Day 3 after surgery...

[DesertGal]

Well, my nausea ended (until I have to crush a pill to swallow); and I'm just waiting for the pains in my abdomen to fade away. I walk as much as I can but yesterday slept most of the day. I am not sleeping at night because I can't stomach the crushed horse pill I need for sleep. I vomit it up and the pill taste lingers for hours. So not worth it.
Never had pain meds at the hospital or here at home.

I can't get enough water in me either. I've been sip-sip-sipping, and my little cup barely registers I've drank anything.

I got up at 4am this morning and walked around my house. I took my sippy cup and put fresh 8 oz of water in it and came back to bed, and sipped. Here's my problem: I can sip and sip SMALL amounts, but I can't tell when it's too much. I was in so much pain until after 6 am. My abdomen, stomach, everywhere in my entire mid section ached. I believe I took 10 sips in hindsight. Maybe 4 is enough?

I am grateful that everything else is going good, but I fear dehydration may be knocking at my door soon. I had about four baby spoon sized mouthfuls of broth yesterday and the same with SF jello. I want more in me but it's hard to do. The smells kill me from the broth. I noticed my sense of smell is heightened and most things make me sick.

I remember reading over the past 3 months on here about making sure to sip constantly after surgery, and I'd say to myself "I can do it, no problem." Wrong!!

[Ann2]

Lori, if you're in terrific pain, why aren't you (responsibly) using pain meds?

[Tamera2]

Hi Lori, You might check with your doctor and see if you can take chewable melatonin,they come in blackberry gummies, really helps me sleep. I couldn't take my sleep med but not because I couldn't stomach the taste but because it got in my bloodstream to fast and scared me. I see use the melatonin even though i can swallow pills. You definitely are going to get dehydrated if not already with how little your drinking. Your intake as you already know is too little. Powerad makes a s.f one. you might try or reg. gaderade, maybe you could get down a little easier than water. I loved Popsicles and while I was on clear liquid my doctor had me on regular ones. Your pain maybe from gas trapped from your long rest or muscle pain from the Trocar Instruments( probably spelled wrong) used in surgery. Maybe think about using pain meds if you feel pain starting but you have to take with something. If you can't improve your intake I would check in with your doctor Lori. Dehydration can make you feel lousy/sick. Fluids so important. Hope your tummy settles down. I was on some I.V meds and Fluids for 3 days plus oral fluids and 2 oral meds only until day 4. Please keep us posted.

[Donald G]

I used a shot glass slowly sipping water out of it my goal was to drink the entire shot in 15 minutes. If you can do that then you will be drinking roughly 8ounces per hour which is the most fluid you should be intaking per hour after surgery, remember your stomach is swollen from surgery so things dont go down very well.

[DesertGal]

I used a shot glass slowly sipping water out of it my goal was to drink the entire shot in 15 minutes. If you can do that then you will be drinking roughly 8ounces per hour which is the most fluid you should be intaking per hour after surgery, remember your stomach is swollen from surgery so things dont go down very well.

THANK YOU Donald! I found a shot glass and will do that. I had NEVER read exactly how much should be drunk in a certain amount of time. This will help me.

[DesertGal]

Lori, if you're in terrific pain, why aren't you (responsibly) using pain meds?

Ann, I think the pain is gas related. I am so afraid of taking pain meds that I know will cause constipation and I don't want to go down that road. The pain is not pleasant, but I know it could be a lot worse. I'll see how it goes, if it still bothers me I may take some.

[Tommy1969]

I found that water was heavy the first couple weeks out and started drinking both warm and room temperature green tea which went down easier. Best of luck to you! Also, CORE drinks are really helping me. I have attached their website if you want to check the drinks out.

http://core-hydration.com/core-organic/

Regards,

Tommy

[Tommy1969]

Oh, and I took GasX strips about 3 times a day for the first 2 weeks which helped the gas pains!!

[Tamera2]

Miralax added to any fluids helped me with constipation. I got it from the anesthesia.

