2littlemonkeys
05-23-2006, 10:53 AM
Today is one week for me (though it feels more like a month!) and I am really starting to feel better. I still get tired easily and am a little sore, especially around my belly button, but I'm getting there. Finally yesterday I started to get my appetite back a little and the nausea seems to be fading FINALLY. Trying to get lots of fiber as my stools are kind of loose as expected. Leary of adding any fatty foods into my diet as of yet, so taking that slow but for the first time since my symptoms began back in February I actually have a desire to eat. I think I could cause serious bodily harm to someone with a cheeseburger! That's my big craving, yum! Thinking about making one this weekend with some really lean ground beef and seeing how it goes. Now that my husband is back at work and I've got sole responsibility for the kids I've decided I'm only gonna try introducing new foods on the weekends when he's around, just in case they don't agree with me.
I am supposed to take the tapes off my stitches today but I'm feeling a little apprenhensive about it, may wait another day or 2.
Anyway I'd love to hear updates from all of you on how far post-op you are, how you're feeling and if your pre-surgery symptoms seem to be resolving.
Hope you are all feeling well!
I am supposed to take the tapes off my stitches today but I'm feeling a little apprenhensive about it, may wait another day or 2.
Anyway I'd love to hear updates from all of you on how far post-op you are, how you're feeling and if your pre-surgery symptoms seem to be resolving.
Hope you are all feeling well!
Sponsor
stellatj
05-23-2006, 02:25 PM
Hi
Tomorrow is 2 weeks for me i feel great the one incision by my left breast is the only one that still hurts but it is the biggest. i am back to my walking eating and drinking fine. i dont have loose bowels like i heard a lot about i am back to how i always was about once every 2 days thats normal for me even eating lots of fiber i do have my colonoscopy next thursday i have to drink a gallon of stuff yuk yuk yuk.
I think you will be ok to take your tape off i took mine off at a week and it felt better
enjoy that cheeseburger no foods bother me but they never did. i never had the typical gallbladder pain just pain by my apendix and the ct scan showed the stone.
hope everyone is doing well
Tomorrow is 2 weeks for me i feel great the one incision by my left breast is the only one that still hurts but it is the biggest. i am back to my walking eating and drinking fine. i dont have loose bowels like i heard a lot about i am back to how i always was about once every 2 days thats normal for me even eating lots of fiber i do have my colonoscopy next thursday i have to drink a gallon of stuff yuk yuk yuk.
I think you will be ok to take your tape off i took mine off at a week and it felt better
enjoy that cheeseburger no foods bother me but they never did. i never had the typical gallbladder pain just pain by my apendix and the ct scan showed the stone.
hope everyone is doing well
2littlemonkeys
05-23-2006, 02:36 PM
I never had the typical pain either, or problems with specific foods (well the last couple weeks before surgery eggs, chocolate, peanut butter and mac n cheese made me feel pretty yucky), mostly a ton of nausea which KNOCK ON WOOD seems to be improving over the last 2 days!!! I am going to begin trying stuff gradually.
Glad you're feeling well. Is the colonoscopy just routine or are you having problems?
Glad you're feeling well. Is the colonoscopy just routine or are you having problems?
schao
05-23-2006, 03:12 PM
Hi there--
Well its been 12 days for me. I'm feeling "ok". I'm having a lot of nauseous issues--my stomach doesnt seem to like a whole lot of food, I get the sick feeling very easily. I'm still tired a lot. I saw my doc today and he said it takes 3 months to heal completely. I just need to be patient. I'm also having loads of back pain as well. Hopefully things will start looking a little better soon :) Glad you both are doing well!!!!
schao
Well its been 12 days for me. I'm feeling "ok". I'm having a lot of nauseous issues--my stomach doesnt seem to like a whole lot of food, I get the sick feeling very easily. I'm still tired a lot. I saw my doc today and he said it takes 3 months to heal completely. I just need to be patient. I'm also having loads of back pain as well. Hopefully things will start looking a little better soon :) Glad you both are doing well!!!!
schao
stellatj
05-23-2006, 03:56 PM
schao did you have problems with your back before the surgery? I believe we need the 3 months to heal completely in the inside and all.
my colonoscopy is because no one can really figure out my stomach pains so its just to rule out that its nothing serious i am 44 they say it should be done at age 50 so i will just be early.
my colonoscopy is because no one can really figure out my stomach pains so its just to rule out that its nothing serious i am 44 they say it should be done at age 50 so i will just be early.
