this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2023
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When I got my tonsils out, I missed the first dose of my stool softener, and the pain meds had me backed up so hard that it felt I was trying to shit a cinder block. Considered going to the ER for a bowel obstruction (which can be super dangerous). Finally passed that first brick, along with a concerning amount of blood, and then what felt like about a half-mile long by three-inch thick poo-choo train that my body had assembled with the help of the stool softener after that first missed dose.
So, between that and diarrhea, I think I'd personally err on the side of diarrhea.
Either way, I'd pay very close attention to how your body responds to any deviations from your medication plan, and make any adjustments in small increments leading up to your post-op appointment where you should discuss them with your doc.
I've had to experience both in the last few months, unfortunately. I haven't had solid food since August, I've been surviving on Ensure and Gatorade. So basically it's a lot of constipation and it's not pleasant. But this is worse because I've had accidents three times now. I sleep and sit on towels all the time until this is over. The constipation is painful, but at least it doesn't last long and doesn't end up with showering and changing a couple of times a day. I guess it's six of one, half a dozen of the other, but I'd rather have the short-term pain.
My wife last year took 3 courses of different antibiotics for an antibiotic resistant infection. It fucked up her gut so badly that she could basically only have ensure and sports drinks, or else she would throw up. On top of that, her mental health went out the window. It wasn't a fun time. I hope you recover soon.
She's doing great now. She found a good psychiatrist that went above and beyond for her. Shes on several medications, and it took 6-8 months, but she's pretty much back to normal.
Hopefully you can be just as fortunate with your recovery.
Sorry, you accidentally replied to yourself instead of me, so I only just saw this. I'm really glad to hear she's back to normal. That must have been really hard. My wife and I both have mental health issues, as does our daughter, so our whole family is a real mess. Medications are helping us too. Also, I forgot to say this to you before- my dad developed an allergy to antibiotics when he was a senior and he had to take really exotic ones with a bunch of Benadryl and an epipen on standby if he ever had an infection, so I totally sympathize there as well.
Now. Some good news- one of my symptoms before the gallbladder was removed seems to be gone, and it was removed as a last resort before I went to the Mayo clinic, so this may have worked! Still no appetite, but before the surgery, I would dry heave almost every morning and had done so for close to a year. I haven't done it once since the surgery. I have not gone four days without doing that since probably January.
Ahhh, oops!
That's good that there's some promising improvements. Hopefully you keep improving!
My wife would also dry heave constantly, and it would go into overdrive when she tried to eat something. At first she could only eat bananas, but then she ate too many and now she still dry heaves when eating bananas, even though she's fully better. I think it's a mental thing for her for bananas. I think she associates bananas with that feeling.
Well at least she's mostly better! I'd probably dry heave eating bananas too, but then I hate bananas. Anyway, glad to hear she's doing better and I'm glad I'm starting to do better. Hope you had a good holiday!
That really sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. Is she doing better now at least?
Idk if you’ve considered it but you could get some adult diapers, I know it’s not a thing of pride or whatever but they exist for a reason.
There’s also moisture proof pads (or you can get puppy pads super easily) to save your furniture, even if you towel on top. When my mom died she had some.. bleeding and accidents (cancer is horrible) and that shit soaks into furniture fiercely. Had to replace all the soft parts and reupholster the whole thing (was antique, very expensive, ugly as sin, but we couldn’t match the fabric). Moisture proof pads will potentially save you a lot of money if this is ongoing. Plus having them around for whenever is always good. You never know when you’ll get food poisoning or something.
I've considered it, but yeah, I don't know if I could handle an ego hit like that. I'd feel like an old man and I'm only 46. Sitting on towels seems to have worked so far.
In that case at least consider the moisture proof pads, if you don’t already use barriers like matress pads that block moisture from the mattress itself and the like - everyone should be using them anyway because it extends the life of the mattress by a seriously significant amount, especially if you sweat at night, but most people apparently don’t, and frankly I don’t get why that barrier isn’t just built in.. when it’s required for warranties.. one urine accident is enough to permanently ruin a mattress, no matter what you do, and those happen all the time.
Anyway if you use a pad, they provide a barrier that is more independent of pride. If you can sit on a towel, it’s no different, but better for your stuff. You can buy puppy pads and nobody will know they are for you, but you won’t have the super negative consequences of no barrier.
I’ve just seen what happens long term and I’m sure you don’t want that on top of the issues you already face. That’s no fun. None of it is, but why let it get worse, you know?
Either way, I wish you a super speedy recovery from all of it! At least the gastro distress, if nothing else.
Yeah, I get what you're saying. I think I could handle sleeping or sitting on a pad like that. A diaper though... I realize it's totally not rational, but I just can't face aging like that. Not yet. Anyway, thanks for the advice and the good wishes.
Rationality doesn’t factor in. There’s a reason my mom asked for pads and not diapers, even though diapers would be easy to come by and the pads weren’t.
Literally dying, escorted to toilet, sponge bathed.. refused diapers.
She was an RN and worked hospice for a long while so she knew her options and chose the prideful ones.
And that’s ok. You have to live with yourself today and tomorrow and for however long after. Do what makes you comfortable, but please get some moisture barriers before you get to the “omg this cushion is full of mold” stage.
Fair enough. We actually have some puppy pads around and I've already put them down, so I appreciate what you said.