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I'm wrapped and ran over

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/11/2011 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hey ya'll, thank you for your thoughts and well wishes. I got home yesterday evening, they offered to let me stay another night but they just don't let you rest in there. And I have yet to find a position I am comfortable in. My shoulder hurts, my entire belly feels like I've been kicked by a mule a few times. Bittersweet, I am so glad you are doing so well! Way better than I. I have no appetite and have to force myself to take some apple sauce, ensures, etc. I feel like such a wimp, than I remind myself, this is surgery # 3 in a row. And I am overweight about 25 pounds. Anyway, I'm still in the "should I have done this" phase. I'm hoping it gets better soon. If the shoulders (especially the left) would stop hurting I would be much happier. rolleyes On a good note, I am able to belch quite easily. I heard that is a good sign? confused   Thank You ALL again for all of your support and advice. It really helped me going in knowing what to expect, from hearing all of your experiences. wink   Time to go lay down after another short walk around the house. I tire so easily! Have a good day everyone!
Posted 5/11/2011 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
hope you feel better. this virus from havocs-ville is making me belch from
drinking any liquid. at one point eating a small pancake was like digesting a saw.

of course your suffering is worse but i am so exhausted. have not felt well since april 8th so am bone weary.
Posted 5/11/2011 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
tummytrouble, I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I was doing great up until I got home yesterday and last night was hard. The pain and swelling really kicked in full force and no meds I took were helping much or allowing me to sleep. Plus the dilauded is maing me itchy so I decided not to take it anymore..I almost scratched my skin off last night. I have been able to eat without much problems and have these small burps that come up sometime but I'm not sure if it's a real burp or just air from the wrap.

Use lots of ice on your tummy it helps with the swelling..also a shower made me feel a bit better. Walking around is helping me get rid of the gas too, I had alot yesterday that just wouldn't come out and think that was more painful then the actual surgery!
Take it easy, have some popsicles and try to stay hydrated!
Posted 5/11/2011 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Dear bittersweet603,
Welcome to the Healing Well yeah yeah yeah Wrapped Club! yeah yeah yeah

You've had major surgery, so don't expect to bounce back without some recovery. Being only about 24 hours from surgery, it is more than understandable that you are experiencing surgical pain. You've been cut, probed, stirred up, wrapped, and stitched, to mention only some of what your poor body has been through.

Each day will get a bit better. Just take it easy. As tummytrouble suggested, be sure to keep yourself hydrated. It will help the healing.

Can you tell your surgeon that the pain med he gave you is making you itch? Perhaps he can prescribe another one that won't give you that reaction.

Do you have liquid Motrin or Tylenol on hand? That's what most of us switch to at about day 3, because the narcotic pain reliever has those nasty side effects. Continue taking whatever narcotic pain reliever you get at night, though, as in the dark quiet all that pain seems to amplify.

As bittersweet said, ice does help at the more painful incision spots.

Try to be patient, and follow the path your recovery takes without struggling against it. It will make your recovery much easeier.

Best wishes and happy healing!
Denise
Posted 5/11/2011 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Denise I think you got tummytrouble and I mixed up a bit in there, but thats ok hehe :)
Thank you for always being so quick with replying and helping everyone out with your experience!
Posted 5/11/2011 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Oops! I guess I did! All these funny names...I can't keep them straight!
Hope you BOTH have a great day today.
Denise
Posted 5/11/2011 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I spent a lot of time sleeping in the lazy boy those first days, because I was so tired.
The popsicles will help a lot.
Posted 5/14/2011 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! Joy thanks for the tip, I have been camped out on the sofa and way more comfortable. :) Denise and Bittersweet ya'll made me laugh, ouchie! Joan I hope your feeling better. If I'm leaving anyone out, I apologize, oxycodone fog. I'm feeling a bit better each day. Though the swelling is quite uncomfortable. :( I am still on a liquid diet, broths, ensures, etc. I think I am afraid to try to eat but at the same time, I don't have an appetite. I have not had any PPI's since before the surgery and no reflux, so YAY! I'm wondering if anyone has any diet suggestions? I'd rather stay on liquids for now, so any ideas on soft foods or liquids is appreciated. I still get the hiccups (I had those horribly before the surgery, and not as often now) but man are they ever painful when I do get them! UGH. Also not to be gross with TMI but how long until a BM? My surgeon gave me a huge bottle of Miralax which I am using, along with the GasX strips. Thank YOU for those suggestions! What a life saver ya'll have been! Can I have stuff like ice cream or frozen treats to help with the swelling feeling? Thanks again for all your help and support! :)
Posted 5/14/2011 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
a pillow on the belly helped me tolerate the hiccups
I didn't start eating soft foods until week 4. I introduced applesauce, vienna sausages, crackers, gramham crackers (chew well), pudding, scrambled eggs (used water mixed in to get extra soft), jello, some baby foods (sweet potatoes pureed is good!)
think about what you would feed a six month baby.
Posted 5/18/2011 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi EveryOne, I made it a week :) Actually had my first action today LOL Not to be gross but let's just say the miralax finally kicked in today. I'm down to 1-2 pain pills per day now. Still on the liquid Tylenol and still on a full liquid diet. I can swallow my meds, which I was worried about. The hiccups are still bad, just as before the surgery they were. I can burp, especially after eating, it just happens. Has anyone who had their gallbladder removed tell me what it felt like for you after surgery? Since I have Duodenitis, I'm wondering if the pain I have is from the surgery or my Duodenitis symptoms. It isn't constant but in that area and usually worse after eating. I hope I'm not heading for more tests. UGH. I also have IBS-C so everything is a question of nailing it down to what, where, when etc., when it comes to pain. I know ya'll can relate, and I'm really sorry for those who have to deal with a digestive system as angry as mine. :(
Posted 5/19/2011 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi tummytroubles,
Glad you had success...that's always an important step to feeling better! I can't help you with the gallbladder issue, but hopefully someone else will be by who can. Lots of people suffer with hiccups during recovery. It's generally caused by irritation, and improves over time. I think it can occur when your stomach is over-full, so be sure to keep your meals small.
Stay patient! It takes time, but you'll heal and be back to normal in time.
Have a great day!
Denise
Posted 5/19/2011 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Tummytroubles,
Glad to see an update..I think once you're off the pain meds your constipation will improve some, they really do a lot to your body. I was very tender where my gb was removed, moreso then the other incisions but I have no had pain or burning after eating anymore. I do still have symptoms of gastritis though and distinguishing those aside from GERD is hard. A lot of people who have there gb's removed suffer from constant diarrhea afterwards..for people who are regular it might be a problem but for those like us who have IBS-C it seems it can actually balance us out..so hopefully once the meds are down and youre eating more normally that will fix itself.
I hope your pain improves quickly!
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