HOME FROME SURGERY AND I CANT EAT STOMECK FILLS LIKE IT IS TURNING FLIPS ALSO FILLS LIKE I AM ALWAYS GOING TO BE SICK. NEED HELP FAST NOT ATE ANYTHING HARDLLY IN TWO DAYS

Raymond - not knowing for sure everything you have going on, it's hard to say what's causing this, although one thing might be your pain medication - are you taking that by mouth? (swallowing pills?) Were you getting it either in an IV or shots while you were in the hospital? Pain med is VERY important but it also often makes you sick - your dr can prescribe something. Have you called him? Please do!!!

Raymond
What Ginny said...right away. It's pretty common to have an upset stomach. It's also very effectively dealt with by a variety of medications. Call the Doctor right away. Do you have a gastric tube? You probably won't be eating much solid food for a while, but make sure that you keep your liquids up. Dehydration happens quickly, and you'll wind up back in hospital if you aren't careful. Let us know how you're making out
Wayne

Raymond, I am soso glad to hear that you are out of the hospital. I will write more in an email.

Your nausea is most likely caused by your pain medication. There are a million kinds of pain med., so call today and get something different, and get something specifically for the nausea also.

I could not eat or even drink at first. I was frightened. I begged for a feeding tube, and I begged to be taken back to the hospital, but my good husband convinced me to try one more day, and I was able to trust my swallowing enough to get a bit of liquid down.

You do need to try....and you need to keep your doctor notified of how you are doing. There is no way that you can hurt yourself on liquids. I know that swallowing is different and scary right now. I was terrified of choking, but gradually I learned that I could swallow.

The opening in your palate is closed, so nothing can go anywhere bad. Try letting some liquid go down the side of your mouth and down your throat. Try concentrating on using your soft palate, at the rear of your throat, for swallowing. Tip your head back a bit, so that the liquid goes down by gravity.

You might find that liquid nutrition......I like Boost best.....goes down easier than water, though you need some water also. Having a little thickness helped me get it down.

You do have to have some fluid, and you do need some nutrition. Right now, you will be ok for a few days, but you do need to be trying.

I know from experience that you will get over being afraid to swallow. It took me a good while, however. I lost 20 lb. in the first two weeks after my surgery, and then another 5 because it was so difficult to eat.

Set yourself a goal.....MAKE yourself drink 2 ounces of Boost every few hours. You will be surprised how this keeps your energy up.

And take your pain med. on a regular basis. Can you swallow your pills? I crushed mine, (my patient husband did it) and then I realized that I was probably irritating my mouth by doing that.

Also, you need to gently be opening your jaws. It is too early to really work them, but they will become stiff and will be very hard to open if you don't work on that..

Did they do a neck dissection? What they tell you about it? Did they feel that they were able to get clear margins on your surgery? Will you have to have radiation, or are you finished, exc. for recovery?

I should have put all of this in an email, I guess....

I have been really thinking about you. Call or write at any time. I sent you my numbers.

--COlleen

Raymond - I'm so glad to hear you're back home from the hospital. I think you said that your surgeon was Dr. Carlson - the same doctor my son had for his surgery. Please do make sure and call him or have someone call for you. Just explain that you really need to get some relief SOON and if Dr. C is in surgery or something, they do have other doctors that can look at your chart and prescribe something. Have the drugstore # handy so they can phone it in. I notice that Colleen had a similar surgery to yours and how great that she was ready with so many good suggestions! Things will get better. Let us know what happens.

Raymond,

Glad that's over. Ditto what has been said but I would try Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC if you can get it because it has far more calories than Boost which means you will get the most calories and nutrition for the least amout of effort.

Raymond,
Have been patiently waiting to hear from you. Hey - your surgery is OVER - now concentrate on healing!!!!! Things WILL get better! You do need to concentrate on eating and drinking. Please don't hesitate to call the doctor about your nausea and anything else that you have questions about. You have been on my mind and in my prayers. Keep us posted.
Sue

Raymond,

Glad to hear the surgery is over. I have been thinking of you. Stay on the doctors until you find some relief. If I can be of any assistance just let me know. I am not far from you here in Maryville.

Gary

Raymond, it's more than likely your pain medications but when Jack came home he had pretty severe acid reflux - which he'd never had before - so they prescribed prevacid for him and it helped. As everyone has stated there are a variety of pain meds that can be used if you are having any problems with the one you're on and let your doctor know about the issues you are having now that you are home. They are used to changing plans and problem solving.

It's a lot of trial and error on what consistency you can tolerate but small, frequent attempts at liquids is the best way to start. You can build up from there. Jello, custard, shakes, soups, scrambled eggs are good. The cans of nutrition are your best bet right now because there's a balance as well as calories. We also used to blend food for Jack and add more or less water to get the consistency that worked for him that particular day. For some people thin liquids are hard and there's a product called thickit that you can buy in a pharmacy that could be helpful.

I would ask about seeing a speech therapist because they work with swallowing problems and can set you up with exercises to strengthen the muscles. Surgery causes trauma and swelling so that may be a factor in this early stage of recovery.

Regards JoAnne

hi eveyeone. just now able to write back been sick at stoamack.at this point i am able to drink a little boost and have just now started to try some smoothies from the store.throat still sore i wonder how long that lasts.still have a lot of swellen in face around the noise area and under the eyes anything i can do about that?my throat fills so thight were i have so many stitches around it and the draining tubs hanging out of it sucks also it is one week from surgery should i be eating more than 2 to 3 cans of boost by nowwhat elese can i try.