2littlemonkeys
05-23-2006, 05:49 PM
schao, thanks for that post, my nausea stills persists a bit and to hear it can be normal for up to 3 months or so puts my mind at ease a bit. Feel better!
schao
05-23-2006, 07:21 PM
Hi there--
Yes, I had my back pains before the surgery--I guess I was just hoping for a miracle, that once my gallbladder came out--all of my pains would go away--unfortunately that's not the case. I'll just keep thinking positive that it will solve my issues eventually.
Stella--I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy as well--its not a big deal at all--very fast tests. Good luck!!!
schao
Yes, I had my back pains before the surgery--I guess I was just hoping for a miracle, that once my gallbladder came out--all of my pains would go away--unfortunately that's not the case. I'll just keep thinking positive that it will solve my issues eventually.
Stella--I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy as well--its not a big deal at all--very fast tests. Good luck!!!
schao
paula43
05-24-2006, 09:16 AM
Hi everyone! Today is 12 days since my surgery. I have had some fatty foods at a party yesterday and waited for something horrific to happen but I was fine. I still get occasional sharp shooting pains on the right side and the belly button is sore. I have to wear pants that don't press on it. I can sleep in any position but when I lay on my stomach it hurts somewhat. I am not nauseous but I am constipated once again. I was for the first 4 days, then had the runs, now haven't gone in 4 days again. My tummy is still a little puffy, not from the air they shoot in but I heard just from the surgery, things get swollen, so this doesn't bother me. I have been walking many hours a day and worry that maybe I overdid it and damaged something but other people told me they did the same. Has anyone else walked a few hours a day yet? I hope the gang here can keep an eye on the board, maybe we can add to this or start a new thread in 2 weeks or so? It has been really comforting to me to see all of you and glad everyone is doing okay. I am so glad this is behind me. It didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would be.
2littlemonkeys
05-24-2006, 10:08 AM
I need to start walking more, just wish it wasn't so darned hot! My belly is still sore too, I took off the tapes last night and was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't even see stitches! Just puffy little spots where they are/were! Except my belly, that one is still a little sore and had a spot that hadn't completely scabbed so I recovered with some gauze so my pants don't rub against it, but when I'm home I leave it uncovered to get air.
I had my cheeseburger last night! YAY! I decided I was going for it, my stool has been a little soft and still a little yellow and I began to think it was a combination of everything I'm eating (chicken, turkey, rice, etc...) having absolutely no color to it combined with the fact that I haven't been eating all that much anyway and with the extra bile it may be affecting the color since there's nothing for the bile to break down. So I ate half a Wendy's single with no ill effects. I've eaten so little for the last 3 1/2 months that my stomach's not big enough to handle more than half of one yet. I've also been loading up on the fiber, I drink an Ensure Fiber or 2 a day just to help get me back to feeling strong, and have as much from other sources as I can too. I tseems to be helping.
I am so encouraged to have my appetite returning and the nausea going away. I was so nervous I'd be one of these people that this didn't help but it really seems to be. This is the 3rd day in a row I've woken with no nausea and that is just amazing to me. I've been feeling horrible for so long it's hard to believe!
It's been great to have our little group here to share our experiences with. It's so reassuring!
I had my cheeseburger last night! YAY! I decided I was going for it, my stool has been a little soft and still a little yellow and I began to think it was a combination of everything I'm eating (chicken, turkey, rice, etc...) having absolutely no color to it combined with the fact that I haven't been eating all that much anyway and with the extra bile it may be affecting the color since there's nothing for the bile to break down. So I ate half a Wendy's single with no ill effects. I've eaten so little for the last 3 1/2 months that my stomach's not big enough to handle more than half of one yet. I've also been loading up on the fiber, I drink an Ensure Fiber or 2 a day just to help get me back to feeling strong, and have as much from other sources as I can too. I tseems to be helping.
I am so encouraged to have my appetite returning and the nausea going away. I was so nervous I'd be one of these people that this didn't help but it really seems to be. This is the 3rd day in a row I've woken with no nausea and that is just amazing to me. I've been feeling horrible for so long it's hard to believe!
It's been great to have our little group here to share our experiences with. It's so reassuring!
paula43
05-26-2006, 07:46 PM
Today is 2 weeks and I am having some pain. It comes and goes and is on the right side where the surgery was. It didn't bother me for a few days. Does anyone still have pain now and then after 2 weeks?
Sgibbs
05-27-2006, 01:54 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm glad to read that some of you are improving!
This coming Wednesday, it will be week 4 (yes, you read that right) since my surgery. I've had an extremely rough recovery. Anything I eat (I'm still doing low fat) goes right through me. My doctor feels I have post-cholecystitis and a possible infection.
