Post-op anxiety

[jesswecan 5]

So i’ve posted a few times, if you can’t already tell I suffer from anxiety so I tend to worry about the small things. Been feeling some soreness and pressure around my lung area. Is this normal? I’ve been walking everyday and doing very light weights but for some reason I always think “oh no something is wrong” as soon as i feel tightness, soreness, or discomfort. I have my post op appointment monday so thankfully that will help me a lot with my anxiety and paranoia. I guess ive waited for this for so long I keep thinking its going to all f**k up. How do you guys deal with your anxiety?

[orionburn 1,023]

What we go through is no small thing. It's a serious surgery. I had knee surgery years ago and that was nothing. This was a real s.o.b. to go through and I had a really rough start. Know that if you stick to your plan that it will increase the chances that everything will be fine. I worry more about those that freak out about the scale not moving and feel like they need to go hike a 18 mile long trail. Give your body time to rest and recover. Focus on your fluids & Protein and do what exercise you can. Don't overdue it and you'll be fine!

I had legit things I had to watch out for as I had an elevated heart rate & fever for the first two weeks. Add to that the pain meds made me feel sick and I was sore as all get out and it gets difficult to sort out what's "normal" at that phase versus something is wrong. Hopefully your visit to your doc will calm the nerves some.

[Losebig 508]

If you had a hernia repair with your surgery it can feel like you describe. I still feel mine if I work out hard and breath heavy. B12 levels can make you feel anxiety, so make sure those are ok. I was feeling anxious and mine were low.

[jlewisgotsleeved 11]

I had a a hernia repair as well as the vsg, on the 26th of February, my doctor advised me that I would feel a tightening feeling. Pace yourself, I follow a meal plan and sip on Water through the day to stay hydrated. I’m recovering well, however my liver is sore from the retraction. I wonder if anyone felt this sore? My post op appointment is scheduled for next Friday. Looking forward to the next phase[emoji39]

[Losebig 508]

I definitely had a lot of pain from the hernia surgery (not sure I had ANY from the VSG). Mostly it manifested as shoulder pain, like someone was stabbing me where my shoulder meets my neck. I still get it as my first sign over eating to much or too fast or if I over do it. I suspect everything has to stretch out again post healing / scar tissue has to form and stretch. Definitely talk to your team because sometimes the pain can be a sign of a leak, though usually there are other symptoms too.

[Polymorphing 60]

I've been having the same kind of pain and I feel like my midsection is sewn in horizontally every time I get up to walk... I try to calm myself by reminding myself that everyone went through a different kind of pain and that the fact I can sit up and type this up means I am doing well so far. Stay hydrated, take short walks, and it'll be fine. I always resist pain killers but I downed a couple of pills earlier and I feel a little better. I am only two days post op.

[Jennifer0730 10]

Anxiety is my middle name so I DEFINITELY know where you're coming from. Some days I'm a little more stressed about the whole situation, and other days I'm care-free. Two days ago my sleeve felt a little tighter than normal and I was convinced I had a leakage. I'm not sure why that popped into my head - I don't even think that's a sign of a leakage! LOL But like someone said earlier in the thread - take one day at a time, keep sipping, and know that your body is built to heal itself. Best of luck to you!!!

[James Marusek 5,244]

Generally when you are released from the hospital after surgery, you are given a Bariatric Discharge Instructions. One of the sheet that I received was titled When to call your physician. One of the potential hazards after surgery is the possibility of blood clots. They can form in the veins of your legs and then move up into your lungs. Therefore one of the times to call you physician is Shortness of breath or calf pain. Your description of your symptoms soreness and pressure around my lung area. So review your discharge instructions and see if any of the listed symptoms match your symptoms and if so contact your surgeon's office. It is better to err on the side of caution.

[Creekimp13 5,838]

10 hours ago, jesswecan said:

How do you guys deal with your anxiety?

Xanax, generally. LOL:)

Took lexapro for a few years and it helped incredibly. I don't take it anymore because just knowing that my anxiety is a chemical spill in my head...helps me rationalize it and cope with it.

These days anxiety still can be sneaky....but I usually recognize when it's getting the better of me and have some coping mechanisms that help:)

Whenever you want to feel pissed that the rest of the world lives with less anxiety than you....remember that anxiety is an evolutionary advantage to survival. Worriers are much less likely to die stupidly. (even if they do make themselves miserable worrying. LOL)

Edited March 2, 2018 by Creekimp13

[JanineVSG 93]

Anxiety is totally normal. I felt very strange for the first few weeks out of surgery. (warning, a little graphic) I kept having this really strange reoccurring thought/daydream of being able to just pull out my stomach and throw it away. Those weird feelings pretty much subsided by 4 weeks out, though. (I did make a strange animation of the thoughts that kept coming back, but it's too weird to share anywhere lol)

[~Primrose~ 24]

Check with your doctor. I had the most horrible pain I've ever felt in my life (and I've given birth!) on my right side in my chest and rib area all the way around to my back. I could hardly take a breath. I didn't know what was wrong. I suffered through it for 2 days to wait for my scheduled doctor appointment and he sent me right to the hospital for an MRI with dye. Long story short, I had pleurisy (fluid in my lungs and inflammation in the area) which can be a side effect from surgery. It's 11 days later and I still have a little pain and just a little shortness of breath but it was nothing to mess around with. I wish I had gone to the doctor as soon as it started. Good luck with everything and I pray that isn't what you have.

[jesswecan 5]

Yes I had a hernia repaired so that explains a lot!the pain isn’t that bad it’s just occasionally sore if i stand too long or do too much. i can breath find and have no coughing but my anxiety just always had me thinking about the worse thing! Thank you guys so much for taking them time to help me feel more at ease and answer some of my questions!