One week post surgery, a couple of questions....

Today is one week from my step 1 surgery. I "celebrated" by changing everything- wafer, bag- by myself for the first time (well, with a little help from my mother- two extra hands were helpful). I think I'm doing pretty well- the visiting nurse yesterday said the incision and everything looked good. My stoma is now 1"- it was 1 1/3" in the hospital.

I am still having a hard time standing up straight for long- my abdomen is still pretty sore, though the pain meds help. I know I'm supposed to be walking a lot, but I just don't feel up to anything more than a few "laps" around the house once or twice a day- is that normal/okay? I get tired very easily.

Also, I am only having to empty my bag 3 or so times a day. I read a lot of people empty theirs up to 6 times a day, and am wondering if I should be worried? Maybe I'm just not eating enough yet to fill the bag more- I am eating mostly pudding (chocolate, butterscotch, or sometime rice), soup (tomato, chicken, etc.) with crackers, last night I had chicken cutlets with macaroni and marinara sauce... I mean, it's not like I particularly want to be emptying my bag all the time, but I just want to be sure there's not something wrong. I am so paranoid about leaking at night, I wake myself up at 3 a.m. each night to check on things, and last night the bag was quite full at that point, and then by 9 a.m. was almost 1/3 full again. It's now 6:30 p.m., and I have not emptied the bag since I changed things around 11 a.m. There has been output (bag is maybe 1/4 full), but not enough to warrant emptying yet.

What do you all think???

(Sorry for such a long post... I guess I just like to include the details...)

try to make an effort to stand up straight, even though it does hurt, if you hunch over, then your back will hurt. and i actually found the back pain way worse!
as long as you have output and there is no pain and you think your output matches your input, then i wouldnt worry. you probably aren't drinking enough though, its really hard to realize how much you need to drink after surgery. also, crackers, pasta, pudding are all thickening foods, which means they can slow your output, so that might be part of it too.
to help yourself sleep, get a waterproof pad and it put it under you. Its more a mental thing than anything, it will keep you from worrying about making a mess and you will sleep better. I have two that i sewed sheets onto, so they are soft, and i put one on top of the bed, under me and i sleep fine. if i dont have it, i dont sleep im too worried!
sounds like everything you are going through is totally normal!

I agree with the others; I think you're doing fine. Drink more, very important that you stay hydrated (are you peeing a lot? that's a good way to tell, and if it's more clear than yellow, then you're doing well on the hydration....)

I think at one week I was doing maybe one lap around the block with someone going with me. I had a lapro surgery though, so I didn't have the incision. Just make sure you're walking some and maybe a bit more each day. I felt really weak, but when I forced myself a little to walk, I got stronger ... it's a hard balance, you don't want to overdo it, but you also want to get stronger.

And your post was not all that long, don't worry (look at some of mine.... way longer....)

Thank you for the replies! I feel more at ease now. :) The visiting nurses that are seeing me sent a nutritionist over today, and she helped me evaluate how many calories I'm consuming versus what I should be, and I'm doing pretty well, it seems, with getting enough protein, water, etc. She made some suggestions of things I could add to up my calorie intake (I'm skin and bones right now- 105 lbs., when a healthy weight for me is 125-130 lbs.)

I've been getting up more often to walk around a little throughout the day, though this morning I was soooo sore, I just wanted to lay there. Pain meds took care of it after a little bit, though.

Trying to double the amount of water I'm drinking, and drinking more tea (I LOVE TEA! Hehehe...), and my output has thinned out a little and increased just a bit.

Anywho... hopefully things keep going well. I'm looking forward to getting these staples out of my stomach next week!

It sounds like you are doing great! If you are looking to get more protein to help with your healing and stabilize your weight, might I suggest switching Greek yogurt out for the pudding you've been eating? I just had one for dinner and got 16 grams of protein which I know I need right now. Drinking more is always key, too.

The bent over walking thing is totally normal. Just work on straightening up as much as you can and increase your walks a little at a time. I'm six days out from step 2 and I find it helps to walk some after each meal. It helps me move the food along, get any gas out, and I don't have to worry so much about walking a bunch at once if I'm going multiple times each day.

Sounds like you are well. I hope your recovery continues to be smooth.

I don't mean to take over your post, but I am home after being out of surgery for 9 days. I have some similar questions. I too am having trouble standing up straight when walking. My surgeons are on me constantly to walk, and I feel like I am not where I should be. One thing I am having trouble with is eating. I don't have an appetite. I am making myself eat. When I do eat I get nauseated, feel the food moving down my throat, digesting, etc. Food almost burns going down. Is this normal??

I feel like a baby but my stoma grosses me out. I do not like changing or looking at it. I keep hearing/reading the bag is not difficult to hide with your clothes, but at this point I can see my bag through my shirts and it hangs so long! Do I tuck it in my pants? I can't seem to wear much right now. I guess this is b/c I'm still sore from my incision.
Are any of these things normal? I think I'm struggling with depression. I'm used to going, going, going, and I can't do much for myself or move through my house long without sitting down. When will I feel normal again?

I hope I didn't take over your post. I figured you had similar questions, and I'd just add too them.

I felt the same pressure to walk walk walk, but I think that, like was said, we should be going little by little. and it really does help to break it up by walking just a bit after each time you eat, like run4pancakes suggested. My surgeon told me at discharge, "Now, I don't just want you to lie around. Get up, shower, and do things each day." However, I think he was talking more about a couple weeks down the road... we're still recovering right now, but in a month or two, it wouldn't be good if we were still lying around doing nothing all day. That's what I think, anyway.

You're not a baby to be grossed out by your stoma! I literally gagged the first time I saw mine in the hospital, and kept having to look away while the nurse was trying to show me how to change things. The first time the nurse came to my house to help me change, I got nauseous too. Now my mom has helped me change it myself twice. The first time I really had to concentrate so as not to get sick. Haha. This morning when we did it, though, I didn't feel sick at all, and actually felt a teensy tiny twinge of loving care for my stoma. Hehehe. So, I think it will get better for you, don't beat yourself up about it. Just be patient with yourself.

Also, I have the same problem with clothing. I haven't really gone out since the surgery, but I am a little worried about concealing the bag when I do... right now I just let it hang outside of my sweats, lol. I'm going to start venturing out and doing things soon, though, as I'm starting to feel better, and I'll have to figure out a comfortable way to hide this thing. I'll let you know what I figure out- probably just going to tuck the end in my undies and let the rest flop over the side and wear long loose tops. Sigh.

My mom found this site today. I ordered one to see how it will work. Hoping it may prevent uncomfortable rubbing, and more concealed.

http://www.pouchpals.com/Top%20Lace.htm

This site has been a great support system! It keeps me informed, realizing I'm not the only one going through all this, and from freaking out over things I think might be a concern. Thank U!