Almost 6 days out of the hospital....

risskie
risskie Posts: 203 Member
edited November 8 in Social Groups
Hi all,
Back home from my 1/16/12 ByPass surgery. I was in ICU one nite and surgical floor one nite and home the 3d nite. I did quite well in hosp. I was up and walking the first nite, and down the hall and back the second nite. I was happy to be home. The steady IV drips and no catheter the 2nd day was hard. I was up and into the bathroom every 2 hours around the clock.

My only problem with the whole thing has been the allergic reaction I have developed from the adhesive used on my skin during the operation. Every one of the 8 holes is covered in large raised red and blistered bumps. They have spread across my belly and abdomen. The itch is intense. I checked to see if anything was latex and nothing was. Not happy about this.

Yesterday(4th day out) was a hard day. I was running a low grade (99.1) fever, I slept off and on all day, did no exercise and ate poorly. My itchy belly was near out of control. I hated that every ad on TV was a food, meal or restaurant. I began to regret that I could never eat lasagna at Olive Garden again or the turkey sandwich my daughter was eating, I couldn't eat. Today, just the reverse. I showered, no fever, no naps, itch under control and ate what I could handle. What a difference a day makes.

If these blisters keep popping and oozing on my belly all day Sunday, I will call the MD on Monday. I have noticed that I am having a hard time getting in all the protein I need to and that's a bother. Glad I'm taking all my vitamins and minerals.:flowerforyou:

Replies

  • So glad this is going well except for the skin reaction. Can you handle a little Benadryl? It will help with the allergic reaction but it will make you sleepy. You can buy it over the counter. I'd check with the doc but it should be okay to take. They sound like they are progressing your diet a lot faster than my doc did. I couldn't have any pudding or yogurt for the first 2 weeks. All docs seem to have a different post op regimen. Good for you for getting up and walking right away. That is so important. Drink an extra protein shake like Unjury or something to get in enough protein. The Costco premixed ones have a whopping 30gm. in them. Take care.
  • disp53
    disp53 Posts: 20 Member
    What diet does you surgeon have you on right now? I haven't found 2 surgeons that agreed on the same diet!

    My protein shakes were the following:
    8 ounces fat free skim milk 8g protein
    1 serving powdered milk 8g protein
    1 serving Carnation Sugar Free Instant breakfast powder 5g protein

    21g protein in just 8 ounces of fluid. Plus a lot of other good vitamins etc...

    I drank 3 of these a day.

    Also if you are a coffee drinker put a double serving of powdered milk in your coffee to help get more protein in.

    Hope the skin issue is resolving itself!
  • risskie
    risskie Posts: 203 Member
    I am making protein shakes, drinking 1/2 and putting the other in fridge. Then when I open the fridge and see the waiting shake, I can't even look at it. I know I should just bite the bullet and drink it. I choose another protein food choice, but again only 1/2 goes down. Gotta get mind over matter.
  • sokyknitter
    sokyknitter Posts: 3 Member
    It took me over a week to work up to getting all my protein. Are you still on liquids or pureed food? It does get easier to get all the protein in. I am 8 weeks out.
  • risskie
    risskie Posts: 203 Member
    I'm still on full liquids. With my nutritionist, that is stage 2. I'll be on stage 3 beginning 2/1. I started the protein shakes 2 weeks prior to surgery. They weren't bad, but now after the surgery I'm gagging just looking at the protein container. I'm using up the unflavored powder at a rapid rate - putting it soups and juices. Now that I think of it, maybe it's the milk that is turning me off. I used to love it, now I'm only putting 1/4c into cream wheat cereal. UGH :indifferent:
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