When does it get better!?

[SweetCatastrophy 2]

I had my bypass on June 14th, and the pain has been excruciating. I've had two c sections and this is much worse by far. The percocet barely takes the edge off. I'm struggling to get all my fluids in. I am passing gas but no bowel movement yet. This is seriously the most uncomfortable I've ever been in my whole life. Please tell me this gets better 😭

[GummyBearQueen 115]

It does. Soon you won’t even remember this phase.

[SummerTimeGirl 580]

I don't remember being in that much pain. Yes, there was some pain due to the gas but it was tolerable for me. I think by day 4 I really started to notice the gas/pain issue subsiding. And it most definitely was made better by me moving/walking. The incision pain/tugging feeling/burning inside took about 2-3 weeks to finally stop. Hopefully you'll get over this hump soon!!! Hang in there!

[toodlerue 432]

Your surgery was just a few days ago. You don’t say what kind of pain you’re in if it’s from the incisions or the pain in your back from the gas. For me the gas pain in my back and shoulder last for about three weeks but that is because of some other problems that my body has. And it’s always the same no matter what kind of laparoscopic surgery that I have.

Did you do a pre-op liquid diet? If you did it has been days since you have eaten any solid food. It amazes me that people think they should be having a BM a few days after this surgery. At this point you aren’t taking in much food and it’s all liquid progressing to soft food.

[Jnfinney 513]

I had the sleeve, so our surgeries are a little different. However, I started feeling significantly better around 7 days post op. I only needed Tylenol for discomfort. I also struggled with fluids the first couple weeks; my nutritionist suggested I just focus on staying hydrated versus focusing on Protein until I started feeling better. I promise, it gets better. If you aren’t feeling a little better in the next 2-3 days, I would contact your clinic.

[Soon2bFit21 109]

I had the sleeve and a hernia repair, but I was in severe pain post op and for about 5 days after. Most of it was gas pain in my chest and shoulder that felt like I was being ripped apart internally. I could barely sleep, and when I did it was in an uncomfortable upright sitting position. It will get better! You went through a major surgery and your body is in the middle of trying to heal. In a few days time you should feel a significant difference. I know right now is difficult, just know that we’re here and understand the frustration and pain along with it. You’ll be able to look back on this phase soon and get back to a more comfortable lifestyle with your new tool that will greatly improve your life!

[LadySunshyne 10]

I finally had my surgery on June 8th and up until today I have been energetic and optimistic. When I woke up today (Day 9) I felt lousy. I was freezing and hot at the same time. I was queasy and nothing tasted good or even edible. My stomach itches and burns. I can't get comfortable in any position. Most of all I am stressed out because I can't seem to get enough Protein and enough fluids in one day.

Help Me!!!! I'm losing it! I have been crying all day despite my families support. They have no idea what i'm going through.

[Guest]

Hi!

I know it so much easier to talk than feel. But, we are all in the same place, only in different modulations.

So, if may I say, I have 14 years since my surgery and i got a LOT of long terms problems, but, I NEVER regret for a minute in all these years.

Try to distract, see other things, talk here. It will pass. The ppl I know that had surgery nowadays has told me that "looks" easier than 14 years ago. Yeah, I throw up a lot, I dont eat much meat (never really like it, anyway), I cant have icecream or Coke at street or I'll sh*t my pants off hahaha....with time, you'll start to feel the peculiarities that now is part of you as something funny, sometimes, even special. Well, Is how I feel.

Maybe, another alternative to bad moments is to think in future plans, in all you dreamed to do after surgery. Well, I just meaning, sometimes is nice for us to think like "dont waste my time struggling with I have now, because in the past, this place, is all I wanted, is definately the place I wanted to be". So, now you are! Congraaaaaaaaaats!

Baby steps. I can promise that in a month you'll be very very much better.

Warm regards

Bia

[Arabesque 6,423]

It is challenging to meet your Protein & fluid goals to begin. My surgeon said it was ok along as I was working towards meeting them. All your skates, broths your eating at the moment are liquids & count towards your Fluid goals.

