5 days post op and still feel like blah/weak

Hello All,

Since having surgery I just haven't felt like me. I had continuous severe nausea that has somewhat eased since taking scheduled Phenergan suppositories and Zofran. My stomach just gurgles continuously. Two days after surgery I felt like I pulled a muscle on the left side of my stomach that radiated to my left hip and back. Of course this put a  cramp in my walking style. I hadn't did anything major since surgery and haven't bent down or over to pick up things. When will I start to get some energy back? I'm supposed to go back to my nursing job (12hours/day) this week and I don't think I'm anywhere near ready for that. I called my physician Saturday and that's when he changed my nausea medication to Zofran, told me to double my dose of pain meds, and suggested I come in just in case I was dehydrated. Me, being a nurse, stated I would try to handle it at home then come in. So far, I haven't double the dose of pain meds because I know for a fact that makes my nausea WORSE especially on an empty stomach. I guess I can live with the pain, but the nausea is just miserable. I don't feel like I'm dehydrated and I know the signs and symptoms for it as well and have been checking for this. I guess my big question is how long did it take for you to get back to a somewhat normal level?

This is totally normal - you just had major surgery!  Of course you feel like crap!  Be kind to yourself.  It took me 10-14 days to feel decent, and maybe an additional week after that to feel great.  

Nausea can be a sign of dehydration.  Can you ask for a pain med that doesn't nauseate you?  How much are you drinking?  

I seriously just think I'm sensitive to pain meds in general. I'm drinking between 6 0-64 oz of fluids. I know a main problem for me is that I've been consuming mostly water. I have a hard time doing g2/propel/broth/protein shakes and those flavored drinks. My taste buds just can't wrap around those compared to before. I know my electrolytes my be out of whack, so now I'm sipping on some unflavored pedialyte.

Have you tried regular liquid tylenol?  Or is that problematic as well?  

Liquid Tylenol is fine,  it's the narcotics that hit me weird.

Thank you for letting me know it may be a little bit longer till I feel better. It seems like the people I talk to for the support group skip past the hells weeks and glamorize the weight loss. I was seriously not expecting the extent of all this. I thought I would be down a few days than back to me. Boy was I wrong.

I am 12 days out. Everything started getting better after day 5 or 6. Dehydration can lead to low blood pressure, which can make you feel very tired. Be sure you are drinking. Good Luck!

I'm surprised that your surgeon led you to believe you'd be good to go in a few days!  Mine was pretty clear that I needed to cancel everything for 2 weeks. 

Idk if it was my surgeon or more of me and my nurse mentality that I can handle whatever lol. I am definitely contacting my patient advocate tomorrow morning to let her know I need another week off. There is no way I can return to work like this.

Another week is a very smart idea.... I tried to do the same thing and go back in just under a week... yea that didn't happen it took me till 10 days and even then it was 8 HR shifts most on my butt... As a nurse I'd say it would be almost impossible.... best of luck to you and your journey!!!!