4 days post-op questions

[SteelerChick]

I am 4 days post-op from gastric sleeve and just joined this forum. I have no abdominal pain and the only problem I seem to be having is some pain when swallowing that goes away in a few seconds. It feels like a bubble. Did anyone else get that? Also, this is rather embarrassing, but after weeks of liquid diet, when does one have a BM?

[DHB]

Oh yes. The bubble. Sometimes it came out as a burp in the first week or two. It goes away. Just try to sip slowly (do as I say,not as I do!) and also try warm liquids and see if they are easier to get down.

As for the other, at discharge I was given SenokotS and told to take that along with Miralax because they didn't want me "straining." That was overkill IMHO. I spent much of day 3 in the bathroom. One or the other should do the trick. Since you're just on liquids there's not much for your bowels to work with but you do want to keep them in the game. Since starting pureed foods I've been back to normal but I do know constipation is a pretty common problem. SenokotS is pretty safe to take from what I've read.

[SteelerChick]

Thanks for your input. I got nothing for BM. I'll ask about it. Another thing I'm wondering about, I have 2 huge black and blue marks around 2 of my 5 incisions. Two others have no discoloration at all, and the last one is just a little black and blue. My friend who's a nurse is concerned about these being hematomas, but she doesn't know what's normal after bariatric surgery as she is an ER nurse. My dr. did see it before I left the hospital and seemed surprised but thought I was sensitive to the blood thinner. I also have bruises all over my arms because the nurses couldn't find a vein in the hospital, and a bruise where the nurse gave me the blood thinner injection so I'm thinking this might all be from the blood thinner.

[simplyseahorse]

They gave me suppositories - I have them, my pain meds, and nausea meds filled already - stashed away for when I get my surgery date! They don't want to forget anything I guess.

[SteelerChick]

Since I made that comment, things "moved" and I'm doing good. FYI, I do have meds. I'm not in any pain, don't need a laxative now, and I just take the omeprazole.

[Christie13]

Totally normal. It will get better. As for the BM...I had chronic constipation for almost 10 months post op. I had to use stool softeners and suppositories. Finally at 10 months I became regular again. That happened to coincide to when I started adding a scoop of collagen powder to my coffee to help with skin appearance. Not sure if that had anything to do with it but I have read some people get loose bowels from taking collagen. Either way, it was win win for me!!

[Stacey03]

I was black and blue from the blood thinners and still have a fair bt of bruising 4 weeks out!

[Jeanious]

Yeah, I'm bruised too. That bubble feeling in the throat, I have too.
I was a bit worried but thought it should slowly go away.
Just the sipping still gives me pain when the fluids going into the stomach.
I hope all these subside soon and we start seeing a new person bloom.
Good luck.

[SteelerChick]

Thanks for the input. So helpful!