Some people experience a lot of surgical pain &/or gas pain but some don’t. Some experience it for less than a week, others longer. I had no gas pain with my sleeve (had 4 days worth with my gall removal though) and my surgical pain was ok & I didn’t need any pain relief by day 4. Walk to ease gas pain & try some gas X. If your pain is severe & your prescribed pain meds aren’t helping, contact your medical team.

It seems like people either are constipated or have diarrhoea post surgery. Try some stool softeners or other gentle stimulants (some swear by Smooth Move tea) in a day or so if you are still constipated. Constipation will be a regular experience while you’re losing. Honestly I have never talked about bowel movements as much as I have since surgery - LOL!!

You’ve just had major surgery & altered how your body digests food. It’s completely different than what you’ve ever experienced before. You’re allowed to be be scared, confused, emotional, … We all heal & recover from surgery in our own time. Allow yourself the time you need. It definitely does get better.

[britknee_kay 12]

Hey there. I had my surgery June 1st. I remember asking WLS veterans how this surgery compared to a c-section. (I’ve also had 2) Everyone assured me that it was a walk in the park compared to a c-section. Boyyyyy did I feel lied to. Once I got home from the hospital, I was in so much pain. Everything hurt. Moving hurt. Sitting down hurt. Laying down hurt. Walking hurt. I’m a very impatient person and usually handle pain well, so I was expecting my recovery to be like all those people who were up and about within a week. But it does get better. You just had a MAJOR surgery. Your body needs time to heal. Try to be patient. Use a heating pad. REST. REST. REST.

[Christina Phillips 9]

How are you feeling now? I also had my surgery on June 14th 21. And boy oh boy I couldn't agree with you more! I'm just now feeling like a normal human being again. With that said though, I actually have had a a few days here n there where I was so super weak and shakey. But as in pain I'm much much better than I was those first 2 or even 3 weeks. I just cried n cried alot. I also didn't have a good support system whatsoever either though so I was going through alot besides having major surgery. I think I'm weak and shakey bc I'm not getting in my fluids and Protein like I should be. How much have you lost? I actually have only lost 14 lbs! And I'm very concerned about that! [emoji53] I don't mind being a slow loser but I'm terrified like I'd be the one in a million who just DOESN'T lose the weight lol I am also not very active like I was trying to be before. I thi k I'm just being down n depressed and giving up already:( but hopefully it's a just a stage I'm in and will snap outta it soon. I hope your feeling better!! Let me know:) take care!!

Sent from my SM-G981U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Coexister 114]

On 6/17/2021 at 11:39 AM, SweetCatastrophy said:

I had my bypass on June 14th, and the pain has been excruciating. I've had two c sections and this is much worse by far. The percocet barely takes the edge off. I'm struggling to get all my fluids in. I am passing gas but no bowel movement yet. This is seriously the most uncomfortable I've ever been in my whole life. Please tell me this gets better 😭

Hi there, Wondering how you are feeling now that it has been almost a month? I hope your pain has subsided and you have improved? Pain is different for everyone and managed differently depending on the cause. Would love to hear back and see how things turned out for you?

I had two bariatric surgeries and the pain was different for each one. The first one the pain was mostly gas related and relieved mostly by getting up and walking around and getting the gas moving and then Constipation was also and issue for me and I has to take Milk of Magnesium to get things moving as well as Miralax to keep things soft and easily moving while on the pain medications. So by the time I got to the 2nd surgery and had a revision, I made sure to take Miralax from the get go to make sure I did not get constipated in the first place as this was the worst pain for me in surgery 1 . However after surgery 2 day 3, I did end up in extreme pain that I could find no relief from and had to go to the emergency room and it turned out that my colon was froze (Paralytic ileus) and that had to give me medication to get my colon moving so pain can be for many reasons. So if your pain is persistent seek help as many things can could be going on after surgery that may require medical intervention. With the 2nd surgery they only gave me Tylenol 2 and so it was the most painful 2 weeks I can remember post-op healing and I have had 15 surgeries but I made it through and it has all been worth it. Ice packs were my best friends.