Fundo and Hernia Surgery tomorrow

Day 5

Yesterday was pretty much like day 3 without the fever. I seem to be having a problem with trapped air in my stomach and it is very painful. I have tried gasvicon, beano, walking, etc but noting seems to work. I can feel the trapped air try to escape through the wrap via hiccups or a burp but it is immediately blocked by the wrap; hence the sharp pain. At least I know the wrap is doing its job....lol. The pain intensifies if I eat or drink something. I start work tomorrow so I have been limiting my pain meds intake to only once a day (taken 2 hours before bed).

Eating soft foods has also been a challenge. I think I am going to try and eat even slower than I am now. I have not been drinking anything with my meals, but it seems after 10 minutes of eating my stomach feels overfull. Does anyone else have this delayed reaction of overfullness after eating? My soft diet has consisted of runny grits, instant mashed potatoes, and yogurt. Yogurt seems to be the easiest thing to get down.

Bill, thanks for the advice about the pills. I guess I am too scared to try and swallow them. I figured that since I am on a soft diet and that my wrap is pretty tight that the pills would automatically hangup down there and destroy the lining of my throat. Based on your comments, it looks like the pills should pass through the wrap pretty easily provided that I drink something first. Maybe I will get the courage to try that today.

Hi Ali,

I hope day two was not too tough for you. I think day 3 has been the hardest on me because I began to have a massive headache and started running a temperature.

Pleased to hear that you can burp because the trapped air can be very painful and uncomfortable. I also get a hiccup feeling but my wrap does not allow the air to escape (very painful). At the end of day 5, I still cannot burp but I have been able to eat more soft food. It is like I turned a corner because I have been living off yogurt and shakes. I read below that you have been diluting your meds before taking them. I have been mixing them with my meals but will try your approach.

I tried to take a small pill last night but it hung up in the wrap and caused me discomfort for about 20 minutes. I followed the advice of others here and kept drinking small sips of warm water until the pill dissolved in my wrap. No more pill swallowing for me for at least a week.

Bill or Denise,

My experiment to swallow a small pill was a big fail. Do you think the swelling will subside slightly by next week? I am at day 6 now, so by waiting a week that would put me at day 13. Seems like that will be during my peak swelling period but I already feel the swelling. Also my swallowing is delayed meaning that after I swallow, I can feel the food and drink pass through almost 1 second later.

It is 430am and I am going in to work today to try and do a full day. I am regaining stamina and strength each day. Overall I am very satisfied with my recovery and I am just trying to take it one day at a time.  I am hoping now that I am eating soft food that my recovery will go more smoothly. Thanks for any advice anybody has regarding my recovery.

Rob