How do you choose between meds or an upset stomach!

Question

I am so frustrated. I am six weeks post op the second surgery and four weeks post op the 3rd surgery (emergency brain surgery) and they are telling me that the cerebellum damage is causing all the current problems and that it could be another eight weeks for the other parts of the cerebellum to compensate for the damaged areas. I have a daily fever (no infections) and a multitude of other things but I keep staying away from meds, prescription and OTC because of stomach ache... Everything seems to upset my stomach but they tell me it could be a couple of months until I start to improve. Anyone use anything to keep their stomach feeling better?

selmaS · Answer

Thank God it  isn't worse and pray it doesn't go there......

 I am a slow healer, with EDS it tends to slow the healing process, which I am used to.....and with all u did have done in such a short period of time, it is no wonder that it will take time to heal.

 Carrots r not the only thing that change the eater colors., look at poor flamingo's they turn pink from shrimp...lol....

zygy2 · Answer

:)  I am glad someone else understand carrots, they are yummy but dangerous.  Before surgery my NS came in, took one look at me and asked "does anyone else think she has a funny color"  I had to admit my carrot addiction! LOL  EVERYONE laughed!

Didn't have a stroke, they are just comparing the damage and healing time that way.  They just say they have not seen anything like this so we are just waiting to see how I heal... long crazy process.  Hopefully things will be better soon.  Just frustrating at times.  I expected this surgery to go easily compared to the first and it just ended up so much more than expected.  

Could be worse right??? :)  -zygy

selmaS · Answer

Well that will control ur weight too, but no..HRT is hormone replacement therapy...birth control is similar...so ne hormones ...just wondering...we had another member that had a TIA as a result ....and since u mentioned the possibility  of a stroke I wondered about this as it was found to be the reason for hers.

 Yeah too many carrots will give u a fake tan for sure...lol...

zygy2 · Answer

I am hypothyroid if that is what you mean so synthroid (spelling?)

yeah, I snack all day and sometimes I can keep it healthy but most of the time  I like yummy things... stuck on carrots for a while but I started to turn orange, it was funny!

selmaS · Answer

That is so common with GERD to eat to help calm the acids....many times we have a hunger feeling even tho we know we shouldn't be hungry...it is the imbalance of acids......

 I always have a weight increase with a reflux flare.

  May I ask, u r not on HRT or ne hormones r u?


   Thank u  : )

   "selma"

zygy2 · Answer

My body is so cranky about meds, so I fully understand. I am so super sensitive and swear I get so many side effects that it just makes me crazy.  I told them about one hundred times before surgery though about my issues with meds and they finally understood I wanted any help they could give with the nausea because vomiting and nausea are a regular for me with meds.  They gave me a patch before hand, IV meds during and after surgery and Pills with any oral meds... whatever they did was great, I did not puke after any of my three head surgeries!  (it has been a long process for me).  I also had to tell them that with narcotic pain meds I can not pee, so no cath. removed until I had been off for 12 hours (I do my best to get off pain meds as quickly as possible) nurse didn't believe me. pulled the cath after only four hours of giving up meds and had to return it to me hours  later, she was cranky about it all but I had told her how my body worked!  She was a pain in the butt, thankfully she was not my nurse often!  I don't know how to spell it but they gave me ondanastron??? for nausea and I think it is used for cancer patients, it helped greatly,.  My stomach was much better when I was on it.  Peppermint tea helps me with my stomach!!!  I can't stand ginger, that is too bad since you both said it works so well.... probably would make me puke just from the smell :) LOL   I wish you luck with your surgery!  

Selma-  I keep working on things, tummy is getting a little better but I think I eat when it feels bad so I am gaining a bit of weight!  Oh well, luckily I am a fine weight but it is still sad!  I am walking a mile a day now so finally feeling a bit stronger.  sadly no restrictions lifted for another month and still no driving that long too.  The cerebellum damage is just too obvious and they need to see if it all gets better.  Said they are treating the damage like a cerebular stroke, give it three months to see if another area of the cerebellum compensates for the damage.  I am still tipping over a bit and a bit weird in my left arm and still a stupid daily fever but one day at a time right.  I am looking forward to a day without a headache and fever.  I seem to have some speech problems but only my immediate family seems to notice, I did not have stutter problems or stuck on words before.  Sometimes I used to say crazy things but not to the extent I do right now, I hope that improves. I forgot to ask the NS about it.  My main focus is the fever, low grade every afternoon, just enough to make you scream!  I agree that I get tons out of the board but in your case, I am certain you put lots more into it!! You should be so proud of yourself for the enormous number of people you have helped!  -zygy

selmaS · Answer

Ginger tea is a mainstay for me as well...just finished a cup as a matter of fact...and found this  kinda funny....but it helps for those that have reflux as well.

  "selma"

amisoup · Answer

I have not had the decompression yet, I still have a few weeks to go. I have noticed that any medication causes my body to almost violently react about 30 minutes after taking it. Normal food also makes me vomit most of the time. I have started making Ginger tea and Chamomile tea to combat the nausea. It seems to work just long enough for me to get the meds down and processed. I usually make it as I am about to take my daily doses... I hope it helps! And anything natural is worth a shot.

selmaS · Answer

I have a hiatal hernia and had my reflux in check b4 surgery and it took almost a yr to get it to calm down with meds, and now at 2 yrs post op I only take GERD meds when needed.

 So it can take time, but the probiotics r helping and I wish I had used them sooner.

  If we can help someone avoid the amount of time we went thru, I feel we should.....there is a reason we have this, and I feel we have to do something positive with it...and I like being productive and proactive....I get just as much from this site if not more : )

zygy2 · Answer

Thanks Selma, have to look into that.  It is upset stomach and digestive issues.  I try to keep away from the meds but some days you just need a little help.  I thought by now that things would be better but they said that having gone through so much in the past six weeks that this is to be expected.  I don't know if the nausea is from the cerebellum damage but the meds do seem to make it worse!  Then if you take meds to take a break from pain or fight the nausea, or try to sleep... it just seems to cause, nausea OR upset stomach OR constipation OR the opposite.. it just seems I can't get things working right :)  I look forward to having this all figured out :)  Thanks for your support, it is so nice how much time you spend trying to help and educate everyone!

selmaS · Answer

Hi the biggest problem neone will have post op is stomach and digestive issues from all the meds used during surgery.....

 I am sure some of ur upset could be from antibiotics...they kill off all the bacteria, the bad  along with the good we need to digest food, so when u eat, it feels like rock gut...ugh

 What u may want to talk to ur Dr about is probiotics to get the natural balance  of good bacteria back in ur digestive tract so u can eat, and ur stomach is not as sensitive.

  U will feel bloated and may have the runs at first if u choose to go with this so I would suggest starting slowly and not taking it everyday like the instructions say....and build it a day at a time.

  I am on the probiotics  over a month now and see improvement for issues I have always had...

 I have no idea is this will help u , but it may be worth the convo with ur dr.

  "selma"