[Luna354]

I couldn't drink plain water and remember I could only tolerate broth from one Chinese restaurant. The others had too strong of a smell and would make me gag. never mind store brought broth in a carton. I had a lot of warm water with lemon, crystal light and room temp water. It's only day 3, be patient. I would just make sure you are sipping and don't focus so much on the amount. I don't think I had enough fluids until a month out.

[bigdogluver]

Lori,
I feel for you sweetie, I'm in the same boat. I'm making my 64 oz a day mark per doc's orders, but it's a mighty struggle. It hurts if I sip too much or too fast and then if I sip too fast I get instant gas. I've been taking GasX for the gas and I've been drinking diluted apple juice (4oz juice, 4 oz. water), per doc's orders. But, my biggest friend is room temperature Jello. For some reason, it goes down a lot easier than the apple juice/H20. I found a brand of bouillon that I like in both chicken and beef. I like the chicken best. It's called "Better Than Bouillon" and it's all natural and reduced sodium. It's a paste that you mix with water. It tastes good and the smell doesn't bother me.

The popsicles are good but I have to eat them slowly and make sure I melt and warm the fluid before I swallow. I had no idea what tiny sips we were going to be limited to - I freaking mean bird sips!

I'm following Greg's advice - walk, sip, walk. The walking keeps me sane and works out the gas. I just walk in the house and go outside when it's a warm day. I learned a tip in the hospital, laying or leaning on your left side helps work out the gas. I thought it was hogwash until I tried it.

I'm with you girl, we can do this! Walk, sip, walk.

[Bagawk!]

I'm 90 days out from surgery and still can't seem to satisfy my thirst though it does seem that its getting better. I think sipping water all day is a full time job! I do caution you to keep that water bottle by your side. With as little as we can drink just after surgery coupled with vomiting, I think you are wise to be concerned. Hopefully now that you are past the nausea, you will feel less parched.

Have your Dr. phone in liquid pain medication. Also, try a heating pad. I was in sooooo much pain the first 5 days but it was greatly relieved as long as I had a toasty heating pad over the most painful part of my abdomen. Seriously, I *strongly* recommend that heating pad!

Tomorrow will be better as long as you take it easy. Take it easy ma'am!

[Bagawk!]

Ann, I think the pain is gas related.

Take omeprazole for that. I get heaps of gas pain and cramps in my stomach and/or top of my esophagus if I don't take mine every dagnabbit day!

[DesertGal]

I used Donald's tip and put on my timer, poured an ounce of water into the shot glass, marked each time I drank it down and sipped every 15 minutes since this morning. I've only gotten in 14 oz of water today. I took a long nap this afternoon too. It's not a lot but better than yesterday. I looked thru my dietitian's notes and it said to shoot for 1 cup of water and build it up to 6-8 cups by the end of the week. I'm trying.
My husband ran out and got me GasX strips (thank you Tommy), and melatonin dissolving tabs (Thank you Tamera). I hope it help with sleep tonight.

I've walked and walked today outside in my backyard and it felt good, but I wish the gas would SURFACE... by a belch or passing wind. Nothing so far, just a bloating, pressured feeling in the abdomen.

My sense of smell is going haywire. I can smell every ingredient in my family's meals- and it isn't enticing. My bone broth smells like charred bones. Oh it's not tasty either, may go back to my regular chicken broth.

I can really only get comfortable lying on one side or the other. Laying on my back just makes my stomach feel extremely full and uncomfortable. I never had that pain in my left shoulder that I was preparing for... which was good news.

I see my doctor Wednesday morning... Day 5 post op. Hope it's a good visit. I'm sure this week is the worst for all of us. Each day should be better from here on out.
(And Luna, the Chinese broth sounds SO GOOD).

[Pattimelt]

Hey Lori, so glad your nausea has subsided. It sounds like you got some great suggestions here for getting in your water, insomnia, etc. I'm going to take my Gas X strips, heating pad and extension cord, get a shot glass and take dissolveable melatonin. I take sleeping meds too, and I'm so afraid of insomnia in addition to all the other post surgery symptoms. We sure get great advice on this forum, thanks everybody!

I sure hope you're able to get more fluids down. It sounds like you're going in the right direction though. Please get better soon and keep us posted!