I was sent for Lab work yesterday to determine if I do have an infection or "some other complication" (which could be a bile duct problem resulting from surgery). I have more Lab work scheduled this Tuesday.
I am currently on Questran to help with diarrhea, and I have to take that FOUR TIMES a day for the next 30 days! It's a powder that I mix in water or applesauce, and it is gritty and disgusting.
I must admit this has been extremely frustrating. When I went in for surgery, I was optimistic because I just couldn't wait to feel better. Now, 4 weeks later and I still have issues. The good news is that I can finally sleep on my right side. It took 3 weeks for me to be able to do that! I'm still sore, but that is being attributed to the possible infection. (I get results this week)
I sure do hope all of you feel a little better each day!
I'm glad to read that some of you are improving!
This coming Wednesday, it will be week 4 (yes, you read that right) since my surgery. I've had an extremely rough recovery. Anything I eat (I'm still doing low fat) goes right through me. My doctor feels I have post-cholecystitis and a possible infection.
I was sent for Lab work yesterday to determine if I do have an infection or "some other complication" (which could be a bile duct problem resulting from surgery). I have more Lab work scheduled this Tuesday.
I am currently on Questran to help with diarrhea, and I have to take that FOUR TIMES a day for the next 30 days! It's a powder that I mix in water or applesauce, and it is gritty and disgusting.
I must admit this has been extremely frustrating. When I went in for surgery, I was optimistic because I just couldn't wait to feel better. Now, 4 weeks later and I still have issues. The good news is that I can finally sleep on my right side. It took 3 weeks for me to be able to do that! I'm still sore, but that is being attributed to the possible infection. (I get results this week)
I sure do hope all of you feel a little better each day!
Swayze711
05-28-2006, 02:03 PM
Sgibbs---
Soo sorry to hear of your post op probs. I had issues with another surgery but thankfully not the cholecystectomy. I hope things are going well for you. Keep us posted. You must be losing a ton of weight. Questran alone can make you lose weight!
Good Luck
Soo sorry to hear of your post op probs. I had issues with another surgery but thankfully not the cholecystectomy. I hope things are going well for you. Keep us posted. You must be losing a ton of weight. Questran alone can make you lose weight!
Good Luck
Swayze711
05-28-2006, 02:09 PM
You know what else i find interesting. The post op papers!! The so called instructions. I've had 3 surgeries now and they have all failed to guide my recovery. They're so broad but could still cover more. Then you feel like you're bothering the doctors office when you keep calling. You come on a place like here and find, to your surprise, that there are issues that are not included in your take home readings after surgery that are super common. I had to wonder about every little symptom with my tonsillectomy. And the cholecystectomy, ive wondered about a lot and didnt want to bother the doctor for every little thing. Come on here and hear stories of people having the same problems, talk em out, etc... It's really nice.
Anyway, point....they should take a little more time to type up the post op symptoms and complications. They do a very good job on covering the things that rarely happen. A lot of my symptoms were not included on the papers but were found on here...they must be common, right? Maybe we should refer the Docs to healthboards....they'll see what the patients really wanna know and what the real concerns are.
Anyway, point....they should take a little more time to type up the post op symptoms and complications. They do a very good job on covering the things that rarely happen. A lot of my symptoms were not included on the papers but were found on here...they must be common, right? Maybe we should refer the Docs to healthboards....they'll see what the patients really wanna know and what the real concerns are.
Swayze711
05-28-2006, 02:09 PM
You know what else i find interesting. The post op papers!! The so called instructions. I've had 3 surgeries now and they have all failed to guide my recovery. They're so broad but could still cover more. Then you feel like you're bothering the doctors office when you keep calling. You come on a place like here and find, to your surprise, that there are issues that are not included in your take home readings after surgery that are super common. I had to wonder about every little symptom with my tonsillectomy. And the cholecystectomy, ive wondered about a lot and didnt want to bother the doctor for every little thing. Come on here and hear stories of people having the same problems, talk em out, etc... It's really nice.
Anyway, point....they should take a little more time to type up the post op symptoms and complications. They do a very good job on covering the things that rarely happen. A lot of my symptoms were not included on the papers but were found on here...they must be common, right? Maybe we should refer the Docs to healthboards....they'll see what the patients really wanna know and what the real concerns are.
Anyway, point....they should take a little more time to type up the post op symptoms and complications. They do a very good job on covering the things that rarely happen. A lot of my symptoms were not included on the papers but were found on here...they must be common, right? Maybe we should refer the Docs to healthboards....they'll see what the patients really wanna know and what the real concerns are.