can help you.

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I'm having a hard time reaching to wipe my bum. Standing up with one leg on the toilet seat helps a ton!

Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

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Any help? Did anyone get woken up after surgery because they were dizzy? I literally just woke up feeling nauseous because before I opened my eyes the room was spinning... I have a small headache, I am not dizzy anymore but I am very nauseous.... 6 days post op with gastric bypass...

Hope Your Day is Great,

*Amber*

The Starving Mom

starvingmom.wordpress.com

“I'm not telling you it's going to be easy - I'm telling you it's going to

be worth it.” - Art Williams

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Quick update- zofran seemed to calm nausea, sipping on a dose of Tylenol to help headache now...

Hope Your Day is Great,

*Amber*

The Starving Mom

starvingmom.wordpress.com

“I'm not telling you it's going to be easy - I'm telling you it's going to

be worth it.” - Art Williams

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Headache could be from dehydration, as well as the dizziness. Make sure to get that liquid in.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

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I had my surgery there also Dr Khaitan. I had a large amount of scar tissue removed from my 3 c sections over 30 years ago. I also had a hernia repair and a gastric bypass. I was 3 days at UH then home on Oxycodone and did fine I took it for 4 days when I got home and not again. I got constipated from the pain meds. They told me if I cant burp or pass gas Im probably constipated. I took 2 tablespoons of milk of mag and cleaned me out several hours later. I woke up from surgery screaming Im going to vomit. They gave me IV Zofran twice and it didnt work so had to give me IV Phenergan and then I was fine. My surgery got moved back 1 day due to overbooking.

If you think you are constipated try some milk of mag.. keep your fluids up

Congrats

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Hi it has nearly been a full year out for me but I had similar surgical issues with a hiatal hernia that caused the removal of my stomach and and 3-4 ft of intestine also an umbilical hernia where old scar tissue was removed along with 20 ft of intestine. When I got home 6 weeks later ( due to leaks, peritonitis, and a collapsed lung that had 450 cc Fluid removed from the pleura) I was so unsure of what normal should be I called my surgeons office literally every other day. I was on Percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy feeding for 3 months and diarrhea was monitored and somewhat reduced due to pain medication and zofran (ondansetron)is still my go to for nausea along with gas-ex strips. Still after nearly a year I need to take some Fiber tab or eat tomatoes or a Fiber Cereal to remain regular. Drinking the required fluids is imperative to hydration for skin and body, regular stools, and balance. So remember to sip sip, sip some more.

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Oh I forgot, yes wiping is a pain. I had to ask my husband to help me until I could manage. We bought a shower chair from the second hand store that I place in front of me when I toilet. It has handles and is shorter and easier to stabilize when I put my foot on it. Invest in flushable baby wipes the are a life changer. Also for support of your surgical site as your surgeon about a binder, with tearing of your core from surgery it gave me support around the scar tissues and helped with the pain soo much. Gentle hugs and best of luck.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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