Appendectomy

[Pittston]

I was diagnosed prediabetic in August 2018, A1c 44, immediately found this website and by Dec 21st had lost 16 lbs and A1c was down to 36. I felt better than I had in years and found LCHF very easy to follow after years of shoving sugar laden fruit, veg , low fat food into my system. I was so looking forward to my sugar free Christmas.
Now for the bad news! On 24/12 I underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis, Christmas was cancelled and I came home late on Boxing Day. Since then I have felt shattered, blood glucose highish, cramping in tummy and today diarrhoea. I feel I will never recover and I am frightened that something else is going on. I have not eaten much and in the 8 days since surgery have lost another 4 lbs. Any ideas on how to stabilise my weight and get my glucose levels more stable? Is this normal after surgery? I was given no advice on discharge.
I am a 74 year old female.
Thanks everyone

 

[lucylocket61]

I was diagnosed prediabetic in August 2018, A1c 44, immediately found this website and by Dec 21st had lost 16 lbs and A1c was down to 36. I felt better than I had in years and found LCHF very easy to follow after years of shoving sugar laden fruit, veg , low fat food into my system. I was so looking forward to my sugar free Christmas.
Now for the bad news! On 24/12 I underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis, Christmas was cancelled and I came home late on Boxing Day. Since then I have felt shattered, blood glucose highish, cramping in tummy and today diarrhoea. I feel I will never recover and I am frightened that something else is going on. I have not eaten much and in the 8 days since surgery have lost another 4 lbs. Any ideas on how to stabilise my weight and get my glucose levels more stable? Is this normal after surgery? I was given no advice on discharge.
I am a 74 year old female.
Thanks everyone

emergency surgery is going to take it out of you. It can take a couple of weeks to recover from planned minor surgery, even longer for emergency abdominal surgery.

Do you have a higher than normal temperature or feel flu-ish? It may be a good idea to contact your surgery if you feel unwell still.

 

[DCUKMod]

@Pittston - I would agree with @lucylocket61 that your emergency surgery will hav knocked you for 6. Ignoring the anaesthetic and all the other meds you'll have received during the process, yourr body now has to heal.

I had a planned op a couple of years ago, and admittedly did haave a nasty haematoma at the site (I'll spare you the gory details!), which took a few weeks to clear, but I also lost a couple of kilos I didn't have to lose.

When I spoke to the ANPractitioner, who was monitoring and dressing the issue, about it, she responded it wasn't all that surprising really and not to expect the weight to go back on quickly. I had my op in the October, and she reckoned I'd be the only one she knew who would be delighted if I gained weight over that year's festivities. She was right! I was sick of consciously eating more than usual (which is usually quite a lot anyway).

Try to be patient, but keep an eye on thing. Keep an eye on your blood glucose levels and talk to your medical team if you continue to be concerned.

 

[JMK1954]

Stress raises sugar levels, a known fact. So does pain of any kind. Lack of exercise compared to your normal level of activity will also have the same effect. You will be experiencing all three. Your current raised sugar levels are probably part of the reason you feel so shattered.

Lucylocket is right. Nobody recovers from an emergency operation in the time when they are still in hospital. You need to give your body time to get over what has been happening. I fully agree that if you have a higher than normal temperature or other symptoms of infection, flu or anything else, you need to make a call to your doctor. If not, follow whatever instructions you were given when you were discharged from hospital.

Hope you're feeling a bit better soon. We can all understand how panicked you must be feeling over levels so much higher than what you have been used to. Things will take time to return to normal. In the meantime, you need to rest and try to eat in your usual way. Hope you have a wonderful 2019. Best wishes from me.

 

[ickihun]

I must admit I took a while to pass solid food after my open surgery to correct my burst appendix. I must have been diabetic then but not tested for type2 as I was 14yrs old. I left hospital with big rosey cheeks but my body temperature was normal so discharged after a week on a drip to rehydrate. Antibiotics injected to prevent an infection too.
I couldn't image how hard this would have affected me if I was in my 70s.
Give your body time to repair and be kind to yourself.
I had to report back to my GP not long after my operation. You?

 

[rmz80]

Are you on Antibiotics? If you are then don't worry too much until they are finished.