Post-Surgery Recovery Struggles and Birthday Reflections

Well, that was no walk in the park. I had my surgery, spent about 3 days in the hospital, came home, and started vomiting. A lot. All the time. Every time I ate, when I went to bed at night, when I went to the doctor's office. I went back in the hospital, and they stuck an NG tube up my nose and down my throat. I hate those things. Anyway, they said my ostomy didn't wake up after surgery. That is why I was throwing up. So I spent another 3 days in the hospital, with them poking me multiple times a day. Blood thinners, IVs, blood work. I have very bad veins, so it is hard to get blood from me or set up an IV. So now I have big bruises all over my arms. All green now. LOL Anyway, I got back home two days ago. I walked in the door and vomited after just getting home. Since then, I haven't thrown up, but I was really upset when it happened after just getting home from the hospital again. I am working hard to keep my digestive system moving now. Drinking icky prune juice, taking a laxative, and eating carefully. Lots of jello and ramen noodles. I am going to attempt pizza today because today is my birthday. I am glad to not be in the hospital on my birthday. I am a little nervous to eat pizza because I have heard that a lot of cheese can block you up. But it is my birthday. I need a treat. I am still in pain in my stomach area, partly from the incisions and partly because of all the blood thinner injections, and partly because air gets trapped in my intestines, and that hurts. Does anyone have any advice about having a lot of air pockets in your intestines? Does it go away in time as you heal from surgery, or will I always have these air pockets in my intestines? I can't really feel the mesh inside my stomach; I was thinking I might feel it, but I don't. Sometimes I get a kind of burning pain that I think could be the mesh, but I think maybe it's in my head and not really the mesh. I have lost a lot of weight, about 10 pounds, since my surgery. Probably from not eating due to the NG tube and also the way I have been eating since I have been home. Mostly jello and ramen noodles. So it's been rough going since my surgery, but I am home now and working on trying to keep my body moving and working. One day at a time. So happy birthday to me. I'm home and recovering.

Happy birthday 🎂 🎁 to you

Happy Birthday Wishes

......

Please save them for a 'Good Day' ..... and that will come!

I hope you settle over time ..... hopefully, there are some early compensations - like sleeping in your own bed!

It's early days .... as you say .... one day at a time ................

Best thoughts

Hug

Please keep us posted - we are glad you are home and will keep batting for you.

BW

Jayne

First of all, welcome back and a great big 🎶happy birthday to you 🎶! So glad you are able to celebrate at home.
It sounds as though you have gone through a very rough patch. Rest and heal.

Regarding your diet, I couldn't help but think, hmmm, a while back (probably several years ago now) there was a big cautionary warning against ramen noodles…you are probably too young to remember it.

Anyway, after reading your post, I googled and YouTubed “the downside of eating ramen noodles” about those curly little devils that I, in fact, love in an Asian salad recipe I make on occasion without even cooking them. Wondering if these may be a problem for you? Just a thought…. jb

Happy birthday 🎂

My Ostomy Journey: Jearlean | Hollister

🎈🎉🎈🎉HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎈🎉🎈🎉🎈.

This will all be behind you before you realize it. Enjoy your pizza, but remember to chew, chew, chew 🍷

Yikes, that does not sound like fun at all! I'm glad you're home and on the mend - and happy birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!! 🎊🥳🍾

It sounds like you've had a bit of a tough time from surgery, but you are hopefully on the mend now.

The trapped air will eventually work its way out of your system. It's early days.

Happy Birthday! Glad that you are home. You really went through a lot.

Happy Birthday, Lee, and welcome back. So sorry you had to get the dreaded NG tube! I'll never forget how awful that was. You went through the wringer for sure, but it will get better. Enjoy that pizza!

Terry

I did enjoy my pizza. It was good. And I still had output, so even better. I hate NG tubes. They are the worst. I have had it three times now. None of the times did I like it. This last time it was especially hard as they shoved it down and then brought it back up. It hurt a lot. I am glad to be home again now. I hope I can stay home. I don't want to have to go back to the hospital.

Thanks for the happy birthday. I am glad I am home, too.

I hope the trapped air thing goes away. It happens every time I drink anything now. I get trapped air. I didn't use to have that problem. It's something new since my surgery.

Thank you. I am trying to have a happy day.

It wasn't fun at all. But hopefully, things will get better from here on out.

Yeah, chew, chew, chew. And take it slow. Otherwise, I get more air bubbles. I don't like the air bubbles; it's not comfortable.

Thank you. I am having a pretty good day. Being able to get on the computer again is a definite plus!

Ramen noodles seem to be the only thing I can eat without discomfort. Although I did eat pizza today with some success, I am going to eat a sloppy joe for dinner. I am hoping that will go well too.

Yeah, sleeping in my own bed is a definite bonus. So long as I am not waking up to throw up in the middle of the night, which is what was happening to me before I went back into the hospital. Hopefully, that is all behind me now, and there will be no more issues with vomiting. Everything will digest well, hopefully, now.

Thank you. I am trying to have a happy day.

Happy happy birthday!

From all of us😸

NG tube, blah

Happy birthday, kiddo 🍕

Happy birthday! I'm so glad you're home. I really hope things settle down for you. Sorry to hear you're going through a rough time. I hate the NG tube too; it's the worst. So happy to hear from you.

Happy Birthday! Sorry to hear you've had it a bit rough. But nothing beats being home, so I hope things settle down soon.

Happy Birthday and welcome back; we were all worried about you. Great news.

Regards, IGGIE

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳

Good to hear you're home.

Could you maybe try yogurt to settle your tummy?

Happy birthday, and I'm glad you're home. Hospitals are too noisy to get any sleep, and all those damn pricks and pokes.

Oh my gosh, I never could sleep in the hospital! I swear I didn't sleep for a week! Between being there and being home and throwing up all night, I didn't get a wink of sleep. I am so happy to be getting some sleep now. But I have a lot to catch up on. Sleeeeeeeeep!

I don't really eat yogurt. It is an idea, though. I have been eating a lot of jello. I am starting to get sick of jello. There is only so much of a thing you can eat before you get bored of it.