April WLS candidate needs advice

Hello to those of you who have recently had your WLS surgery. I am scheduled to have WLS on 4/21 (Lap, not open). I have several questions to ask of you, if you don't mind: 1) How long were you in the hospital after your surgery date? 2) How functional were you upon your return home? (I ask this question because I just finished going through faculty training for an online university, and I just received an email that they want me to start teaching a class on 4/17. Part of the requirements of online teaching is daily interaction with the online 'class' (the class is a lot like this newsgroup - basically emailing each other)...I may be able to get away with the three days off from Friday (4/21) through Sunday (4/23), but I'm not sure if I realistically will be able to start back up on 4/24..so it would help if some of you 'vets' can give me an idea, so I know if I need to push out my teaching start date until after I've had more time to recover.) 3) How long after you got home were you able to drive? (I ask because I have a 6 year old, and I need to know how long I'll need someone to help me get her to and from school) OK, I guess that's all I'll ask for now I'm sure I could ask these questions at my 2 week pre-op appt, but i'm sure you understand my nervousness and impatience So, any assistance you guys could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Congrats on your upcoming surgery 1) I had my surgery open and I was in the hospital for three days. They would have sent me home in two but I wanted to stay.I think when you have lap the time of stay is about two days. 2) I was pretty functionally when I got home. I was walking up and down the steps, I was online chatting, I went out shopping, I got myself dressed, took a shower, cooked for myself. I pretty much did it all except tie my shoes...lol but it just depends on how much pain you are in, plus you will get tired faster. So you do have to get alot of rest and plenty of fluids. You should be ok. Talk to your doc and ask them what they think about that but sitting shouldn't bother you. Just get a comfy chair. 3)I was told that I couldn't drive until my two week check-up. They say because of the pain meds that you may still be on and others say that anything could happen and mess your stomach up, (i.e. an accident) but I drove about 10days after surgery. I even drove to my follow up appoinment If you need someone to talk to or anything like that email me!!!

First off I was SCHEDULED for lap and it had to be converted to OPEN because the doc said he couldn't see anything in there ... I know this is rare, but it happened to me. My answers are based on my lap to open. I know people who had lap that felt great right out the bat [except for that critical first day]. 1) I was supposed to be in the hospital 3 to 5 days and I demanded to be released on the 3rd morning ... I don't know if I didn't really need another day, but I wasn't happy with my care there and wanted to go home. I was in bed for most of the next few days after I got home, I couldn't even type on the computer for about a week because a) it hurt to sit in the computer chair, and b) my fingers and hand hurt from the multiple I.V.'s and sticks. 2) Again, I had open, from what I hear the lap patients have more acute pain the first day to a week out because they are pumped up with gas, I did not have major gas pains, but I felt like my insides were scrambled and really raw and my outsides were sore and tender. I had a J.P. drain until a week out, that was just a small inconvenience but it was gross. I wanted to sleep a lot, I couldn't lie comfortably without being propped up with tons of pillows, I couldn't get in and out of the bed / off the couch because my stomach muscles just didn't work. The pain was bearable [better with meds], IMO, but constant. I had to CONSTANTLY THINK about drinking water and/or the shakes or I COULD NOT get in even the minimum amount. I wasn't hungry, I wasn't nauseated, I just didn't want to THINK about it. I had to though, to make sure I didn't get sick or dehydrated. I also had to think about walking as much as possible [when I was awake], and doing the breathing exercises for the first week [to stave off pneumonia]. I felt mentally exhausted as well as physically exhausted. My husband went back to work when I was 1.5 weeks out and I was TERRIFIED to be alone with my 3 year old. I couldn't bed down to change her clothes, I couldn't pick her up or catch her if she fell, I wasn't really up to doing anything. He had to lie out the wipes and clean undies [which she can do herself], we got yogurts, cheese slices and cold cereal for her to eat, she stayed in her p.j.'s till he got home at 3pm. After another week [around 3 weeks out], I started to be able to do small things for her, like cook her an egg or change her clothes if she was lying on my bed ... Again, everyone has a different experience, and I think my journey was a little more turbulent than some, but also remember that I sort of planned on having. There's not guarantees how you will feel either way, I'd err on the side of caution [knowing what I know now] but that's me. 3) I was told after lap I would have been cleared to drive as soon as I was off pain meds [about the 1 week mark I stopped taking them around the clock, the 2 week mark I stopped taking them altogether] - I was told 6 weeks after open, this was a BIG issue for me as I couldn't get myself to the docs and hubby was back at work. I was given clearance to drive at around 3.5 weeks post-op, I don't know what made him change his mind, but I was fine to drive. HTH and Good Luck! xosm

first off congrats on your upcoming surgery and good luk with your weight loss 1. I was in on a thursday and out that sat and i had lap 2. I was fine i was walking(you need to do this reguardless) i was just really tired alot. but on the computer you will prolly be ok. 3. I was not able to drive for 2 whole weeks I hope this all helps feel free to read my profile i document pretty well you can see how i felt and everything. J

Tarra, congrats on your upcoming surgery. I guess I would just mention that you should probably check with other patients of your surgeon because although the procedure might be the same, often times, the recovery and aftercare process is different depending on the surgeon. 1) I personally had lap surgery and was discharged the folling day. Yes, you read that correctly, I was out of the hospital within 24 hours. 2) When I came home, I felt good, but didn't feel much like getting on the computer. I would have been able to if neccessary, but I really just felt like resting for the first couple of days. 3) for me, the driving restriction was because of the pain meds they give you to go home with. I didn't have any pain so I wasn't taking the meds. I felt safe driving after 5 days. Hope that helps and good luck, Roni

Thank you all SO much for your responses! This has been very helpful!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! 1. I had my surgery Lap and was in the hospital for 2 days. I went in on Friday and they sent me home on Sunday morning. 2. I was functional, but I could not sit long at a computer. It hurt my stomach. Walking was okay, and standing, but not sitting for very long. 3. My doctor told me when I was no longer taking narcotics for the pain I could drive. Good luck with the new job as well! Let us know how it goes for you. Hugs, Deanna

Congrats on your up-coming surgery! 1) I had LAP and was in the hospital 7 am Monday Morning and home 930 Thursday AM. 2) I had a hard time getting in and out of bed (but that was cuz my side of the bed is situated near a weird wall !) Also I didn't carry anything that weighed more than 10 lbs for about 2 weeks. (There were times when I probably could have but was lucky enough to have help so...) 3) My Dr. told me that I would know when I was ready to drive. I did wait a week after coming home though. You will know when you have your head together enough and feel comfortable driving. Best of luck !!