Lap RNY - Postop days 1-5 in a nutshell.....
Ok here goes - I am counting the day that I had surgery as "Postop Day #1 since I had the surgery so early in the morning.....
Day 1 - very groggy but up in my private room in the Bariatric Suite - my brother, longtime friend/like a sister Deborah, and my sister in law are there.....getting a good laugh out of my talking out of my head because they would wake me with their giggling..........no abdominal pain whatsoever - only pain in shoulders when I try to get up and walk. Still not strong enough that afternoon to be walking the hallways but I did manage to walk a few steps in my room. I am still very much hungover from the anesthesia and pain meds....Also, this is an NPO day - nothing by mouth - they gave me swabs that I could wet my teeth with and expectorate into a cup.....I was so sleepy that they lack of drink never phased me...
Day 2 - down to The Radiology Department for the "Swallow Test" or "Upper GI" - it took about 5 minutes - I had to swallow a couple of sips of this contract that tasted a lot like bad cough syrup - within a minute or two I had the green light - no leaks.......back up to my room for Crystal Light and Jello - it's at this point that I realize what a horrid sore throat that I have - maybe the worst that I can ever remember.....Crystal Light and Jello all day.....up and around easily.....to the restroom, walking the hallways, etc......
Day 3 - Surgeon in early for discharge orders.....I go home around noon and start having pudding, cheese grits, crystal light........I was bad and vacuumed my house and folded laundery although you should not be doing any of that........showered while my family was still here and took a nap........up and around without problems at all....
Night 3 - First B.M. - I thought I had gas - it took me by surprise - although this is something that is unpleasant I think that it will be relevant to you all here - your first trip to the bathroom will be nothing bu****ery.....you can imagine the rest...........
Day 4 - Again, up and around like nothing has happened.....was REALLY bad and went to an inservice at the hospital where I work at - this took a lot out of me and I should have NOT done it but I did.......still felt pretty good considering all.......back home, Lortab Elixir, rest and watch a movie and nap.......up again with no problems........jeez....there's a mouse in my house!!!! My brother comes over to help out with that tiny problem (who are "Gone" this morning by the way!)......
Day 5 - this morning as I write - I have tested the waters a little - had coffee with French Vanilla Creamer this morning - also some Special K with Red Berries in it....Splenda sweetener in both....feeling great -thinking of going for a power walk later........take care all! Tammy Sounds like you had a good experience with lap RNY, Tammy. I did, too, although it's fascinating to me how different the "orders" are from different doctors. My surgery was January 2.
I had a similar hospital experience -- my doc doesn't do the "leak" test, though, since he says he's never had a leak in 1000+ procedures and so thinks it's a waste. But here's where I see a difference -- are you actually permitted things like Special K on your post-op diet? I have to eat soft foods only (basically everything pureed) for 4 weeks. After that I slowly start introducing "normal" foods, just in small quantities.
Just curious. Seems amazing that the diet could be so different. But I also feel amazingly good. It's hard for me to believe I have to stay home from work for two weeks, since I have felt back to normal (except no appetite) since about day 4....
I hope everyone has as smooth a recovery as Tammy and I did.
Linda
Hi Linda - I am taking the diet thing "As tolerated" as the instructions from the dietician indicated....I wanted to check out while at home if I could indeed have my decaf coffee with Fat Free French Vanilla Creamer and be OK and I was......I don't want to suffer one of the Dumping Syndrome things while out or at work.....I went back today and re-read the R.D.'s recommendations about the diet - as it says ".......or as tolerated"........My surgeon's partner came in on Friday morning to discharge me and he said I could have anything that I could eat if I pretended to have no teeth...i.e. soft stuff - last night I pureed some soup with wild rice and have had absolutely no problems so far.....I feel like I had absolutely nothing done......How are you doing at getting your liquids in? I am trying but it's tough - I haven't gotten in probably an entire bottle of water yet in a day.......take care! Tammy
I was just surprised about the Special K -- I guess you made it really mushy? I've been sticking to the soft/pureed stuff because I have this (probably) irrational fear of stretching or bursting the pouch! Our dietitician puts the fear of God in people, I guess.
I am not doing great with the liquids, either. I have to get better with the water. I have found that drinking Propel water with a little flavor helps. I'm eating 80+ grams of protein daily and I know that can be tough on the kidneys, so I need to get better with the water. The happy news is I'm down 15+ pounds at 8 days post-op. 
Keep up the good work!
Linda
Keep up the good work!
Linda 
Tammy,
Wow, you give me great hope. My surgery is scheduled for 1/21/04 and my nerves are really getting strong. I will have (hopefully) lap rny at Fountain Valley with Dr. Kelly Francis on a Wednesday and am planning to return to work the following Monday. I'm an Optician and the major part of my day seeing patients is either sitting or standing and I hope that just those limited activities will be possible. I'm a self-admitted work-a-holic and I think mentally I will heal better if I can be immersed in work. Any advice or suggestions for me with just a week to go? Thank in advance for anyone who can respond to this.
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